Isaiah 5:3 He was… a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief
Parting is such sweet sorrow penned Shakespeare.
Waving goodbye to my son, daughter-in-law, and little grandson, I walked through the doors of the Nashville airport. After a wonderful weekend, I couldn’t help but feel a little sad. Goodbyes have never been easy for me. A fact not lost on the God who finds unique ways to comfort us. Like he for me did that morning.
First, when the security guard noticed on my driver’s license that my birthday was coming up the next week, he wished me a happy birthday. Hundreds of people clamoring to get through security and he took the time to acknowledge my birthday! That put the first smile on my face.
Then while waiting to go through baggage check, I noticed the guy in front of me was wearing a Penn State hat. When I asked if he had watched the game that weekend, he said, “Are you a Penn State fan?” That began a whole conversation about the Nittany Lions. His wife remarked that whenever they travel, they never run into PSU fans. We had a little “Happy Valley” celebration right there in SEC territory! Smile number two.
But the sweetest moment came when the security lady at baggage told me to take off my shoes. I responded that since I was 75, I thought it wasn’t necessary. “What? You can’t be 75! Girl, what are you doing to look so young?!!!? I burst into laughter and thanked her for making my day.
God’s little comforts surrounded my parting sorrow with such sweetness. But he comforts us in far greater sorrows as well.
I had just heard about the tragic death of a friend. Leaving behind a heartbroken wife and three children, grief felt palpable. Yet as I prayed, I knew God’s comforting sweetness would be there to walk them through. When I “chance” encountered his dear wife a couple days later, she confirmed how God’s grace was sustaining her in remarkable ways. She undoubtedly has a rough road ahead, but she is experiencing God’s sweetness in the midst of her sorrow.
Jesus knows all about our sad seasons, and he cares. He cares because he experienced grief himself. And into every sorrow he embeds threads of sweet joy. Friend, I pray you recognize his comforting sweetness in the midst of your pain.