Tag: Grief

Grief is a tricky thing

May 26, 2026

I’ve been to many funerals over the years, and not even one has been for anyone who was not considered a good person. I am not sure that all “good people” qualify as born-again believers, but there is one question after a funeral that is universal.

“Would they have been touched by the heartfelt words that were shared?” Recently, I was at a service for a long-time friend who had been suffering from Alzheimer’s for years. Early on, he had asked our former pastor to officiate for him. This minister passed away last year.

I was pleasantly surprised to see a young pastor listed on the program in his place. The best part was that this preacher is the husband of one of the granddaughters. As a grandson-in-law, he has access to the library of sermons his ancestor used for these occasions. One was selected that I recognized from previous events.

One of my favorite parts in the Bible was used from John 14, where Jesus tells us that He is preparing a place for all his children. I have requested one of my former pastors to use this scripture at my service. He’s young enough, and I hope he will still be around when I die at 120.

It is said that nothing is certain except death and taxes. Another certainty is that when most of us go home, someone will grieve. I have some encouragement for you who are undergoing this process: if they were born-again believers, they are with our Lord and Savior.

Many verses in scripture assure us of this fact. I could write an entire series of columns on those verses, but I have done that before and will again when I am told to. My task today is to share what I know about this thing we call grief.

Grief is a tricky thing. Everyone goes through it, and while we can identify stages of dealing with grief, it is difficult to know what others are going through, even if you have lost someone. When my oldest brother died of a heart attack, his sons asked me if he was in Heaven.

Like many of us, he had accepted Christ at an early age, and his actions during his life were not what most church people would take as proof of this salvation. In my own case, I am sure some would deny that I made it either. These are people who think Christians must be perfect to see God when they die.

I shared with them that Kenny had made two professions of faith. One, before I was old enough to remember, and the second when we were teenagers. I saw him pray the sinner’s prayer and be baptized. The gospels say this is the one thing Jesus tells us we must do: admit our sin and ask for forgiveness.

Another problem with grief is that if we have made mistakes with friends and family and never gotten over all the problems, we may feel guilty. Remember to take it one step at a time. Grief’s a tricky thing.

©Copyright 2026 by Charles Kensinger

Goodbye, Meow

December 9, 2022

Some of you will not relate to this column. Others will understand and some may have had similar tragedies in their lives. Thirteen years ago, our daughter’s family adopted a kitten. Their oldest girl gave it the name Meow. This was what she answered when asked what a cat says. They had a new baby girl at the time. She is now in Middle School.

meow has been slowing down the last few years. As we all must, she died tonight. For those of you who have fur babies and children, you know how this family is hurting.

I’ve buried a number of pets over the years. My wife did not grow up with dogs or cats around the house. When we moved into our second rental house and discovered that we could keep a dog in the fenced yard, we got our first dog. Our home has been blessed with many furry friends for over forty years.

Our daughters know the pain of losing a loved one because they have had these friends die. We have lost cats, dogs, gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, bunnies, lizards, fish, and even a chicken that I called dinner. That last one left our home alive. We never asked the farmer who took him what happened after he went to the farm. The first chick we took in died a few days after it was brought home.

Life goes on even when we lose human loved ones. Being able to cope with this grief can be learned by children if they suffer the pain of losing a pet. Losing a cat is not as bad as having a family member die. For children, it can be as traumatic.

My grandmother and President Kennedy both died in 1963. I do not remember being that upset by either of those deaths. When we lost our cat, princess, weeks later, it bothered me a lot more. Dealing with death is difficult for anyone. Children can have trouble coping with these feelings.

Raising children and grandchildren is often challenging. I ask that you remember this family as they teach the kids how to cope with emotions that they have not experienced before. If your family is grieving over a loved one or a pet, I would like to say that I am sorry for your loss and hope that this article has helped in a small way. God bless you.

©Copyright 2022 by Charles Kensinger