Sad Anniversaries: Finding Joy and Gratitude in the Midst of Grief

There are certain days on the calendar that carry both warmth and ache. Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays — they remind us of moments we once celebrated, and people we still love but can no longer see.
In his message titled “Sad Anniversaries,” shared on Remembrance Sunday, Pastor Richard Jackson reflected on how these moments of sorrow can also become sacred spaces for gratitude.

Drawing from Ezra 3:10–13, Pastor Richard described the day when Israel laid the foundation for the new temple in Jerusalem. It was a moment of triumph — prophecy fulfilled, hope restored, faith renewed. The people rejoiced with songs, trumpets, and praise. Yet, amid the celebration, many wept.

“No one could distinguish the sound of joy from the sound of weeping.” — Ezra 3:13

Some wept for what had been lost — Solomon’s great temple, loved ones, years of exile. But many, Pastor Richard suggested, likely wept because they were overwhelmed by God’s mercy and grace. Even after failure and exile, the Lord had kept His promise.

This mixture of joy and sorrow, he reminded us, is deeply human — and profoundly Christian.

Remembering and Giving Thanks

As our community paused to honor those who gave their lives for freedom, Pastor Richard reflected on the names etched in our church windows and memorial plaques. Behind every name was a story of courage, loss, and love — and the God who sustained families through grief and brought peace beyond understanding.

He shared personal memories, too — of his father, a World War II veteran who passed away ten years ago — and the bittersweet gratitude of remembering a godly man who shaped his life.

“The grief I was feeling was tinged with joy,” he said, “remembering the times we shared together.”

Through these stories, Pastor Richard reminded us that God’s faithfulness threads through every season of life — even those we wish could have lasted longer.

The Beauty of Joy and Weeping Together

There is something beautiful, Pastor Richard concluded, in the fact that joy and weeping can exist together.
Even in loss, gratitude finds its way in. Even in silence, memory sings. Even in mourning, hope whispers that we are not forgotten — and neither are those we love.

So, as the seasons change and anniversaries come, may we pause to thank God for His faithfulness.
May our tears be joined by smiles, our sorrow held by gratitude, and our memories strengthened by faith.

Because in Christ, even sad anniversaries can become holy ground.

Watch the full sermon here.