Can I Rejoice Even in Grief?

)“Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4).

Always, Lord? Always? The day my mother died I read in the Word of God that Jesus said to His disciples, “If you loved Me, you would rejoice because ... I am going to the Father.”

“Can’t you rejoice for your mother?” the minister asked me. “I could if I were not grappling with guilt,” I replied.

How was I to cope with the guilt that said

I had the chance, and I didn’t take it;

I had the prayers, and I didn’t pray them;

I had the love, and I didn’t give it;

I had the words, and I didn’t say them!  

My friend reminded me that I needed to think of Mother instead of myself!

That day my mother was in heaven, where  

God had the chance, and He was taking it;

He had the prayers, and He was praying them;

He had the love, and He was giving it;

He had the words, and He was saying them!  

Sometimes I’m overwhelmed with a great hunger for a sight of her, a touch of her. Then I remember where she is and I seem to imagine her saying, “You shouldn't feel my loss so much. You know where I am and who I’m with. Sooner than you know, you will be here, too!”  I know one thing. She doesn’t want me to carry the guilt of “all I didn’t do,” so I leave it at the empty tomb, and rejoice!