When the death of someone close to us occurs, you may feel like a bitter, winter wind that blows the light of our lives. We are in total darkness. We feel afraid, lost, alone. We care how we will ever get through the darkness of our grief.
Consider this story to find a way in the dark. One night, Abe Lincoln and his father were working in their house. The father needed tools from the shed and asked Abe to get the tools for him. Abe grabbed the lantern and ran out only to be scared of the dark. He ran back into the cabin.
"Father, I can not see where the tool shed. And 'out pitch black."
Her father came and took him to the door. "Abe, raise the lantern high. What do you see?"
"I see the oak tree in the garden."
"Well," said the father. Now go to the oak and increase your high lantern. Son, what do you see? "
"I see the fence that runs along the cornfield."
"Good. Follow the fence to the end and raise the lantern high again. Son, what do you see?"
"I see the tool shed now."
"Get the tools we need and return the same way."
The story reminds the traveler on the journey of grief that there is enough light for a few steps. Once these steps are taken, then there is enough light for the next steps. Make the trip a few steps at a time.
There is another aspect of the story that I want to focus our attention. Note that Abe's father stands in the doorway and shouts of encouragement. There are those who are on the doors of your life and shouting their support and care. Did you hear their voices?
I appreciated the recent dinner at a friend's house. I said goodbye and got on my car towed from the driveway into the street, and looked at the door of the house I had just left. Suddenly I realized that I always look at the door as I am leaving someone at home. I think this habit must go back to childhood, although I do not remember that he used to be there. Sometimes it's so hard to see through the screen blacked out or passed the site of reflection on the glass. It can be difficult to see who is there.
So many who come through the journey of pain show that they have a clear and abiding sense of their loved one standing in the doorway of their lives talking encouragement, affirmation and love: "You can do it. Hold high the lantern. Go just as you can see. It will. I am with you. "Listen to their words of love and be strengthened for the next steps.
I close with this story. When John was very young, both his parents died. Relatives wondered what to do with John and his other brothers. How could the children be parceled out? An aunt wrote that she would take Little John and sent a neighbor to get the boy on horseback. As John was riding on horseback to her aunt's house, began asking questions: "Will he be there? I'll be like you? Will you love me? I'll have my room? Will make me have a puppy?"
The neighbor replied, "She will be there waiting for you. She fell into good hands. He has a big heart. He has everything ready for you."
When they reached the clearing in front of the house, there was a candle in the window, and her aunt was standing at the door. He bent down, kissed him, gave him to eat dinner, took him to his room, and waited until he fell asleep. Over time it became a second mother.
Many years later, her aunt wrote to John to tell him of her death approaches. He wondered what would happen to her.
John began to pack for the trip cross country, but before leaving, he posted this letter: "My dear aunt years ago, I left the house of death not knowing where to go, if anyone cared if it was the end me. The journey was long, but your neighbor encouraged me. Lastly, it stated your candle in the window. you welcomed me and gave me my room very personal. Now it's your turn to go, and how who has tried it, I am writing to you to know that someone is waiting on. Your room is ready. The light is on. The door is open. And as you drive into the yard, do not worry, it is expected . I know. Once I saw God standing in your doorway so long ago.
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