Walking With Grief

George MacDonald**

Do not hurry

as you walk with grief;

it does not help the journey.

Walk slowly, pausing often:

do not hurry

as you walk with grief.

Be not disturbed

by memories that come unbidden.

Swiftly forgive;

and let Christ speak for you

unspoken words.

Unfinished conversation

will be resolved in Him.

Be not disturbed.

Be gentle with the one

who walks with grief.

If it is you,

be gentle with yourself.

Swiftly forgive;

walk slowly,

pausing often.

Take time, be gentle

as you walk with grief.

** Adapted from a passage in David Elginbrod by George MacDonald in Celtic Daily Prayer: Prayers and Readings from the Northumbria Community, 2002. USA: HarperCollins.

—Caren Swanson

Images by flickr user seyed mostafa zamani via creative commons.