Three Phases of Life
My first book, How to Talk with Sick, Dying and Grieving People: When There Are No Magic Words to Say, was a total outpouring of my heart. That book is built around "Three Phases of Spiritual Growth" but could easily just be called “Three Phases of Life." I am introducing the first one below!
Phase One
Phase One’s theme is “The best is yet to come.”
It's completely future-focused.
Picture a high school graduate, clothed in a cap and gown.
The whole world is before him. Oh, the places you'll go!
It can even be quite spiritual. People of faith love new beginnings. Who doesn’t?
The mantra in this phase is...
“God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.” It's the prevailing theme of vacation bible school and Sunday school curricula around the globe!
The theme verse is “‘I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future.’” Jer. 29:11
It’s a good place to start. And I believe it. So, what’s the problem?
Well, imagine reciting these phrases to a griever:
“The best is yet to come.”
“God has a wonderful plan for your life.
“Focus on the future.”
At best, that’s tone-deaf to their pain.
At its worst, it sounds downright cruel to a broken heart.
That is because the griever is in Phase Three! Follow along as I highlight the three phases from my book in the next three weeks, via my newsletter.
If you can't wait for the upcoming emails, click the button below. You can purchase the Kindle format via Amazon today for only $0.99!
