The Price of Love
Grief doesn’t end, but it changes. It is a passage, not a place to stay. It is not a sign of weakness, nor lack of faith. It is the price of love.
Unknown
Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him...therefore encourage one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, 18
There is a misconception that Pastors are impervious to pain and immune to suffering. Oh, how I wish that were true. Personal experiences aside, such an armor would make ministry easier, especially when walking alongside members through the valley of the shadow of death. Alas, Pastors feel our own pain, and yours too.
I have never dreaded a day more in my life than Father’s Day 2025. The days leading up to Dad’s service were cloudy. Thanksgiving and Christmas were distinguished by denial. Mom’s birthday was hard. My birthday, even more so. And Father’s Day just hits differently.
Yet, I am assured of God’s presence with me and in me. I also know that the intense grief and pain I feel today will not last always. If grief is the price of love, then I expect this to be costly as I loved my dad deeply.
I lay my soul bare, not to garner sympathy, rather in an attempt to model what we’ve been talking about in the Mind Over Matter preaching and teaching series. I am practicing what I have been preaching and teaching all year long--uncompromising faithfulness in my stewardship. In fact, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the wisdom of my therapist, I asked my good friend, the Rev. Drew Kyndall Ross, to deliver the sermon in worship today. Proper stewardship of this season and day, my first Father’s Day without the earthly presence of my Dad, was to care for my own heart, mind, and soul. In doing so, I will be a stronger me for God, for myself, for my family, and for the work of ministry.
If grief is your portion, today or any other day, I invite you to exercise good stewardship In caring for yourself; for you, too, belong to God.
Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah