“They were both alcoholics who were alternately weak and strong “They were both alcoholics who were alternately weak and strong. It's like going back for seconds on rat poison. Sometimes you miss things that weren't particularly good for you.” Bill Withers

Honor your emotions Matthew 5:4 (NIV) “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

Honor your emotions Come out of sadness, From wherever you've been Come broken hearted, Let rescue begin Come find your mercy, O sinner come kneel Earth has no sorrow, That heaven can't heal David Crowder “Come As You Are”

Honor your emotions Psalm 30:5 (NIV) “Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning.”

Keep Talking to God Psalm 34:18 (NIV) “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Keep Talking to God Psalm 41:9 (NIV) “Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.”

Keep Talking to God Psalm 145:18a (NIV) “The LORD is near to all who call on him.”

Learn from the loss “Why did you let this happen Lord?” “Why did they have to be so hurtful?” “Why do they seem to be so easily going on with their life when I feel so devastated?” These questions trap you in the past

These questions help us to grow in Christ and in relationships Learn from the loss “How can I love you best, God?” “How can I be joyful in the midst of this trial?” “What do you want me to learn from this situation?” “How can I trust you more fully?” These questions help us to grow in Christ and in relationships

Dare to love again C.S. Lewis “The Four Loves” “To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.”

Dare to love again 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV) “Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

“If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and man.” Mark Twain