Today’s Reflection
There are times when I’m getting ready for bed that I realize I have not uttered a single word out loud that day. Not one word. Gratefully, those days are rare, but they occasionally do happen. Even those days are filled with texts, emails, and social media comments, but sometimes, there are no audible words. No real conversation between two people.
And to be honest, there are days I don’t even feel like talking on the phone or meeting up with friends. I miss those easy conversations with you throughout the day. I am learning that silence is sometimes a great burden to bear.
—Missy Buchanan, Feeling Your Way Through Grief: A Companion for Life After Loss (Upper Room Books, 2024)
Today’s Question
Have you experienced days without having an audible conversation? How does that make you feel? [question from Feeling Your Way Through Grief by Missy Buchanan] Join the conversation.
Today’s Scripture
[God] heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
—Psalm 147:3 (NRSVUE)
Prayer for the Week
O God, let me feel your presence in the darkness of my grief. Be with me in the silence; be with me when I weep; be with me as I find a way forward. Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.
Something More
“It was a blessing to personally witness the love between Missy and her beloved husband Barry,” reflects Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts. “The bond they experienced is apparent in Missy’s latest book and is a safe place for readers to explore their deepest emotions.” Tune into Good Morning America tomorrow, August 1, 2024, to hear more from Missy Buchanan, author of this week’s featured book, Feeling Your Way Through Grief. Receive 20% off and free shipping when you order your copy today.
Lectionary Readings
- 2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a
- Psalm 51:1-12
- Ephesians 4:1-16
- John 6:24-35
Read the lectionary texts courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library here.
Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.
1 Comment
Days without any spoken word leave me feeling lonely. That loneliness is accompanied by a fear that I am somehow going to break if I am alone too much. Yet once in awhile the quiet feels like very pleasant peace. There is a joy in that.
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