These words are expressive of the sentiments of my heart. As pastors and teachers of the word of God the pages from the scriptures speak of death as part of the path all of us must meet one day. It's called "the appointment of death." It's not one you can pick and choose, it's not based on your favorite season of the year, it's something completely out of your control.  Death is the unwelcome visitor; however, to those who die in the Lord, it is eternal gain.  "For all who have entered into God's rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world" (Hebrews 4:10, NLT).

The gift of life provides so much joy, love, peace, and the blessing of happiness. It all soon comes to an end when death shows up. Time waits on no one. There are only 24-hours in a day and there is an hour on the clock that will be the final moment you have on earth. When it strikes our emotions are all over the place. Words like, "why?", "how"?, "I don't understand" take over in our vocabulary. It's ok. It is unwelcome, death can be unexpected. 

Do we really accept the scripture definitively that reads; "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment?" These are not just words uttered, they have meaning, they have a purpose, it is a reminder that death is coming. God gives us how to read your word with the understanding and clarity of one of the most painful, heartbreaking, and sorrowful emotions of our heart. 

"There is a multitude of emotions involved in the grief process-emotions that seem out of control and often appear in conflict with one another. With each loss comes bitterness, emptiness, apathy, love, anger, guilt, sadness, fear, self-pity and helplessness" (Dr. H. Norman Wright). Find someone to express how you are feeling. A trusted friend, your pastor, a counselor. No loss is to ever be compared and measured as the same from other losses in your life.  Loss does not only have to be from death; relationships, friendships, jobs, a pet, a game of sport, are losses. 

The earth is in a season from all appearances death, grief, sorrow...."Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows."Carry us, God!"