Believers, every now and then there are situations that cause conflict from within. Have any of you found a way, you're at peace with, for consoling someone in bereavement that is not a believer? I want to tell them so bad what a healer the Lord we serve is, but I stay mindful their beliefs are not the same as mine. The conflict for me is I feel like I'm denying Christ when I do so. Furthermore, I feel like I have not helped them to the fullest extent I could have.
This happened to me back in 2011:
One of my co-workers (white) had been in a very short relationship with one of the service repair techs that come in our to fix our analyzers. She had apparently really been into this man and you could tell by the change in her demeanor and physical appearance. He, however, wasn't all that into her and when he broke off the "relationship", she was so devastated, she couldn't come to work. Soon afterward, I learned
she had been admitted to one of the mental/behavioral hospitals here in Little Rock. She worked in the Blood Bank department in our lab; she trained me when I started working here, so I knew her very well. Well, while the Black co-workers would ask her assigned department staff about her, concerned for her well-being, her comrades were ruthless! They talked so badly about her, and make the rudest and meanest jokes about her. I'd ask them every week if any of them had heard from her, if she was ok, if they'd been to visit or see her; they'd all reply they didn't know where she was. We knew she 'd been admitted to a hospital, but didn't know which one.
Finally, another co-worker (Black woman), had the hospital and information on her. She asked me if I'd like to go with her to visit. I was reluctant because I'd never been inside a mental hospital. But I remember how I'd always tell people, "I'll pray for you" and later forget. So I agreed. It turns out that she could only have visitors on the approaching Sunday......which happened to be Resurrection Sunday. But I kept my word and went.
When we got to the hospital, we waited for the workers to go get her. When she walked into that waiting room, my heart sank. She looked so defeated and worn down. She hadn't bathed, hadn't combed her hair. We didn't have long to visit with her, only 20 minutes. I talked with her, told her I missed her and needed her to get back to herself, and that it hurt seeing her like this. All too soon, it was time for us to go. When I hugged her, that's when it happened! I opened my mouth and a prayer flowed right out! I was crying but still praying. To this very day, I don't know what I said, but I remember when I was released, I saw other patients around us, holding hands and praying with us. My co-worker who I accompanied told me that was one of the most powerful prayers she'd ever heard.
A few months later, my co-worker was released from the hospital and came back to work. Her first day back, she came straight up to me and told me that no one has EVER did that for her!
