Shepherding: In Grief

Last Saturday morning I received a message about the demise of a brother's younger sister. On enquiring further, I found out that he was in New Delhi in the hospital where she passed away. Then I fellowshipped with him and decided to pay him a visit. But due to my daughter's schedule at school, I could not visit him immediately. Nevertheless, it turned out to be better off to visit them in the condolence meeting that was conducted in the afternoon.

Since he is one of the leading brothers in the church in Lamka, I also fellowshipped with the brothers in New Delhi if some could also join in attending the condolence meeting at least. Brothers immediately made arrangement for three more brothers to join me. Then we all four attended the meeting held in Delhi.

I took the initiative to inform the saints in the WhatsApp group and posted the following.

Comfort One Another, and Build Up Each One the Other
Brother M's younger sister had gone to be with the Lord. The Lord knows her time, and therefore, for us as believers, it is not a thing of grief, for we have the hope of glory in Christ Jesus. Let us comfort one another and build up each one the other.

1 Thessalonians 5:11Therefore comfort one another, and build up each one the other, even as you also do.

From the many testimonies of her children and the other believers, it was testified of how she loved the Lord and the Word of God, of how she brought her five daughters by herself as her husband had also passed away many years ago. Brother M testified of how he shepherded them to call upon the Lord’s name and led them to touch the Lord through morning revival whenever they were together. 

Much grace to all the family members.

Brother M would be hosting a meeting tomorrow for all the relatives, friends, and well-wishers at his home in Lamka. May the Lord be with our brother in his testifying and ministering the word to all, that Christ may be magnified.

Let us pray for the family.

That was how a brother in grief was shepherded. He himself testified of how it was so good for brothers to be with him and visit him during this time of grief. We could not do much, but our physical presence with him was by itself a shepherding. This is a human care in the humanity of Christ; visiting one another and comforting one another in time of pain and grief. May the Lord strengthen our brother and make him a shining testimony to all his relatives.