Acquainted with grief,

Though not at this level.

I didn’t know sorrow could go this far.

This is more than I can bear.

 

How can love hurt so much?

 

A husband grasps his wife’s hand,

A son eases his mother’s pain,

A brother prays over his sister’s restless sleep.

And a wife, mother, sister hangs on at great cost to herself.

 

My heart breaks.

 

The shared grief hurts as much as the loss.

Words come fast or not at all.

Sleep eludes us.

We can’t leave her.

We must leave her.

She’s not here.

I can’t do this, Lord.

 

Yet I must.

 

Shaking, breathing, sighing.

Supplication, frustration, resignation.

How can this be?

We don’t understand, Lord.

 

“Jesus wept.”

 

Can that sorrow join ours?

“Comfort us in all our affliction.”

Intercede for us with groaning too deep for words.

Lead us to the rock that is higher than us,

 

For our broken hearts can only find refuge in You.