{"id":554,"date":"2011-07-18T14:30:04","date_gmt":"2011-07-18T18:30:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mastonjackson.com\/?p=554"},"modified":"2011-07-18T14:27:10","modified_gmt":"2011-07-18T18:27:10","slug":"5-reasons-why-you-need-to-prepare-for-grief","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mastonjackson.com\/?p=554","title":{"rendered":"5 Reasons Why You Need to Prepare For Grief"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>One of the most helpless feelings you will ever experience occurs when someone you love is crushed beneath the weight of grief. \u00a0If you have not suffered with a family or a friend in this setting, hang on. You will. \u00a0How you personally prepare for grief can make the difference in your ability to minister.<\/p>\n

Eventually, death comes to every household. \u00a0Being present during an expression of fresh and quivering grief is heart rending. \u00a0Few can be in that setting and remain unmoved. \u00a0If you are a pastor, teacher, or good friend, the moment may find you ministering to a grief stricken family AND\u00a0grieving personally.<\/p>\n

I walked through the final days with Leroy. \u00a0He was one of the Deacons with whom I served and we had become great friends. \u00a0Hospice care had been arranged and I had made it a point to stop by his home and visit for a few minutes each day. \u00a0In the late evening hours I was called to the house for what would be the final visit. \u00a0When the moment of his passing came, I stood ready to minister to a room full of grieving family but was completely unprepared for the tidal wave of my own grief. \u00a0Since then, I have shared moments of grief with many others but the lessons I learned in Leroy’s den stick with me to this day.<\/p>\n

1. \u00a0Grief is unavoidable.<\/h5>\n