The other day I visited someone and noticed 3 small ornamental boxes on the one corner table. On the lids of these boxes were engraved the names of two dogs and a cat with their dates of birth and dates of demise... I realised that these tiny, expensive little boxes held the ashes of three beloved pets...
Now I know that some people also keep the ashes of their departed loved ones in urns, or caskets, in their homes, and whilst I understand that they loved them, miss them, long for them, are sad to have lost them, as we all are who have had to deal with the loss of a beloved, personally I have not been able to understand what good it does to keep the ashes in the home...
The beloved is no longer with us... no longer here... the ashes are portion of the remains of the coffin or burial casket they were in, the material used to fuel the cremation fires, and a small portion may be that of the departed beloved.
When I look at the urns containing the ashes of late acquaintances, it does not conjure up memories of that person... In fact, it makes me feel as if I am visiting a graveyard... Yet, I know that a number of people absolutely treasure the ashes of the departed.
I sat and looked at these tiny little boxes and wondered what emotions they evoked in the humans whose pets these were... Does it bring fond memories, or does it evoke feelings of loss, emotional pain, sadness, grief?
Then I wondered whether they were actually treasuring and coveting the ashes... or perhaps... the feelings?
Why not rather just keep our wonderful memories alive in the library of our minds to recall at times when we feel the loss, or the pain and so bring a smile to our lips and a gentle sparkle to the eyes?
I recalled a Scripture that dealt with ashes in the Bible:
"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath annointed
me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the
brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the
prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint
unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of
joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they
might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he
might be glorified." Is. 61: 1-3.
Whilst I have also mourned the loss of a father, a child, a fiancè, a sister, and a number of friends during my lifetime, the losses have made me realise just how precious life is... how much we have to be thankful for, how short life is, and how much there is to enjoy every day...
Are we subconsciously 'punishing' ourselves because we survived? Because we are still here? Because we can still enjoy life?
Some of us also tend to pamper and covet the "ashes" of other experiences in our lives: disappointment, broken relationships, failure, financial loss, and so allow and give way to 'the spirit of heaviness' that the Scripture talks about.
I had to ask myself these questions:
Are we sometimes captives, prisoners of, and bound by our own emotions of grief to the extent where it is impossible for God to comfort us, to give us new joy? So that it becomes impossible for us to praise Him and instead we are burdened with the heaviness of spirit that we experience whilst mourning?
Is it possible that hanging on to our "ashes" for as long as possible is not to the glory of God? That He wishes us to set aside our ashes and start a new life?
Father God, thank You for every day that You add to our lives. Help us to appreciate the beauty thereof and to appreciate all the wonderful people in our lives, and the beauty that surrounds us. Please help us to open ourselves to You so that You may give us beauty for ashes, and a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness... that You may be glorified in and through us.
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