My sermon is titled, How to do Sadness Right, by pastor Kath.

You haven’t lived very long if you haven’t felt sad.  Sad goes with life.  Happy goes with life, but sad usually tags behind.  Not just the I-failed-the-course sad, or I-broke-my-arm sad or my-dog-ran-away sad.  I mean the she’s-not-speaking-to-me sad or my-son-walked-away-from-Jesus sad or… her-husband-died sad.  Everyone acquaints with real sad at some point.  And mostly, those everyones don’t give a thought about what to do with it.  Instead of taking charge of sad, sad takes charge.  It leads us, yanks us, peats and repeats us and stifles us.  Sometimes we bow to sad.  But there is another way to do sad.

The first thing to do is sit.  Sit with sad awhile.  Let sad settle in, but tell it that you’re getting up soon.  This is only for awhile.  Tissue boxes will not be home decor forever.  Next put on your smart-hat — the one that’s like a smart-phone only without a hard drive.  It can pull up information and resources.  You have one, it’s in your brain closet.  Dig it out.  Put it on.  Listen.

Your primary resource is your Bible.  So before you tuck sadness down, open the Bible, open your mind and read.  Any page, any verse, anywhere.  It is alive and speaks more clearly than emotions.  Put the sad right between the words, and see what happens.

Then leave the Bible open, but set it aside and get up.  You’ll be surprised that sad lowered the foot rest and lets you out of the sink.  Get up and set your sad mind to serve another sad mind.  Someone needs your comfort.  Little secret… that someone feels better when you just reach out.  While any gesture is welcomed, nothing else is necessary, just you.

Next get busy.  Just say no to too much still.  Walk, call, plant, bake, work, volunteer, write.  If it clings, take the sad with you, but you lead the way,

Release the thank-you bubble to the surface.  Then let it bubble out.  For anything.  For everything.  You have many things for which to feel thankful.

Finally, do this right way again.  And again.  Do it until you’re not sitting with sad as often.

On this memorial day, as I remember my dad’s, my brother’s, and my husband’s Heaven-going, this pastor is helping you know how to do sadness right.  Still feeling it.  Still trying to do it right.