Bereavement

Grief

Grief is weight. It is a heavy burden to carry. There is nothing in this life that is as final as death. When someone we love dies we come face to face with a new awareness of life’s delicacy. The grieving process is a sacred and spiritual time. It must be honored.

Personal

No two people grieve the same. No two people grieve for the same period of time. We do not experience grief like moving from Point “A” to Point “B”. It is a process, a personal journey that unfolds in many ways. There is no “typical” grief and no time limit to it.

The Experience

Those who have experienced the loss of a loved one try to reconcile it. They play it over many times to make sense of it. We may not have been prepared for the intensity and duration of our emotions. Our moods and thoughts may change quite often. Feelings of being lost, vulnerable, afraid, angry, confused, sad or hopeless are normal. Some people prefer a time of quiet reflection. Some people express great frustration and anger.

Grief effects both waking and sleeping hours and many well-meaning people will offer us unwanted advice. Feeling like this season of life will never end and we will never return to normal is typical.

The Journey

Allowing ourselves the time to find an expression for our thoughts and feelings is essential. On this journey, life can seem hard to manage especially when the rest of the world seems engaged in the joy of living. The grieving process is about discovering peace and embracing a new life.

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