tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878914472051909043.post8490176666628028361..comments2024-01-12T12:39:47.241-08:00Comments on The Christian Monist: Empty Nesting SucksUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878914472051909043.post-67227570411392267812008-09-07T12:01:00.000-07:002008-09-07T12:01:00.000-07:00Thanks for your comments. Yeah, it is like Lewis'...Thanks for your comments. Yeah, it is like Lewis' A Grief Observed. I am really grateful to him for his willingness to allow us to see raw human emotions . . . without appology. He didn't aways say or think the right things, but as I read it, I knew that his love for his wife was intense and his sense of loss real.<BR/><BR/>I'm sure that when I look back at this posting in a year, I will wonder why I wrote in such strong terms, but in the grasp of pain, it makes a lot of sense.<BR/><BR/>I do have someone to cry with, my wife. However, do to her work schedule and mine, we haven't cried "together" this week but at our own private times.MJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09240462070445948163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878914472051909043.post-54332753863451098082008-09-07T07:24:00.000-07:002008-09-07T07:24:00.000-07:00What poignant writing. What raw grief. I almost he...What poignant writing. What raw grief. I almost hesitate to comment because I am afraid of say the wrong thing but I wanted you to know that my heart hurts for you.<BR/><BR/>I have five children also. Most of them are still little but my oldest is 16 and can't wait to give his wings a try and fly far from the confines of home. I will still have all these little ones at home but I know how fast the time will go and then they will join their brother out in the world.<BR/><BR/>It must be much harder, though, for men to feel this deeply and try to express it to others. In our culture, it is much more acceptable for women to feel this grief (for a short time anyway). Men are not even allowed a moment of it. I don't think it is just the evangelical culture that is so uncomfortable with strong feeling (any strong feeling really, not just sorrow). I see it in the popular self-help/New Age practitioners also. A strong dose of Buddist-type detachment is urged in order to attempt to rid oneself of suffering. Not sure why so many are trying to run from suffering; it seems like that just makes it worse. The Biblical model appears to be bearing one another's burdens; weeping with those who weep, etc. <BR/><BR/>You mention George MacDonald. He is a great favorite of mine. I could be wrong but I imagine him saying that in heaven, our personalities would be the best of us at all ages. In other words, we could enjoy our children as both tots and adults and ourselves as parents to little ones and big ones. Best of all worlds. <BR/>Another hope I cherish is that no joy is ever lost and the smiles of our babies are something we will be able to "replay" again and again in heaven. <BR/><BR/>I hope you will be blessed with someone to cry with you at this difficult time.Hope T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07861626818618433758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878914472051909043.post-31341512218197630982008-09-04T11:47:00.000-07:002008-09-04T11:47:00.000-07:00I will continue as soon as I can type again withou...I will continue as soon as I can type again without weeping. Amy just left for collge this morning . . . so it might be a few days.MJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09240462070445948163noreply@blogger.com