How to Support The Mourning Man Next Door

While sharing the same neighborhood, David and Tom did not share the same life experiences or religious beliefs. When David heard the news that Tom’s son died in a car accident, he chose to step close to Tom in his pain.   He didn’t say much.  He wept while listening to Tom tell of his son’s last days, last hours and the horrifying visit from the local peace officer who brought the news of his son’s death.

As the months passed, David supported Tom by inviting him on fishing trips, hikes and back packing with the purpose of giving him freedom to grieve.  One thing that David understood was that God was fully responsible to heal Tom’s broken heart. He did not need to bear the burden of “fixing” Tom’s sorrow.  So David continued to listen, even when Tom expressed confusion about his faith.  This was not the time to change Tom’s theology.  David trusted the Holy Spirit to enlighten Tom, and continued to pray, share promises of healing and hope, and gently respond to dialogue that was about God.

Both men are made better by a grief shared and supported.

After a year of David’s comforting presence and companionship, Tom’s heart had an outline of healing. Each man was made better by sharing the grief journey. David experienced the satisfaction of practicing comfort care as Jesus would, and Tom was blessed by being supported through grief from his neighbor.

Reaching out to those who grieve is sacred work. When allowed into their inner circle of pain, we are stepping on hallowed ground.  The grieving are vulnerable and sensitive. They are the ones Jesus has called us to come close to and comfort them with the comfort we have ourselves received from the Lord. “Comfort, Comfort My people” is our mandate for following Jesus.

© Karen Nicola/Comfort for the Day 2020