I am a soap opera junky when given a chance. It's probably a good thing I'm not a stay-at-home mom or my children would be being raised on confusing family trees and love lost and found and lost again.
I am also a minister. And among the many other gifts of my vocation, I am often invited in to the midst of people's grief in intimate ways that sometimes overwhelm me.
It's not unusual for me to hear people - especially people mourning the death of a long time spouse or elderly parent - say, "We had such a good life...I shouldn't be crying." My usual response is to tell them that I believe it's because they had a good life that they are crying. After all, there is something very special missing.
Today I happen to be at home...cooking, cleaning, catching up...and I have - guess what!?! - a soap opera on.
(Yes, this discussion of my soap opera addiction and grief will come together momentarily)
Today on The Young and The Restless the show took place at a funeral. Several of the characters spent a few minutes eulogizing the one who had died. But I was particularly struck by one comment. The character Katherine Chancelor (if you watch Y & R, you know her) said this...
Grief is the price we pay for love - and it's worth it.
I was struck by the truth of that comment. Whether it's the smaller daily grief that we sometimes face in the midst of struggle, disappointment, exhaustion, and so forth or whether it's that final grief at the ending of life, grief is the price we pay for love...
And I'm with Katherine - it's worth it.
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6 comments:
Grief is so so powerful, and yet we deny ourselves the power to grieve far to often. The sermons that my hubby has preached that people still talk about to this day, were all on grief. It is something that everyone experiences, but far to few of us are willing to talk about.
Well worth it.
Don't hate me -- I'm not a soap opera fan. But really? That quote is awesome in its truth! Remember that, and use it at my funeral, okay?
(I'm in a weird mood tonight...)
So very worth it.
I will choose love even if it eventually brings the heartache of loss.
And I take comfort in knowing that I will spend eternity with my Creator and my loved ones who love Him.
Sarah, no problem on the soap opera difference...I'll support your Smallville addiction and you can support my soap opera addiction!
i love finding Truth on tv:) God is so much bigger than we expect.
pre-kids, i watched soaps when i babysat (Days and AMC). i have friends--husband and wife both!--who DVR Days and watch it in bed together every night!
(they could probably watch it once a week and get sufficiently caught up, but everyone needs a hobby;)
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