Life in the Way

Sackcloth.

Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days. (Genesis 37:34)

I have been saddened for a couple of weeks because a close friend of mine has been in an Ohio hospital with his son attempting to repair a restricted airway.  Dave and his wife found the best doctors for their son, went to Ohio and his son had the surgery. Yesterday, I spoke with Dave and in short, the surgery failed. With that, one of the effects is that his son will not be able to talk for the time being and they have to try again at sometime in the future.

In reflecting on it I am hoping to express and understand the pain that I am feeling for him and his family and also to encourage the reader (you) to pray for them.

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Personally, I have only been in the “son” situation and I remember my parents sharing with me how they were feeling about what I was going through. In short, they pained in a way that I couldn’t understand, especially my Mom.

Since then, I have been exposed to situations that have helped me to understand how my parents (and others in similar situations) felt. Sad, angry, numb, guilty, helpless are some of the feelings that come to mind.

I saw Dave’s parents Wednesday night and found myself choking back my emotion.  I have been in prayer, I have reflected on it, I have cried out to God, I have listened to Darlene Zschech, Tori Amos, George Winston, Nine-in-Nail, Micheal Smith, Pink Floyd, Handel, and Hillsong. I have stay up, I have laid down.  The pain I feel for them won’t subside, yet Dave is experiencing far more intense feelings.

Sackcloth (or hair-cloth) often serves as a reminder to us that our flesh is not the focus of life.  Yet, it is more than a reminder, it serves as an encourager of one’s whole being to focus on the Giver of life.  In scripture, there were incredibly faithful people who utilized sackcloth to mourn.  I wonder what the modern equivalent of that would be because I am feeling a need for sackcloth?  Maybe sackcloth wouldn’t make anything better, I would just be a whole lot more physically uncomfortable and still emotionally and spiritually paining for them?

May prayers go out to the family.  Would you pray with me?

Tags: Friends, Random Thoughts