Grief is what we feel with any significant loss. We are experiencing a common and corporate grief over what we lost; what we lost that we did not know we had, what we lost that we did not appreciate. These losses cause us real grief. What we must do now is move on to adjust to the new world we find before us. We will not get there looking in the rearview mirror, but only by watching for sudden turns in the road, unexpected hazards and needs for detours. This means we will have to watch our speed and stay alert for the new reality as it flies right at us. We will need perseverance; we will need the fruit of the Spirit.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” Galatians 5:22-23a (NASB).