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            Catherine Sanders described how her experience with grief began when her son was killed in a waterskiing accident. She said, “After searching the literature for information that could help me deal with the loss, I came up practically empty. At that time, more emphasis was placed on the dying person than the grieving survivor.”[1] Sensing a void of resources to help her deal with her own grief Mrs. Sanders began researching and writing in order to help others deal with their grief.

            My friend Dean Miller lost his wife of 41 years to Parkinson’s disease in 2013. He said, “Despite my years of local ministry with sickness and death, I was a mess. Despite all the years of study regarding spiritual growth, earthly trials, grieving, etc., I struggled to survive as never before.”[2] When he began his search for help he asked, “What were churches doing? Where were ministries seeking to assist those who had loved but lost?” Dean began his Widowhood Workshop ministry in 2014. I have heard him speak on the subject of widowhood. Although I have not attended one of his workshops I know that he is a very effective spokesman on the subject. This work is overseen by the shepherds of the church in LaVergne, TN. You can learn more at widowhoodworkshop.com.

            Following the death of his son in 1961, Ross W. Dye sensed what others have also felt. He said, “I have been made increasingly aware of a deficiency in the church’s ministry of comfort.”[3] This statement is striking to me. Ouch! Are God’s people deficient in the ministry of comfort? Doesn’t Paul teach us to “weep with those who weep”? (Rom. 12:15)

            How far have we come in the ministry of comfort since the 1960’s? The only books I have on the subject of grief, from the ‘60’s, are, A Grief Observed, by C. S. Lewis (1961), and, Words of Comfort, by Ross W. Dye (1962). That’s not to say that other sources were not available at that time. It’s just that I did not have them.

            A quick index search for the word “grief,” in the Gospel Advocate during the 1960’s, comes up empty. Why? We were not talking about it back then. Perhaps the charge that we were deficient in the ministry of comfort, at least at that time, is justified. If so, it is long past time to change that situation into something more positive. Some are doing that very thing.

            In the fall of 2020 I live-streamed a series of Bible classes on the subject of grief. At the time I utilized material from Ron and Don Williams and Bill Flatt. Prompting this study of grief was the fact that several members of the Mabelvale church were taken from us that year. As a result many of us had become “acquainted with grief.” Those lessons were also developed into a ten week study for our All Comers class. Those lessons came together into a book titled, Help for the Human Condition A Study of Grief.

            This book was published in 2022 as a work of the Mabelvale church. Praise God that the shepherds see fit to do this as a ministry of the Mabelvale church. When I learn of people who have suffered a loss I give them a copy of this book. I leave copies in waiting rooms at hospitals and doctors’ offices. I encourage Mabelvale members to do the same.

          I am currently revising this book. Also, I am adding two new chapters dealing with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The last two chapters will be briefer than the others, mainly urging people to seek help if they or their loved ones are facing either of these two problems. We all know someone who is struggling with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Also the cover will be redesigned.

            This book addresses the human condition in ways that I hope will be helpful. “The human condition” is my chosen expression for the ways in which we all suffer pain and loss. Suffering people appeared before Jesus (Matt. 4:24; Mk. 1:34; Lk. 4:40). He had compassion on the human condition.

            Loss and grief effect people in many ways. Some are never quite the same afterwards. It is my hope that this book will be a helpful source to you. May no deficiency in the ministry of comfort be found in us!

 

[1] Catherine M. Sanders, How to Survive the Loss of a Child (New York: Three Rivers Press, 1998), Introduction.

[2] Dean Miller, When the End Comes. Published by Widowhood Workshop, 2020), 2

[3] Ross W. Dye, Words of Comfort (Nashville: Gospel Advocate Company, 1962), Foreword.