Month: November 2016

The Empty Swing

When I was little, my sister went to be with Jesus after a tragic car accident. She was six years old…

The Empty Swing
You’re not here now.
Where did you go?
Your swing is now empty and I’m here alone.
They say you’re in heaven, but why did you leave?
Can’t you come back? Let’s sit and read.
Not sure why you left, but hurry back soon.
Things aren’t the same and I miss you.

It’s been a few years now.
You’re not coming back.
Mom says you’re with Jesus — having a blast.
I sit in your swing… I like it best.
I pretend we talk, but now you’re a guest.
I ask, “How is heaven? What is it like?
How can I get there, so we can play all night!”
Mom and Dad say, I shouldn’t ask God “Why?,”
But I sill wonder, since I’m left behind.
‘Trust in the Lord” is something they say,
I think I’m learning more day by day…

You’ve been gone for a while now.
God’s taught me a lot
Of His faithfulness, love, and understanding how–
He died on the cross, my sins are no more.
He died for me, through His grace I’m adored.
I’m glad I knew you briefly back then.
God used your death to draw me to Him.
Our swing, now rusted and thrown away,
Will carry memories of you, forever to stay.

Thank you, Lord, for my sister — my friend.
Her death was a beginning, not the end.
I wouldn’t be who I am today,
You used her death to draw me Your way.
Though her swing is now empty and she’s not here
Through the storms, Your hand is evident and clear.

An empty swing floats in parks I pass by
It echoes reminders of God’s love, and here’s why.
The swing is a symbol… It moves back and forth,
It clutches the sunlight and drips when it pours,
It moves gently in breeze, and quickly with force,
Yet doesn’t waiver from it’s pendulum-like coarse.

The swing is held by chains and a bar;
Though freedom it gives, the guest doesn’t go far.
The swing is like me, and I’m held by the King.
He sees, hears and knows the pain that I bring.
He moves ever with me and never lets go.
His love so great, I’ll never fully know.

God never waivers through terrible loss
Though pain is the outcome, seek the cross.
The answers of why, what or how
Can only be answered by God when we bow.

My sister had her time in the swing,
now she doesn’t need it… she’s with the King.

~ Catherine Couch

When I was little, my sister went to be with Jesus after a tragic car accident. She was six years old. God used the wake of her death to impact countless lives. Mine included. But grieving isn’t something kids really know how to do. Plus, grief comes in waves that can later surface in other outward forms. For me, I battled depression, anxiety, an eating disorder…  Grief is a process that takes time, grace and a whole lot of Jesus.

Maybe someone reading this needs hope — especially during this holiday season. Maybe you know of a child who is grieving, but you don’t know how to help. I have met so many young people who are labeled as being “emotionally unstable.” But what if that person is grieving and they don’t fully understand or know what they are experiencing…

Joyce Meyer wrote a great article called “Overcoming Grief and Loneliness.” She states, “When tragedy occurs and the hurt seems unbearable, Satan sees an opportunity to try to bring a family or an individual into permanent bondage.”  (I’d like to encourage you to check out that article).

Grief is clothed in many outfits… At the end of the day, people need help learning how to clothe themselves in righteousness through Jesus Christ. Jesus heals. HE is our HOPE. He knows the grief we are clothed in, and only Christ can help us live outside the feelings, if we seek Him and the Truth of God’s Word.

This post is for a child or someone you know who has lost a sibling or parent. There are many avenues that offer help to grieving adults, but I want to introduce to you a ministry that I wish I had when I was little.

The ministry is called Shift. It is offered in conjunction with GriefShare – a ministry for the adults. A snippet of the Shift website states, “When the “shifts” of life occur, the aftermath is unpredictable and rarely stable. Our hope for kids dealing with the loss of a loved one is that as they process the shift they’ve undergone, they’ll be equipped with the tools they need to build a solid foundation of faith and hope.”

I pray that today and this coming year will be the beginning of God healing and restoring you, your family and friends.

Verses that have comforted me:

HELPFUL LINKS:
SHIFT
GRIEF SHARE