The Endless Battle

It is a beautiful Saturday afternoon, so you decide to head to the beach.

You find a spot to read while enjoying the sun and the sounds of the water.

Suddenly it starts to get dark, you look up to see what is going on.

You notice a dark cloud slowly covering the sun, causing the beautiful day to end.

As the clouds moved in the wind started blowing so now you are trying your best to get off the beach.

Gathering your things, the wind blows harder causing you to lose your favorite beach hat.

The tides start rolling higher and higher, washing away the book you never got to finish.

The wind gets stronger and with each gust there comes more sand, now you are fighting to see your way through.

The more you fight the harder the wind blows and the harder the sand hits you.  

You finally decide to just give up and hide under the deck until the storm passes.

The sun starts to peek out and the wind slows down, just enough so you can make it off the beach.

Now you have a nice little walk back to your place.

The sun is back out and you are feeling a little relief but just trying to make it back home.

You get halfway there, and you see it is starting to get dark again.

You start to pick up the pace because you do not want to get caught in another storm.

The winds again bring the sand blinding you and making you feel like it is no way.

You feel stuck so all you can do is just drop to your knees and cry.

Trying to look to the sky but once again the sand is keeping you from seeing anything.  

The storm ends again and this time you are determined to get off that beach before it comes again.

This time you make it home unharmed.

A few days go by, and it is another beautiful day.

You want to go to the beach, but you do not want to get stuck in a storm again.

You check the weather, and it is sunny and clear skies all day.

So, you decided to give it another try.

You pack a lunch and head to the beach.

You sit there for hours basking in the sun and even running into a few friends.  

This is Grief, when you first lose someone or something (because grief is not just limited to just the death of a person)

you feel like you are fighting against the impossible.

You want your life back; you cannot understand why God is allowing this to happen.

You want to give up and just stay in the sadness of your grief.

Now grief is a lifelong battle but with the right steps, you can reach the good days.

The days when you are smiling and enjoying life again.

Navigating through what is now your new norm.

Grief might have deemed your sunshine for a moment, but it is never a permanent thing.