Is God near when you've lost a friend?

On the 30th of September, our family lost one of our dearest friends, that we could have.
I'm sorry to sound biased, but it was so sudden.
We lost our dear boy Tiggi, to what the vets said is old age.
 And indeed they were right, and Tiggi was 20 years old when he died, in fact he looked very much like the cat in the photo.
It was very hard to accept that our lovely little boy, was slowly giving up, as they put it.
I'm not a one for putting words in peoples mouths, who am I to say, that Tiggi didn't want to live any more, so therefore didn't come through the operation as fast as we would have liked.
It was a first experience for all of us, because he was the first family cat that we had.
You might feel a bit strange, that I'm writing about our cat, as yes, if you don't like animals or cats, please bear with me, one small moment.
Tiggi lost his purr, then his meow, then his use of his back legs, then he slowly became dehydrated, then then on the Wednesday the 30th he slipped into a coma, and died.
So I've been thinking about grief, and yes it's harder if you've lost a human, and not a animal, because you are their flesh and blood.
How many times do we just hide it, and walk away, crying in our spare moments, or not crying at all.
For me personally,  it was shock to come to the realization, that he knew his time had come, and we did not.
With Grief, we often want to fix things, to make the person or thing live longer, to help, knowing that perhaps just this time they know what to do.
The house seems so lonely without, him, no purr around the house,  no blue eyes to look into, no tummy or ear rubs, and yes forgive me if that sounds strange, he knew what people needed.
He comforted our neighbours when they were going through grief, he knew when I was just wacked and needed to go to bed early but jumping up and going inside of it, it was fair to say, that we had a special thing going on, he knew what I needed, and I knew what he needed, he needed to have the fire to be lit to sleep next to it, or if he got lonely, and I was reading a book, he would come and jump and  sleep on my knee, for me he wasn't just a cat.
His actions, spoke louder than our well meaning words.
Everything was alright when I came home in the door after a heavy day at work.
So what does the bible say about grief?
And did Jesus Grieve?
Yes, and he took time out for himself, he took a holiday to a lonely place and prayed when things got to hard, he reclined in people's places and homes to re fuel, and be strong.
We are on the world to live for God, but also be salt in the earth, and to be there when things go wrong, when you're wondering what life has done to you.
Perhaps you've been there for people, and you've found out that they've moved on, and you're left alone, perhaps you're wondering why you haven't found anyone "special, yet.''  perhaps you've made some wrong choices, and you're grieving over them.
Or you've lost a friend, or a familiar face, or you've been taken for granted.
You can grieve over many things my friend.
Let me tell you, that it's good, it's good to see things as they are.
To many times we don't, we feel like we've got to be strong, or perhaps put on the tears, grief is a strange emotional  thing, one moment you're fine, the next it just hits you.
Don't be afraid of the big holes that are there, don't be in a rush to heal, or to wish that you're better, or thinking that you should be.
Everyone has their own gaps, everyone is like a perfect flower, coming to flower at different stages, but they are all part of the bush/ plant.
And that plant is Christ.
Perhaps you're watching your friend go through experiences that you feel strange about dealing with, you want to care, but you just don't know what to do.
Can I just say, just be yourself, you're not there to be their professional counsellor you're there to be their friend.
And yes, there will be a time when you can help, much and perhaps that's left up to the professional team, but you can pray, you can pray when they are tired.
Because grief is, it's very tiring no matter the planning or the amount of times you've said goodbye to them, and they are still there.
So my word for you today is, what ever way you find yourself in, if you're grieving for your friend,  be it your loving kind pet, or a family member, grieve and know that God is there, and he is walking you through the vale of tears and you will come out the other side.
Chloe
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