Brianna Cassidy
Pilot ~ Photographer ~ Scuba Diver
How to Overcome Grief
One thing we have learned on this topic since we lost our precious daughter eleven years ago, to the day and date—Friday, 19th is this—recall those fond memories and share them with others.
Two memories stand out I’d like to share. When Brianna was a little girl, maybe five or six, I was going through a difficult time, unemployed and she wrote on a yellow card the words in the picture below, and laminated it for me. I carry it in my Bible to this day—a precious memory indeed that encouraged me at the time. The other was when she was a pilot, I believe 18, when she took my up for a flight (just dad and daughter) on a clear Fall day, flying me to an airstrip, the other side of Clearlake, CA, with an amazing aeronautical feat, (I’m sure she had practiced) to show off her “flight prowess.” She made her father proud that day. {Oh how I wished I’d filmed it.} This is how we’ve kept our daughter’s legacy alive, which has helped us in overcoming grief these many years of separation.
But the last six years, God put us in prison ministry, where our time and efforts were engaged in blessing others, with the most valuable gift—the Word of Life. When we focus our lives away from ourselves to blessing others, we spend our time and effort in uplifting those who benefit from our blessing. This is the true purpose of living, especially when it has long-lasting, even eternal effects. Our Heavenly Father wants to give us a sure way of containing grief and suffering, to prevent it from consuming us. [A number of these men want to meet the “Brianna” behind BWP Foundation one day.]
Now mind you, this is not to say that one does not experience grieving ever again. We have not “gotten over” the loss of our daughter. That will never happen until we are reunited with her. The pain and grief is still present with us especially do we experience it this time of year. The difference, we don’t let it consume us like before.
When others are depending on you to fulfill your task and purpose, it is expedient to keep focused. The eternal principle of righteousness testifies that when we bless others, we ourselves are blessed.
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Perhaps you reader are going through a difficult time—a long term illness, a separation, even a divorce, a job loss, or tragically, the loss of a loved one, or any other challenging situation which involves pain, suffering, even grief. Though some of these, my wife and I have experienced, and can sympathize; yet there is One who understands your pain and grief fully. He has been there, waiting patiently for us to come to Him. He has gone through each of our trials. He knows, He cares, and He wants you to know He is there for you. He wants to walk with you through the pages of your life. He has a plan to bring you comfort, peace and assurance. He will never leave you nor forsake you, if you say yes to Him.
If you allow this Friend to come in and reveal Himself to you, He will show you His blueprint for your life and focus your life on Him. There are many ways to bless others—volunteer your time in some capacity, make little gifts to share with others, even corresponding as a pen pal with the incarcerated. Ask the Lord, He will show you, and will “give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4), so that you too can experience, the true purpose in living—blessing others.