Many years ago, a friend who worked with terminal cancer patients told me about the “griefcase”–the internal emotional suitcase in which we carry our accumulated losses. That notion of the “griefcase” has come back to me pretty strongly over the last several weeks as I think back over the last year. It became particuarly significant to me last week as some colleagues and I were talking about all the losses that we and others together have experienced, losses which do not seem to go away, even though we are seeing real progress in the battle against COVID.

Several times toward the end of last year, I somewhat facetiously talked about 2020 as “the year that wasn’t.” Notice I said “somewhat facetiously.” Often times, it was a light-hearted attempt to capture the harsh reality of all that hadn’t happened since COVID hit us in late Winter. Our family has been fortunate. While we have certainly experienced many disappointments and inconveniences over the last year, that’s really all they’ve been: disappointments and inconveniences. We’ve not faced the economic impact of lost jobs or wages. We’ve not had to struggle through serious recovery from illness. And we’ve not had to experience the loss of a loved one–or loved ones–like many others. We have been fortunate, which I think may have actually made it harder for us to appreciate the pain of many others–and, for me at least, to appreciate the grief of others.

That’s our situation–or at least mine. What’s your experience of the last year been like? Has it been similar to ours–mostly an inconvenience? Or has it been something quite a bit worse? And what about the experiences of those you know–how do they compare? What might be in their “griefcases” that you know about–or don’t know about? And at what point might they add one more thing that makes it so full that it bursts open? And at what point might your own “griefcase” become so stuffed with things that it bursts? Depending on how you answer those questions, let me offer three short biblical passages for you to consider:

I Peter 5:7–Cast all your anxiety on [God] because he cares for you.

Galatians 6:2–Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Romans 12:15–Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

Even though spring is getting close, and there are hopeful signs on the horizon, pay attention to your inner self. Pay attention to your emotions–and especially your losses. Celebrate the joys, but don’t forget to mourn the losses And don’t forget to let others mourn their’s as well.