Mbabane: League of Churches President, Bishop Samson Hlatshwako, said as to how long people grieve for the loss of their loved ones depends on the character of inviduals.
Hlatshwako said his assertion should not be misconstrued to be in reference to the step taken by Mbabane Alliance Church leader, Reverend Johannes Vuyisile Mazibuko who recently made headlines unveiling his new spouse, Thuli Dlamini, hardly two months after the death of his wife, Pastor Rose Mazibuko who passed away after a long illness. The couple had been together for over 30 years.
Bishop Hlatshwako said biblically there is nothing wrong to remarry after the death of a spouse, regardless of when they died. However, Hlatshwako said traditional structures allow that one grieves for a reasonable length of time, enabling enough of the healing process.
“To any sound person the death of a spouse is the most painful and traumatic experience which leaves a deep and lasting wound, and for that wound to heal time is not an option, but a necessity,” said the Bishop.
The Bishop added that personally he grieved for 5 years and for the love of his deceased wife he could have stretched the period but thanks to the intervention of family members on both sides. He said his in-laws were not left out and in fact, they came uninvited and suggested that he went ahead and remarry, considering how long he had remained alone.
“Again, from personal experience, the loss of a loved one who remained by the side for more than half of her life results in an inner wound whose pain cannot be compared to anything in life,” said the Bishop.
He said he thanked God that after he had been alone for a protracted length of time, someone came and became a perfect match.
The Bishop’s wife passed away in 2010 and in 2015 he remarried.
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