Isaiah 45:3 “I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the Lord, Who call you by your name am the God of Israel.”
Norman Wright describes our journey through life after we have lost a child, using the analogy of having rocks in our pocket. When we begin this journey the rocks in our pockets are heavy and paralyzing. We are barely able to function trying to carry these heavy rocks. As time goes on and we do the emotional, spiritual and physical work it takes to carry this load, we find we become stronger. This pocket full of rocks becomes part of our everyday wardrobe. We are stronger and able to carry them, but every day we are aware that we will always have these rocks in our pocket.
The dictionary describes a pocket as a way to enclose or hem in somebody or something, a small area differentiated from neighboring areas by a particular feature. I can think of no better description of the pocket of rocks that represent all we have tucked away during this time of grief. Nothing can compare in our lives to the thoughts and feelings we have dealt with after we have lost our precious children. We have tucked away in our hearts and minds all that we can hold onto. Memories of our child, both good and bad, are forever placed in our pocket where every now and then we decide to pull out that treasured rock and cherish it. Each rock soon becomes very valuable and represents so much of what makes life worth living. We remember loving family and friends who walked alongside of us and encouraged us. The biggest rock of all will be the One that represents the love of the Lord. In our suffering He has been there with us, helping us and carrying us. He has blessed us with hidden riches we never thought we could find in that time of dark places. When our hearts have been broken open by such a tragic event, we have so much compassion and love to share, our pockets are full and we will find ourselves sharing our rocks with others who are hurting. As we continue to walk through this path we find ourselves on, we will continue to pick up many more treasured rocks.
Lord, may we each carry our rocks in our pocket with the love and care they deserve. It is a safe place to keep our love for our children and their love for us.
