A DIFFICULT ROAD AHEAD
The Hard Yards
The ‘hard yards’ is a term we use to describe a difficult challenge ahead of us
* The long road to recovery through rehabilitation after serious injury
* Picking up the pieces after a devastating relationship breakup
Such a road exists for those left to grieve when the Lord has taken home one of those they have loved
*Decisions need to be made as to what to do with clothes and other belongings of the departed partner
* There are many agencies that need to be contacted when you least feel like it
* How now to manage when my spouse did so much that I cannot do, or do easily.
This is not true just of those who have laid to rest a life’s partner
* With death of a child, (pre born-still born-infant) there are incredibly crushing times to work through
Empty cot and nursery; toys; and yes… clothes
Questions arise…
* How can I manage all this ?
* Where do I begin and where will I find the physical, emotional and spiritual stamina to see it through?
* How can we move on when inside there is an emptyness, when emotionally we are stunned and dazzed, when we are exhausted in every way and discover that sleep is hard to find?
- A DIFFICULT ROAD AHEAD
- THE LORD GOD THE ONLY SUITABLE HELPER
- STRENGTH TO GO ON
Readings reproduced on this page:
The Holy Bible: New International Version. 1996, 1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan
Readings
2 Corinthians 5:1–5 (NIV84)
1Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
2Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling,
3because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.
4For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
5Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Text
Psalm 121 (NIV84)
A song of ascents.
1I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from?
2My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
3He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber;
4indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
7The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life;
8the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
