“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)
On the morning of October 16, 2023, Ursula, my wife of 28 years, passed away following a brief hospital stay. The morning following her passing, I woke up. The morning following her funeral, I woke up. A year later, I woke up. Now, as I write these words, over two and a half years later, I thank God for still waking up.
As a Christian, I firmly believe that nothing in life just happens. From the time I was born to the time I will die, my life has been planned out by my all-wise and all-knowing Creator God. He knows every part of my being. The ups and downs, the good and bad, the joys and pains. And because he is all-knowing, he is not surprised by anything, but has a plan and purpose in everything. Yes, everything: even the death of a spouse. King Solomon, the wisest man to have ever lived, describes it this way: “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV) in Verse 3:2a it states “a time to be born, and a time to die; and Verse 3:4 states A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 2023 was my season of weeping, and mourning. But along the way, I found time to laugh and dance. This book, though short in pages, is powerful in purpose. It’s my 2023 journey. It’s not about my grief journey per se, but how God prepared me for it. Given a choice, I wouldn’t have chosen this road; no one would have. But I’ve been reminded of the words spoken by Christ to the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians,12:9a (KVJ) “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.“ My prayer, as you read this book, is that you be encouraged: whatever you are facing or will face, God knows even before it happens, and he will use it for his glory. That’s what this book is about: Before the Grief: My journey of Demotion, Confirmation, and a Dream. God bless.
-John Lee Allen
Labor with the Creator 