How Does Loss Affect the Family?

                                                                                                                              

     When a loved one dies, it is hard.  We all deal with loss in our own way.  When it is a family member, then the whole family has lost someone important to them.  Each person deals the best they can.  This can lead to the family coming together and becoming stronger.  Or it can drive a wedge in the family.  The later seems to be the most common. There are many reasons for this, but the most common is unmet expectations.  We need something from the members of the family, but they are unable to give it at the time.  Without communication, this can become a serious heart issue.

     Sarah was 127 when she died in Hebron and Abraham mourned.  They had basically spent the their entire lives together.  He did not only lose his wife, but she was also his partner in life.  She was probably his best friend.  It was like he lost half of himself.   Because Abraham loved her, he bought a special piece of land just to bury her.  He was willing to pay whatever it was worth.  However, Abraham was well known and Sarah was probably loved by almost everyone.  The land belonged to Ephron and he gave it to Abraham.  That did not feel right to Abraham, so he gave the man 400 shekels. The land had a cave wit han adjoining field.  Sarah's body was placed in the cave.

     Isaac was 37 when his mother died.  He was a man, but still young.  He lost the most important woman in his life.  The loss was probably unbearable.  After all the mother son relationship is very different than the father son relationship.  We don't know much about him growing up, but that is probably because he had a happy life.  This was probably the worst think that ever happened to him up to now.  It was probably even worse than almost being sacrificed that one time.  It doesn't say what happened to him and his father, but there is not much spoken about them together after that.  

     Even when you know the person is a Christian and that you will see them again, it does not mean that you are not in physical pain over the loss while you are still here.  Loss is no small thing and needs to be taken seriously. Mourning takes a tole on the body, mind, and spirit.  It can take months to heal.  It will also change who you are.  How you chose to deal with mourning will define who you will be when it is over or if you ever get through it.  We cannot judge the process that people need to take.  We cannot rush the process.  If you do, then you can cause so much more devastation to a person's life.

Genesis 23