As we return to our day to day lives following the Memorial Day weekend, many people are still carrying the emotions it may have stirred. Days centered around remembrance invite us to pause and reflect not only on sacrifice, but also on the people who shaped our lives through love, presence, and connection.
For many, the holiday weekend was filled with gratitude, reflection, and remembrance. For military families and veterans, there may be layers of trauma, survivor’s guilt, unresolved pain, or memories connected to loss and sacrifice. For others, the holiday may have intensified personal losses unrelated to military service — memories of loved ones who are no longer here, relationships deeply missed, and the ache that comes with loss.
Grief rarely follows a straight line. Certain dates, anniversaries, and holidays can reopen wounds we thought had healed. For some, grief feels fresh and overwhelming. For others, it quietly lingers beneath the surface, unexpectedly resurfacing through a photograph, a familiar song, or an empty seat at the table.
When someone we love is gone, it leaves an ache. That ache reflects the genuine value of the relationship we shared. Scripture paints a clear picture that grief is a natural response to loss; we were created for love, connection, and relationship. In a busy culture that frequently encourages people to “move on” quickly, Scripture offers something different: permission to grieve honestly, release the pressure to “move on”, and hold onto the hope that rests in Christ.
The Bible never minimizes sorrow. In fact, many faithful people throughout Scripture openly lamented their losses before God. King David poured out his grief in the Psalms. Martha and Mary wept after the death of Lazarus. Even Jesus Himself experienced deep sorrow. In the shortest verse in Scripture, we are told simply: “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). Before performing the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus first stood with those who mourned and experienced the pain.
That matters.
It reminds us that grief is not weakness. Tears are not failure. Mourning is not a lack of faith. You can deeply trust God and still feel heartbroken.
First Thessalonians 4:13 encourages believers not to grieve “as others do who have no hope.” Scripture does not say we will not grieve. It says we grieve differently because death is not the final word. That truth provides hope.
Healthy grieving does not mean forgetting someone or “getting over it.” Hope and grief often coexist. It means learning how to carry both loss and love together. You can be thankful for cherished memories while wishing you had more time. You can believe in eternity and still cry in the present moment. Over time, grief may change shape, but remembrance remains meaningful.
For believers, remembrance carries both sorrow and anticipation — sorrow because we miss those we love, and anticipation because we trust that God is making all things new.
There is value in intentionally remembering the people who mattered to us and the sacrifices that were made on our behalf.
Sometimes remembrance can look simple:
- Visiting a gravesite
- Looking through old photos
- Sharing stories with family
- Lighting a candle
- Spending time in prayer
- Taking quiet time to reflect
- Writing a letter to someone you miss
These acts of remembrance help honor both memory and meaning. The emotions connected to remembrance often remain long after the holiday weekend ends. Grief does not follow a calendar, and love does not disappear with time.
The good news is that God does not ask us to carry grief alone. Scripture reassures us that He is especially present in suffering. Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” What a comforting promise. Not that God avoids brokenhearted people, but that He draws near to them.
Grief can feel isolating, but healing often happens in safe, compassionate connection with others – through God’s presence and through trusted friends, family, church community, or professional counseling. Sometimes simply having a space where your pain is acknowledged without judgment can make a profound difference.
At Renewing Life Center, we know that God cares deeply about our emotional and spiritual wounds. Healing begins when we stop avoiding our pain and honestly bring our burdens into the light. Healing also happens when we allow ourselves to be supported, and we have a team of clinicians available to walk alongside those in need. Call 702-434-7290 to schedule an appointment.
As we continue forward, may we give ourselves permission to remember the people who shaped our lives, to grieve honestly, and to trust that God remains near to the brokenhearted.
Samantha Winters, M.B.A., LMFT