Coping with multiple loss...

In one year she has lost 3 immediate family members. Some from long illnesses and others from sudden events. And now there there is no one left. She is alone.

She has experienced her share of health problems, including being hit by a car and breaking her leg. An injury that hindered here in her ability to do her job, which provides minimal income--yet she pressed on.

Because of her depressed financial and life circumstance, she has had to move multiple times in just this past year. Five to be exact.

Her current living situation was far better then the previous ones, and she was acting as a home-health-care person for the landlord in exchange for room and board. However, her landlord has been quite ill for several months now and just today she called me to let me know that her landlord had passed away.

And she must find yet another place to live.

Personally it's difficult for me to even concieve of this level of loss, pain and grief. In researching this on the internet, I found that the death of a close family member, moving and financial troubles consistently rank in the top 5 of stressful lifes events. And this dear lady has experienced multiples in a very small time frame: about 18 months. And what I've mentioned here is only a small part of the big picture. How would you handle this kind of loss? Can you even concieve of it?

In the time that I've known this dear lady, her emotions have run the gamut, understandably, and depression has threatened. I feel so inadequate in even how to encourage her, and so I just sit, listen, pray and let her cry on my shoulder.

She only had a copy of the New Testament and so had never read the Psalms. I was able to get Bible for her (with both OT and NT) and we have begun reading through the Psalms and discussing them together. She has found much comfort and solace there in the words of others who have also faced real and deep life struggles. More importantly, she has found a deeper hope in Jesus, knowing that He cares for her. Though there is still a long road ahead.

Please pray with me for this dear woman, especially now as she faces this new life challenge. Please also pray for me for wisdom in counsel and encouragement.


Image source: http://iwritetheblogs.wordpress.com/2007/05/21/the-short-and-long-good-bye/