please forward to
other grievers

I'd never really stopped and added it all up before. But in the last month as I began to switch gears to plan for Sunday's Grief Group, it hit me.
I lost eight loved ones in eight years.
My Dad, my Mom; my grandson, Tyler. My niece, Jessica; my cousin, Carol. Lifelong friend, Heather. And my partners in ministry for many years, Bob and Brent.
Lament matters.
It hit me that saying goodbye to any one of these loved ones would have been cause for deep grief. But looking back, I now realize that having their traumatic deaths cascade one after the other allowed me to experience grace toward myself in the immensity of it all.
'No wonder you were so filled with anxiety. You couldn't even catch your breath before the next loss rolled around.'
It all made sense. In reflecting, I understand that God's unchanging, steadying presence has truly been my salvation against totally going under. Refusing to stuff the shock and pain was a lifeline. I found the Psalms to be my prayer book. Simply whispering Jesus brought calmness to my undone mind and body.
We moved to the back row on Sunday mornings.
There was incredible healing in blogging and the faithful, empathetic support you gave. Steadily bringing up beloved names at the dinner table kept those who left very much present. Reaching out to others in their need rescued me from total self-absorption.
And praise God for those few souls who quietly, patiently listened to me process again and again without trying to tie everything up with a little pink bow.
These were priceless treasures in darkness.
*
Grieving well nudges us to slowly take baby steps forward, one hour at a time. To our surprise, we find ourselves looking in the rearview mirror a bit less. Our hearts become tenderized and we discover gratitude again ... or maybe it finds us.
Our world view slowly enlarges. We begin to re-emerge, re-made by what we have experienced. What we value will most likely change and what we deem important dramatically shift. New priorities may catch us by surprise, the opportunities given to us may be unexpected yet welcome.
If we find ourselves unable or unwilling to move ahead as the years flow on, our lives are tragically cut short. We miss out on the beauty of God's daily good gifts and our inner absorption keeps us from seeing opportunities to reach out to those who find themselves in even more dire straits than we've experienced. Apathy, cynicism, and bitterness far too easily seep in to fill the aching void.
Accepting that we'll never be totally whole until we reach heaven invites us to take the pressure off ourselves to try to accomplish that goal while here on earth. In the process of mending and being renewed, we honor the legacy of those we've mourned so deeply. And wonder of wonders, He 'restores the years the locusts have eaten' (Joel 2:25-26).
We become wounded healers.
There's no need to sit in the back row anymore.
*
Grief Group Notes
Name our experiences of loss
the death of a loved one
a relationship
a job
our health
dreams for our family
Discuss the impact of our losses, whether current or decades later
sadness
lack of control
pain
broken relationships
lack of resolution
a heaviness
stuffing our pain
Write a letter that's never sent
This allows us to work through the huge array of emotions about that person and impact of the death itself on our lives. In leaving no stone unturned, we fully understand the meaning of the relationship and speak what is true about where we find ourselves. This letter is released to God as a prayer and is destroyed after the process of writing and reflection is complete. We can do this on our own or with someone who is trustworthy.
Accept that the fruit of the Spirit, His joy and peace, are able to co-mingle well with grief and sorrow
Embrace the truth that God specializes in redeeming painful seasons so we can minister His lovingkindness to others in their losses
Scriptures
The book of Job
The 65 (+ / -) Psalms of lament
Lamentations 3
Joel 2:25-26
Romans 8:26-27
2 Corinthians 1:3-5
Wellness Resources
*
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.
I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion: therefore I will wait for Him. The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
May He bless you with a bounty of His compassionate presence and the tenderness of His healing touch as you move forward.
Linda
to receive
PORCH
(the weekend newsletter}
+
occasional essays
+
the monthly
BOOKBAG
in your email inbox!
*
image creator unknown