Blessed are Those Who Mourn

Tuesday, February 1, 2011 Blessing #270

It was rough waking up after the long night with Mom-but staying up late with her and laughing was so worth it!  The good times didn't last forever though....

I usually wake at 5, but this morning her phone rang at 4:57am.  It was someone from her office calling to report the death of a patient.  My mom has been practicing medicine for more than 30 years-and still when she hears that a patient has passed she stops to mourn.  Watching her reflect on this patient-and cry for her, was so touching.  I can see how Drs. could become jaded and cold; how they could stop seeing their patients as people and see them only as cases--but for Mom each patient is an opportunity to make a connection with a soul and to minister to someone in need.  The connection is so genuine that her patients even minister to her.  It is special and beautiful, and exactly the way I hope to connect with my students.

In Matthew, Chapter 5, vs 4, Jesus says, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."  I remember a sermon Daddy preached on this-perhaps better than any other sermon.  I remember because his take on this scripture was different than any canned Sunday School version I had heard.  He believes--and now I do too--that the Blessing here is most easily found in the loving.  If you are mourning than you have loved--and if you have loved than your soul has touched another.  What a tremendous gift from God.

Today, I'm thankful to have parents who understand the gift and power of love.  Even as they mourn-they are thankful for the connections they make with God's children.  I am thankful that death won't convince me not to seek out love and rejoice in it.  When it ends-when death comes, there will be mourning, but without that love, I would be living in the shadows and away from God's blessings.  I am going to love and I am going to wrap myself in His Blessings.