Recently I went back and watched I Can Only Imagine and I Can Only Imagine 2. One of the things that stayed with me most was the reminder that we can hold grief and gratitude at the same time. We can mourn what we have lost while still being thankful for what remains.
That truth sounds simple, but living it out is not always easy. Some days gratitude comes naturally. Other days grief feels heavier. Yet each day I do my best to remain grateful that I still have life, purpose, and the ability to keep moving forward.
Most recently, Hawaii went through severe storms, and hundreds of people lost everything they owned. Homes were damaged. Possessions were destroyed. Security was shaken. My heart breaks for all those facing such overwhelming loss.
What saddens me most is that many people may not realize they are grieving. Society often associates grief only with the death of a person, but grief is much broader than that. Grief is the deep anguish that comes when something precious is taken from you. It can be the loss of a loved one, but it can also be the loss of a home, stability, treasured memories, or the life you once knew.
When grief goes unrecognized, it often surfaces in ways people do not understand. It may look like anger, anxiety, exhaustion, sadness, numbness, or frustration. People may think they are simply stressed, when in truth they are carrying sorrow.
There is healing in naming what we feel. Sometimes the first step toward recovery is simply acknowledging: I am grieving.
Life has taught me that grief comes in many forms, but so does gratitude. Even in loss, there can still be moments of kindness, hope, strength, and faith. Both can exist together.
A Gentle Reminder
If you are walking through loss of any kind today, give yourself grace. Your pain is real, even if others do not fully understand it. Healing takes time, and grieving is not weakness—it is evidence that something mattered deeply.
Scripture for Today
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
— Psalm 34:18
