*GRIEF, A HUMBLE SERVANT BUT A POWERFUL AND WICKED MASTER*

In Charles Dickens book"Great expectations", he wrote about a woman miss Havisham a wealthy spinster who as a result of heart break and humiliation poisoned the thoughts and being of her adopted daughter Estella against men. She made Estella believe there was no such thing as love neither was there any good man out there. In an attempt to protect the girl in Miss Havisham's own words "I stole her heart away and put ice in its place" Estella ended up been heart broken and causing the man she loved to walk away.

Haratio Gates Spafford was a very wealthy and powerful man. He had a wonderful family and job. Within three years, he lost everything he ever owned. Wife, children and job. Whiles he was going through all this he penned the hymn" when peace like a river".

Grief in response to loss can be a good servant and likewise a terrible master.

When you think you are done grieving, it kicks back in very sharp and hard. It hits you to the core.

It bites and tears until you are not in control any more.

It sometimes strips you "naked" and makes you feel there's nothing more left to loose.

It makes you feel empty like a hole sunk so deep, a space so wide or a void so great that nothing or no one can fill.

But when one decides to look at the brighter side, then it is realised that there are better options to be explored. You can decide to be a miss Havisham by pausing your entire life, beating yourself all about the things you did not do and could have done better and wallowing in self pity.

Another option also is to be Mr. Harotio Spafford who out of his loss and grief became an inspiration and a source of encouragement to those who had none.

When we suffer loss, we have a few choices. This great man did something positive with his grief and his name shall forever remain through time.

Remember this, your loss is not the first and wouldn't be the last to occur but you decide what comes out of that loss.

*WHATEVER MY LOT, THOU HATH TAUGHT ME TO SAY IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL*