Empty Promises Unmasked: Navigating Grief’s Treacherous Terrain
Strap in for a bumpy ride.
Your mother just died.
It happened so fast that you couldn’t get on a plane to fly to be by her side, hold her hand, or whisper sweet nothings in her ear to ease her passing or your sorrow.
You weren’t there. Not because you’re a bad person, but because it happened so quickly. Death steals and destroys.
It is finished.
The Greek word for the above is “tetelestai.”
If you’re a spiritual person, dare I say a Christian, you might relate the final moments of breathing and living as an experience similar to that of Jesus on the cross.
The moment when Jesus gave up the ghost, is what John translates in these words:
“When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” — John 19:30
In the gut-wrenching aftermath of a devastating loss, when the world feels like a cruel, senseless place, loved ones gather to offer solace to those grieving the death of an immediate family member. Bless their well-intentioned hearts; they step forward with promises meant to soothe the searing pain.
