Finding Help, Gratitude, and Legacy in a Season of Grief

by Pastor Krista Price
Week of November 17

On one of my walks this past week, I came across a young couple standing quietly at a gravesite. They were mourning the loss of their son, who died just two years ago at only 17. The weight of their grief was unmistakable—and it stayed with me long after I walked away.

Their heartache made me reflect on others close to me who are walking similar paths. A classmate from seminary recently lost her husband of just ten years—two people who found love later in life, only to have their time together cut short. And just yesterday, my husband’s cousin lost his wife. It feels as though everywhere I turn, someone is carrying the heavy burden of grief.

In moments like these, I’m reminded of the comforting words from Psalm 121:1–2:
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord.”

As the holiday season approaches, these words feel especially meaningful. For many, this time of year is filled with joy. But for others, even when we gather around the table with family, the empty chair speaks loudly. We feel the absence of those we love. We remember their laugh, their stories, their presence. We miss them — deeply.

And yet, in that space of longing, we are also invited into gratitude.

This Sunday, I’ll be speaking about legacy—the impact our loved ones leave on us, and how their lives continue to shape our own. Those who came before us planted seeds in our hearts: of kindness, of faith, of courage, of compassion. Their words, their actions, their love continue to echo in who we are becoming.

Just as their lives touched us, so does ours touch others.

Your attitude, your heart, your words—they matter. They help shape the people around you, just as the legacy of those we miss has shaped us.

So this week, I encourage you to pause and give thanks for the people who formed you. Remember the ways they loved you. Honor the lessons they passed on. And let that gratitude soften your grief and strengthen your hope.

Let us pray:

Jesus, we thank You for the gift of life and for all those who have touched our world with their presence. We thank You for the legacy they leave behind—the lessons, the love, and the reminders of Your grace. May we carry their memory with gratitude and share that same love with others. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have a blessed week.