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 welcome to the crosswalk devotional we're so glad to have you listening I'm Lynette Kittle and today's topic is what to do in grief ambushes us we'll be right back after a brief message from our sponsor
 what to do in grief and bushes as written and read by Lynette Kittle he heals the Brokenhearted and binds up their wounds Psalm 147 3
 grief can catch us off-guard at the most unexpected moments as much as we try to prepare ourselves beforehand we really have no way to protect ourselves from the unexpected
 when's Saturday afternoon while watching the big screen TV by Dad loved and had passed on to us it faded to Black after some checking my husband came to the conclusion its time had come to an end and the picture would not be coming back but hit me next caught me totally off-guard Like a Knife into my chest
 as the only daughter I was a daddy's girl my dad could do no wrong and made me feel cared for and loved being born on his 25th birthday every year he would pick out a special card just from him and write the words you're the best birthday gift I ever got for the first time I realized it wasn't just a TV to me but represented hanging on to my father's memory
 because it was the last one he bought before his passing I hadn't realized how its presence in our home brought me Comfort making me feel connected to him so when it died to a huge tsunami of grief Ambush me
 sadly my dad passed away after months of helping to manage his end-of-life care after his death we managed my mom's care for the next five years through her journey with Alzheimer's until she joined dad in heaven
 following their losses are almost 20 year old Siamese cat Panda passed away triggering a flood release of grief related to losing both my parents and now her within a few years
 but looking back came the realization that my own grief process and working through my parents losses have been delayed by caregiving and the need to keep going forward with the loss of my dad's TV I discovered three ways to help deal with and face unexpected Reef triggers number one be okay with feeling a range of emotions rather than pushing back emotions when sorrow hits allow a few minutes to experience them
 a Psalm 34:18 reminds us God is near to the Brokenhearted know he has not left us alone to face our grief but it's near then we may realize with his compassion kindness and comfort as we experience the emotions choose to reminisce with the memories that trigger the grief being willing to share them with those around us at the time with my dad and his TV memories of us watching it together at his home help me to work through the sadness and grief being triggered and experience through its loss
 number to make sure to connect with others if Greek hits when we were with others we don't need to hide it or feel embarrassed rather we can be willing to reach out to share with others what's happening to us in the moment instead of suppressing sorrowful feelings to fester in deep and within us acknowledging and talking through them a bit and be helpful in our processing and dealing with grief
 number 3 prepare for the unexpected grief seems to come in ways it's unpredictable what will trigger it within us from something totally unrelated to the passing of our loved ones to the smallest reminder it's impossible to know what might set sorrow into motion the only way to prepare is to know it might happen anytime and it's nothing to hide or be ashamed of when it happens
 in times of grief 2nd Corinthians 1:3 through 5 encourages us to turn to our heavenly father he is the father of mercies and God of All Comfort he offers us an open invitation to call upon him in our deepest and Darkest Hours knowing when we receive comfort from him will be able to offer Comfort to others during their times of Sorrow
 intersecting faith in life if you find yourself ambushed by Grace this week rather than trying to stuff your feelings deep down within yourself take a moment to experience them as you do turn to God
 asking him for his comfort and peace to help turn your sorrow into Joy Psalm 30 11
 further reading unfinished grief
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