A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of one’s death than the day of one’s birth. It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting since that is the end of all mankind, and the living should take it to heart. Grief is better than laughter, for when a face is sad, a heart may be glad. The heart of the wise is in a house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in a house of pleasure. Ecclesiastes 7:1-4
My words…
Praise
Lord, whenever I read these words, I am reminded of how many of Your most important lessons sound backward at first. A funeral instead of a birthday party? Grief instead of laughter? Are you sure? Parties are fun. Funerals are heart-wrenching: I am serious instead of silly; I participate in sorrow instead of games; I reflect on a whole life instead of a moment in time. But Your Spirit has taught me that whenever a heart is broken, healing follows. And during the healing process, wisdom flourishes. So it makes perfect sense that the heart of the wise is in a house of mourning. I praise You as the God who longs to teach His children the secrets to living wisely, for we alone would never choose the house of mourning over the house of pleasure. I praise You as the God of backward lessons.
Prayer for others
Father, I have spent the last few days in the house of mourning, and I have exited. My time there was made up of moments of sadness, remembrance, and tears. You were there the whole time. You were my comfort-giver. The remainder of my prayer is written for those who are in a house of mourning. Their hearts are beat up, wounded, bleeding. Some know that You are the source of healing, but many others do not. They wallow in their grief. They either refuse to heal, or they don’t know how. You never intended for us to “move in” to the house of mourning. It is only a temporary abode. So I pray that You will heal the hearts of those who are in pain so they will experience Your soul-soothing comfort and grow in Your wisdom.
