When we lose a loved one, we go through a series of feelings and emotions, we become very vulnerable emotionally, which might give an opportunity for Satan to attack a believer in various ways.
One thing that hurts the most, is when you realise that there’s so much you could have done or said to that loved one that’s gone, but you didn’t.
We need to appreciate the ones we have while we have them, make a conscious effort to visit them regularly if possible, tell them and show them that we care, because if we don’t we are the ones who get hurt the most when they have gone!
One of the reasons, we don’t do this is because they might have hurt us in the past in such a way that we just can’t overlook that, but we have been commanded to forgive others. Yes, they should be the ones who ought to come and apologize for their wrong doings (Matthew 5:23-24), but perhaps we should step forward and “do to others as you have them do unto you” (Luke 6:31).
If we don’t forgive, we will not be forgiven (Luke 6: 37).
Therefore let’s forgive all those who have sinned and wronged us one way or the other, and show them the love of God, so if and when they have passed away, then we can rest assured that we have done our part, and that we have said what we should have, then we will not have the added guilty feeling as well as the pain of losing them.
Remember what (1 John 4:20-21) says:
“If a man says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn’t love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? This commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should also love his brother.”