It started with an invitation to come for a meal.  Elisha accepted the invitation.  God had precious things in store for the Shunnamite woman, her husband, their son to be, and Elisha(II Kings chapter 4).  God works his sovereign purpose through the people He brings into our lives.  The Prine family was God’s gift to our church.  And yes, we were God’s gift to the Prine family.

At the present both parties are grieving.  A relationship of any duration and worth is going to pass through periods of grief of one kind or the other.  Elisha observed deep grief in the Shunnamite woman when her son died.  She grabbed his feet and would not let go.  When we are grieving, it is characteristic to cling.  It is too painful at first to let go.  Elisha was sensitive to that.  His servant wanted to cancel out her grief and grasp.  Elisha would have nothing of to do with that.  God gives His children space and place to grieve.

Grief however, did not write the final chapter of the Shunnamite woman’s life or of Elisha.  God was up to something bigger and greater.  May the Lord enable us to mix faith with our pain in seeing the Prines depart for Florida.  It is God’s will to grieve but to beware of getting stuck in our grief with a bitter and unforgiving spirit.  The saints of God do not have to grieve as the world does.  We have hope that is not measured in earthly terms.                    Bro. Roger