Ministry Tips — ministering to the grieving — a year later

 

Anniversaries are special times for couples to celebrate and remember the events that brought them together. And everyone enjoys celebrating their birthdays — well, almost everyone. But some anniversaries are sad.

 

I thought of this two years ago while doing some yard work during spring break at the college where I worked. I was using some tools that belonged to my dad and remembered he died on that very day a year before. It was a time to remember his contributions to my life and my gratitude to God that he wasn’t suffering any longer.

 

For many years I’ve had the practice of writing the deaths of church members and friends in my calendar so I’d remember the first anniversary of their passing. This affords a great opportunity for writing a note expressing concern and special prayer support that day. 

 

Notes can be mailed to arrive on the anniversary date or the pastor, Sunday School teacher or other church friend can be reminded to make a phone call expressing the same thoughts. 

 

More than a promise

 

We shouldn’t just promise to pray; we must pray for our friends. Counselors say it takes many months to deal with grief and the one-year mark is a major milestone.