Freely Speaking Audio Devotion

Welcome to Freely Speaking, an OHSOFREE devotional ministry where we share our hearts

and trust God for transformation.

Today’s devotion was written by Debbie Hamilton.

“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book” (Psalm 56:8 NLT).

His tear bottle must be bottomless, or it would have overflowed by now. Grief is such a complex emotion to contend with and attempt to manage. Some days, there’s just no escape. I try not to be sad, but grief overtakes me, and I cry.

I’ve learned and experienced that grief has many levels of intensity when dealing with a disease like my husband’s. Alzheimer’s/Lewy Bodies disease is taking him away in increments, and each time he “cycles” into another decline, I experience grief.

He has been in memory care now for seven months. The day I took him to the VA for admittance was probably the most challenging day I’ve ever experienced. You see, we held hands anytime we were out, and when they led him away to his new home, he reached back to take my hand. I managed to say I had some paperwork to sign, and he went away willingly with the nurses. Tears flooded my eyes as I watched him walk away. I was saddened beyond words.

Today, I had the opportunity to speak to several other women who have had to walk that same path. The nurses bring wives to me each time there is a new arrival, and I know what they are feeling. My prayer is for God to use my grief to help others, feel their grief, and to be a comfort.

I am so thankful that we serve a God who cares so much for us that He would keep track of our sorrows and always be nearby. We will experience grief in this life, but the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, is always close. If you are grieving, I encourage you to look for others in the same situation and allow God to use you, too.

Can you share a way you might use your grief to help others heal?

Thank you for joining us today. If you would like to learn more about OhSoFree Ministries, please visit us at www.ohsofreeministries.com.