I miss her so much. It still doesn't feel real that she's gone.

Before He did anything else, He grieved with the people who were grieving. That's still true now — He doesn't rush you past the missing her. He sits in it with you.

The conversation

The child: “Daddy God, I miss her so much. It still doesn't feel real that she's gone.”

God: “I miss her too.”

The child: “You do?”

God: “I cried at a friend's grave once. His name was Lazarus.”

The child: “But couldn't You have stopped it from happening?”

God: “I could have. I chose to grieve with the people I loved first, before I did anything else.”

The child: “So it's okay that I'm still sad?”

God: “It's more than okay. It means you loved well.”

God: “I don't rush you through this. I sit in it with you.”

The child: “Will the missing her ever stop?”

God: “Maybe not completely. But I promise it won't stay this heavy forever.”

The child: “I want to remember the good things too.”

God: “Then let's remember together.”

The child: “Can I just sit here with You for a while?”

God: “As long as you need. I'm not going anywhere.”

The child: “Thank You for staying with me in this.”

God: “Always. Every time.”

"Jesus wept." John 11:35, KJV

Questions people ask