đź’ś Agape Love Daily Grief Support Devotional đź’śMonday, September 28, 2026
“I Can Be Thankful and Still Miss You”
📖 Today’s Scripture — KJV
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:18
🌿 Monday Morning Devotional Thought
Good morning, sweet friends.
As we begin another week, there is something on my heart that I believe many grieving people need permission to understand:
You can be thankful for the life you have and still deeply miss the life you had.
Sometimes grief makes us feel as though we have to choose.
Either I am thankful, or I am grieving.
Either I am happy, or I am sad.
Either I am moving forward, or I am remembering.
But grief isn't that simple.
You can wake up thankful for another beautiful morning and still wish someone were here to see it.
You can laugh with your grandchildren and suddenly think about how much you wish your loved one could see them growing up.
You can sit around a table filled with people you love and still notice the person who is missing.
You can praise God for His goodness while tears are running down your face.
Gratitude and grief can live in the same heart.
One does not cancel out the other.
đź’ś Missing Someone Doesn't Mean You Aren't Thankful
Sometimes grieving people hear things like:
“But you have so much to be thankful for.”
And perhaps the person saying it means well.
Yes, we do have blessings.
But having blessings today does not mean we stop missing someone from yesterday.
If you lose one person you love, the presence of everyone else you love doesn't replace them.
People aren't interchangeable.
Every relationship occupies its own special place in our hearts.
There is only one Momma.
One Daddy.
One spouse.
One child.
One sibling.
One particular friend.
And when that person is gone, we feel their absence because their place was uniquely theirs.
You can thank God for everyone still sitting around your table while missing the person whose chair is empty.
That's not ingratitude.
That's love.
🌷 Gratitude Doesn't Require Pretending
First Thessalonians tells us:
“In every thing give thanks…”
Notice that Scripture doesn't tell us to pretend everything that happens feels good.
It tells us that in everything, we can still find reasons to thank God.
There is a difference.
Maybe today you can say:
“Lord, I don't understand everything that has happened, but thank You for carrying me.”
“Thank You for the years I had with the person I love.”
“Thank You for the memories.”
“Thank You for the people who are still here.”
“Thank You for giving me strength when I didn't think I could keep going.”
“Thank You for another morning.”
Gratitude doesn't erase sorrow.
Sometimes gratitude simply gives sorrow a little light to sit beside.
🕊️ It's Okay to Say Their Name During the Happy Moments
Have you ever been having a wonderful family moment and thought:
“I wish they were here.”
Say it.
You don't have to be afraid that mentioning your loved one will ruin the moment.
Sometimes saying:
“Momma would have loved this.”
“Daddy would have laughed so hard.”
“He would have been so proud.”
“She would have loved seeing the grandchildren.”
can actually make the moment sweeter.
Their name does not have to disappear from your family because they are no longer physically present.
Tell the stories.
Share the memories.
Laugh about the funny things.
Remember the traditions.
Let love remain part of the conversation.
🌸 Don't Feel Guilty for the Blessings That Came After Loss
This is important.
Life may have brought you blessings since your loved one died.
Maybe you've welcomed a new grandbaby.
Made a new friend.
Taken a beautiful trip.
Started a new job.
Moved into a new home.
Reached a goal.
Found a ministry.
Discovered a new purpose.
Or simply learned how to smile again.
Sometimes those blessings can bring unexpected guilt.
You think:
“How can something good be happening when they're not here?”
Friend, receiving today's blessings does not betray yesterday's love.
You are still allowed to live.
You are still allowed to dream.
Still allowed to laugh.
Still allowed to celebrate.
Still allowed to make plans.
Still allowed to enjoy the life God has placed before you.
Your loved one's place in your heart is not threatened by your happiness.
đź’ś Thank God for What Was, What Is, and What Is Yet to Come
Perhaps today we can practice a different kind of gratitude.
Thank God for what WAS.
“Lord, thank You for the years, the conversations, the hugs, the laughter, and the memories.”
Thank God for what IS.
“Lord, thank You for the people who love me today, the roof over my head, another sunrise, another opportunity to serve You, and another day of life.”
Thank God for what IS YET TO COME.
“Lord, thank You that my story isn't finished. Thank You for the prayers You haven't answered yet, the people I haven't met yet, the memories I haven't made yet, and the ways You will continue using my life.”
And most importantly:
Thank You for the hope we have in Jesus.
🌿 You Don't Have to Choose Between Yesterday and Today
Carry yesterday with you.
Just don't let it keep you from seeing today.
Keep the photograph.
Make the recipe.
Tell the story.
Celebrate the birthday.
Speak their name.
And then hug the people who are still here.
Make another memory.
Take another picture.
Have another cup of coffee together.
Tell somebody you love them.
Because one of the greatest lessons grief teaches us is this:
Ordinary moments are often extraordinary blessings we don't recognize until they're gone.
Let's recognize them today.
🙏 Monday Morning Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for another Monday and another day of life.
Lord, sometimes our hearts carry gratitude and grief at the same time.
We are thankful for the people who are still here, but we miss those who are gone.
We are thankful for today's blessings, but sometimes we wish the people we love were here to experience them with us.
Help us understand that both feelings can exist together.
Teach us to be thankful without pretending we don't hurt.
Help us remember without becoming afraid to live.
When something wonderful happens, give us permission to celebrate.
When a memory brings tears, give us permission to cry.
Help us treasure the people You have placed around us today.
Teach us to listen longer.
Hug tighter.
Forgive quicker.
Take the picture.
Make the phone call.
And say “I love you” while we have the opportunity.
Thank You for the people who have been part of our story.
Thank You for the memories they left behind.
Thank You for the blessings surrounding us today.
And thank You for Jesus and the hope of Heaven.
In Jesus' precious Name,
Amen.
🌻 Monday Grief Support Challenge
Today, take a piece of paper and make three simple lists.
đź’ś WHAT WAS
Write down one thing you are thankful you experienced with the person you miss.
“Lord, thank You for…”
🌷 WHAT IS
Write down one blessing God has placed in your life today.
“Lord, today I am thankful for…”
🕊️ WHAT IS YET TO COME
Write down one thing you are trusting God for in the future.
“Lord, I trust You with…”
Then pray:
“Father, thank You for yesterday. Help me treasure today, and teach me to trust You with tomorrow.”
🤍 Let's Remember Them Together
If you feel comfortable, share in the comments:
Who are you thankful God allowed to be part of your life?
Tell us their name.
Tell us something they taught you.
Tell us something funny they did.
Tell us why you're thankful they were part of your story.
Let's create a place where names can still be spoken and beautiful lives can still be remembered.
🤍 Need Prayer?
If you're struggling to balance gratitude with grief, we would be honored to pray with you.
Simply write:
“I'm thankful, but I'm missing someone today. Please pray for me.”
You don't need a long explanation.
God already knows the name written upon your heart.
If grief becomes overwhelming or you are thinking about harming yourself, please reach out for immediate support.
Call or text 988 — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Help is available 24 hours a day.
đź’ś Agape Love Monday Reminder đź’ś
You Can Be Thankful and Still Miss Them
You don't have to choose between gratitude and grief.
You can thank God for the people sitting around your table while missing the person whose chair is empty.
You can smile and still remember.
You can laugh and still love.
You can make new memories without erasing the old ones.
đź’ś Be thankful for what was.
🌷 Treasure what is.
🕊️ Trust God with what is yet to come.
✝️ Keep your hope anchored in Jesus.
“A grateful heart doesn't forget who is missing. It simply learns to thank God for the love that was, the blessings that remain, and the hope still ahead.”
Agape Love Ministry — Serving Others Through Faith, Hope, and Love
This one would make a beautiful early-fall Monday image with an empty chair, coffee, Bible, purple flowers, warm autumn leaves, and sunrise, centered around “I Can Be Thankful and Still Miss You.”
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