THE BEATUTIDES # 2

In discussing the beatitudes remember –

Jesus desires for us to live a happy Christian Life, one filled with joy and hope.

MATTHEW 5:5

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Mourning will happen to all of us in one way or another – sadness, sorrow, dejection, depression, misery, despair, aloneness.

The difference between happiness and being “blessed” is shown in this verse.

HOW CAN THAT BE?

This beatitude states that those who mourn are blessed. How can that be?

Those who mourn, are normally not happy, but –

Jesus wants His followers to understand that those who experience mourning are not hopeless.

There is hope. Jesus is the light that shines bright in our time of darkness.

When you are consistent in building your relationship with Jesus through prayer and reading His Word you are more likely to turn to Him in times of mourning.

SEARCH FOR THE GLIMMER OF LIGHT

You can be the blessing, the glimmer of hope, the smile that brightens someone’s day when they are experiencing a time of mourning.

THE “MOURNING” DOVE

My grandmother loved to feed the birds – I believe at one time when she was living with my parents, she had over ten bird feeders. She was almost blind but could feel her way around the yard and the feeders for years before my parents took over the feeder filling.  She then enjoyed listening to the birds as they flocked to her feeders.

My grandmother, my parents and my husband and I love to watch the birds, any kind of birds, we feed them and get to know what they like to eat, which ones rely on other birds to knock the seeds out of the feeder for them. It is a lesson in happy society living to witness how all the different birds give each other help and at times space.

I always thought the “mourning dove” was a “morning” dove.

I enjoyed hearing the coo and watching them eat from the ground. I always saw them in the morning, so I just decided they were morning doves.

When I mentioned that to my grandmother one day she had a totally different thought on the
mourning dove.

To her it was a “coo” of sadness, it brought memories of loved ones who were no longer with us, she also thought they were telling us it was going to rain. Rain to her was cloudy and darkness.

Some believe the dove’s appearance is looked at as a visit from the deceased loved one.

Even though I never thought of it like that I could then hear and understand the “coo” of sadness.

Now, I enjoy watching all the birds, but the “mourning” doves always being a special connection to my grandmother.

Jesus will never abandon us during our times of grief, sadness, or mourning.

Instead, he will always provide us with love, hope, and comfort.

The comfort that gives us the strength to take the next step.

 

Thank You Jesus for the comfort of hope. Be with us as we mourn, walk with us through the midst of the trial as we work our way to the triumph in knowing You are there walking with us.  In Jesus Name Amen.

My grandmother was an artist, a cartoonist, and a poet.  Here is one of her poems.

MORNING JOY – BY JESSIE AASEBY

Joy cometh in the morning,

Rise up and meet the day.

sing praises to the Lord,

And follow in His loving way.

Be happy for the new day,

A new challenge awaits you,

Just be sure you have Jesus

In everything you do.

god will lead you in exciting ways,

He makes all things new.

So rise up early in the morning,

When the earth is covered with dew.

Lift your hands up to the Lord,

Praise Him all day long.

He will bless you in many ways,

Praise Him in prayer and song.