What? You are kidding, right? Well, it does not seem right, but many “truths” tend to go against our natural perspective.
This is the second of the nine Beatitudes. Happy are those who mourn for they will be comforted – Matt 5:4.
Behavior goes with emotion. Emotions have purpose and, if nothing else, energizes and motivates behavior. These “truths”, these beliefs, prompt healthy emotion; thus, healthy behavior.
Mourning is an individually unique process experienced within the context of one’s culture. Mourning is a natural, normal emotional response to a loss. The process of grieving is healthy in that one is able to place the loss in proper perspective and integrate that loss into their overall life experience/ journey. Losses do not feel good, but feeling good in the short run is not necessarily the best for us. It is in the long run that we may learn from, grow from and be able to appreciate life all the more. This gracious mourning can lead to those blessings/ being happy or more contented as we expand our perspective. When we lose someone important to us, who has poured into our lives, we can honor that memory by attempting to live out or provide for others that same blessing. The ability to appreciate the meaning we derived from that relationship can motivate us to live well and even have greater compassion for others.
Inconsolable mourning is based on an untruth: belief that enough mourning will somehow make the loss return, not hurt or loose the importance and ignores that meaningful opportunities not only remain, but will emerge in the future. Inconsolable mourning focuses on nothing other than the loss and ignores other aspects of our lives or future possibilities which can then lead to even more loss.
From a spiritual perspective, mourning is healthy when it prompts us to be remorseful regarding our own short-comings/ sin. When we do something wrong, the proper response is to feel remorse which prompts the behavior of making restitution or at least apologizing. When someone wrongs you, they apologize and you accept their apology; the relationship can be restored. There was hurt experienced, but you are able to enjoy the relationship freely once again. When we are in that remorseful posture with God, He has provided the way through his son, Jesus, for our relationship with God to be reconciled or restored such that we can enjoy that spiritual comfort of knowing that no matter our circumstances God loves us and that there will be an eternal, perfect comfort that is coming.
So, mourn well. Experience the pain. Allow the pain to motivate you to consider your spiritual condition, more fully appreciate life, and use your experiences to invest in others. Then you will know how mourning can lead to happiness (satisfaction, contentment, meaning)!
Disclaimer: Please remember that it is NOT my intention for this to be an exhaustive Biblical commentary or a full explanation on the topic from a behavioral health perspective.
This is the second of the nine Beatitudes. Happy are those who mourn for they will be comforted – Matt 5:4.
Behavior goes with emotion. Emotions have purpose and, if nothing else, energizes and motivates behavior. These “truths”, these beliefs, prompt healthy emotion; thus, healthy behavior.
Mourning is an individually unique process experienced within the context of one’s culture. Mourning is a natural, normal emotional response to a loss. The process of grieving is healthy in that one is able to place the loss in proper perspective and integrate that loss into their overall life experience/ journey. Losses do not feel good, but feeling good in the short run is not necessarily the best for us. It is in the long run that we may learn from, grow from and be able to appreciate life all the more. This gracious mourning can lead to those blessings/ being happy or more contented as we expand our perspective. When we lose someone important to us, who has poured into our lives, we can honor that memory by attempting to live out or provide for others that same blessing. The ability to appreciate the meaning we derived from that relationship can motivate us to live well and even have greater compassion for others.
Inconsolable mourning is based on an untruth: belief that enough mourning will somehow make the loss return, not hurt or loose the importance and ignores that meaningful opportunities not only remain, but will emerge in the future. Inconsolable mourning focuses on nothing other than the loss and ignores other aspects of our lives or future possibilities which can then lead to even more loss.
From a spiritual perspective, mourning is healthy when it prompts us to be remorseful regarding our own short-comings/ sin. When we do something wrong, the proper response is to feel remorse which prompts the behavior of making restitution or at least apologizing. When someone wrongs you, they apologize and you accept their apology; the relationship can be restored. There was hurt experienced, but you are able to enjoy the relationship freely once again. When we are in that remorseful posture with God, He has provided the way through his son, Jesus, for our relationship with God to be reconciled or restored such that we can enjoy that spiritual comfort of knowing that no matter our circumstances God loves us and that there will be an eternal, perfect comfort that is coming.
So, mourn well. Experience the pain. Allow the pain to motivate you to consider your spiritual condition, more fully appreciate life, and use your experiences to invest in others. Then you will know how mourning can lead to happiness (satisfaction, contentment, meaning)!
Disclaimer: Please remember that it is NOT my intention for this to be an exhaustive Biblical commentary or a full explanation on the topic from a behavioral health perspective.
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