Hope & Quill Co.

Grief is not a competition.

So often I hear, “Well, this isn’t as bad as that.” Or “you think going through that is hard, you should endure this.

Whatever your this is, grief is something that everyone faces at some point. Certainly, some face it more than others, but one’s tragedy does not dismiss another’s. There are levels of grief and certain situations are more costly than others. However, one’s loss is not another’s opportunity to compare.

How sad it is to hear someone share their burden only to be met with, “Yeah, but that’s nothing compared to what I went through.”

When we immediately shut someone else down and overwhelm the room with our own story of tragedy, we abandon the spirit of Christ.

Allow me to explain. Imagine going to the Throne Room with your heartaches and Jesus saying, “I hear you, but that’s nothing compared to what I endured on the cross.” While this would be a true statement, that is not how our Lord reacts to us when we cast our burdens on Him—and thankfully so!

So next time someone shares their grief, just listen. No need to weigh your grief against theirs to see who hurts the most.

Listening to someone else does not diminish the struggles you are dealing with. Think of how you would want someone to listen to you in your darkest hour. It wouldn’t matter if they had a more heartbreaking story to tell; you would just want them to hear you. So, continue in that spirit.

“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” – Galatians 6:2