Kirk H. Neely - Navigating Grief: Finding Strength for Today and Hope for Tomorrow

As much as I enjoy reading, I understand how difficult it is to read and cry at the same time. I found that when I wrote these pages, I had to give myself a break. Whether reading or writing, we can only dwell on grief and sorrow, death and dying, for a time, and then we need relief.

Please, be gentle with yourself. I want these pages to be a blessing to you, not a burden. You dont ever have to finish this book. It is written so that you can read a little, and stop, and then come back later. I have tried to write remembering how difficult it is to read when your heart is broken and your eyes are blurred with tears.

The book has several features that will help you take shortcuts through the deep forest of understanding your grief:

• The detailed table of contents will help you quickly find sections that are better suited to your grief at various points in your walk through bereavement.
• A list of comforting Scriptures is included to help you quickly access passages that may help.
• Though there are many books on grief, I have included a brief annotated list of a few that I have found especially helpful.

There are some things I cannot provide for you that will help. You will need to supply these things yourself as you read these pages:

• Something soothing to drink. Choose whatever is calming to you.
• A little comfort food. Chocolate seems to help many people.
• A sense of humor. If all you do is cry, this journey becomes very tedious.
• A box of tissues. If you need permission to cry, remember the shortest verse in the Bible, Jesus wept.

Maybe you have heard the quip, I was feeling despondent and someone said, Cheer up, things could be worse. So, I cheered up, and sure enough, things got worse.

This is not intended to be a cheer-up book. Those usually make us feel worse, not better, when we are grieving.

Rather, this is a book of encouragement. I have been through deep sorrow. I have experienced the faithful, tender healing of God. I have every confidence that God will be with you as God has been with me.

I know that there are times when a grief-stricken soul is unable to pray. We may feel that God is absent, that he has abandoned us. I have learned that in those times, it is helpful if someone prays for us. My prayer for you is that the God of all comfort will bind up your broken heart and strengthen you with his grace.