 Musical Term of the Day: lacrimoso - weeping, tearful Psalm 30:5b “…weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Greetings! BlogFam, Today, I am moved with compassion for those who are experiencing a lacrimoso moment in this season. On Saturday, I did attend the funeral of a gentleman who was clearly loved by family and friends. The church had standing room only. People from all walks of life were present to pay their respects and I was in the midst. I did not know the gentleman; however, I have a relationship with a few members of the family so I was there to support them with my prayers and my presence during their time of loss and bereavement. My friends, there are so many hurting people in our company. Look around or perhaps just look in the mirror. I have certainly experienced loss at several times throughout my life and even if the loss was for my good, there was always an emotional, social and sometimes spiritual adjustment that had to take place in order for me to move on. Let us be honest. We ALL have experienced weeping. We have ALL been tearful. We ALL have had to shift with the public or private lacrimoso movement in our life’s music score. Sometimes we choose the loss. Other times, it comes by surprise. And sometimes God graciously allows us the gift of preparation in advance for the loss that is to come. Wherever you are or wherever someone else you know may be, loss is not something that can be easily dismissed. And as often as we hear our verse for today, I am clear that the night is sometimes longer than we want it to be. “…weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” My sistas and brothas, even Jesus took a moment to pause and weep BEFORE he raised Lazarus from the dead. So, who are we to think that people should just get over IT – whatever IT may be? Who are we to rush people through their night of weeping? Who are we to determine how long their tears should flow? Who are we to pull back the shades and force people to feel the sun? Now, I am not a psychologist so I do not profess to know what is a “healthy”amount of time to grieve or what is the designated length of time for weeping for one not to cross the line into depression. I am aware that the seven stages of grief are: [1] shock & denial, [2] pain & guilt, [3] anger & bargaining, [4] depression-reflection-loneliness, [5] the upward turn, [6] reconstruction & working through, and [7] lastly acceptance & hope. But that is just about all I can tell you about that. However, I will say this. For those of us on the outside looking in or on the inside looking out, I say take your time because the original composer of our lives is with us on both sides of the comma. God is with us while we are crying our eyeballs out during our mourning and God is with us when we open our eyes to experience the joy of a new morning. Friends I have walked on both sides of the comma – sometimes, at the same time. I have had moments where I was sad about X but excited about Y. I will even admit that there were many times when I felt like nobody understood and the ONLY person I could call on was the Lord. Now, I realize that for some of you, that just makes sense. We are supposed to call on the Lord. We are supposed to look to the hills from whence cometh our help. We are supposed to trust in the Lord with all of our hearts. We are supposed to walk through the valleys of the shadows of death assured because the Lord is with us. OK. But what about when you do not feel like the Lord is nigh? What about when it feels like your prayers are bouncing off the ceiling and coming short of their intended destination? What about when everybody is telling you to cross over the comma but you strangely feel more comfortable with your box of Kleenex? Well, let me be the one to tell you that I understand and more importantly, God understands. I tell you my friends, God is with us in EVERY lacrimoso moment whether we feel it or not and God is big enough to hold us while we are weeping and to lead us into the joy of a new morning. Friends, I will not tell you to move on or get over it or suck it up. I will say this. There is another way that is available to you and only God knows when your heart will allow that way to open to you. BlogFam, I am so grateful that there is a way, a different way, a joyful way that carries us through mourning into the morning this verse speaks of. Jesus said that He was that way and I want you to know that He IS the way. Jesus is the WAY for all of us to get pass the comma and crossover into the JOY of the Lord where we will continue to find strength. Today, I simply say OPEN your heart to a way. A WAY that is full of hope and peace and joy. A WAY that is narrow yet dependable and life-giving. A WAY that was, and still is, and is to come. A WAY that has been there the whole time. A WAY that is simply waiting for your YES by faith. Friends, no matter what you may be going through, I will be praying with you today. I will be praying that you OPEN your heart to THIS WAY.  God Loves You and I do too!Delesslyn Twitter - @AudraSunshine Email - delesslyn@spiritedconcepts.net If you enjoyed reading this blog post, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE on the left to get email updates,SHARE it with three people, COMMENT below, and GIVE a donation of $5.00 or your best gift to keep it going! ALSO, feel free to check out the other pages on my website! 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