Coping with Grief “GRIEF BURST” July 25, 2018
GRIEF BURSTS Three years later and I still experience grief bursts. Apparently, that’s normal, it’s okay for me to have them. Last weekend, my twin sister’s daughter-in-law, Jacki, and granddaughter, Jaylynn, drove up from Virginia to spend the weekend with them in upstate New York. My twin, Jeanne, was so excited to have them home for a couple days. I asked her to send lots of pictures and videos. Her granddaughter is almost 2 years old and just precious. Jeanne sent pictures of Jaylynn glancing over a little gate to look at the flowers in the flower garden. A picture of her “talking” on a...
Read MoreStages of Grief
Joanne’s Story: The Stages of Grief ALPINE CHURCH Joanne shared about how she experienced the stages of grief with the hope that others might experience healing. The stages of grief were first identified by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross in her 1969 book On Death and Dying (Macmillan, 1991). We grieve all losses in our lives at some level. Sometimes the process moves quickly. In other cases, the grieving process moves slowly and painfully as we try to regain a solid emotional footing. Shock or Denial This is the natural emotional defense mechanism that our mind employs to protect us from something...
Read MoreHelping Those Who Are Grieving POST 9 Dec. 2017
When friends and family receive devastating news of a death in their own family or a friend, knowing what to say to those who are grieving can be a daunting idea. The “silence” is deafening. So, one speaks words they are later sorry they did so. Those who are grieving understand they are just at a loss for words. They just want to say SOMETHING that will help. These words are used often and have sometimes lost their meaning. Our neighbors opened up their home to us. We could stay there for as long as we needed. We just lived right across the street, but that didn’t matter to them. They...
Read MoreCoping with Grief Post 8
As I walk this dark lonely terrifying path, I find my every step unsure and unsteady. Dark and foreboding. I never felt more unsteady. I don’t like this path or where it’s leading! I actually don’t even want to come out the other side. It will make their deaths true. Never has my very soul felt this empty and defeated. Such darkness has crept in. Psalm 44:25 echoes my own heart’s cry; “For my soul is bowed down to the dust; my body clings to the ground. Arise for our help; redeem us for Your mercies sake.” (NKJV) Sometimes I feel like I just want this grief to overtake me and conquer me...
Read MoreCoping with Grief Post 7 August 20
“Have you considered writing?” This question was asked in a grief support group one evening. The facilitator of the group told us that writing was a wonderful way to help with the grieving process. I smiled softly to myself because I have been journaling most of my life. I had always journaled so it was natural that I would journal during the grieving process when Russell, Shawna, Tylee and Blake passed away. Journaling gives me an outlet to pour my heart out with the pain of grieving. Writing can sometimes help me sort out my feelings and emotions. Writing helps me slow down and ponder each...
Read MoreCoping with Grief Post 6 Aug. 2017
Let Them Know We experienced so much love, care, sympathy and help from friends and family when we were grieving the death of our family. It was overwhelming in that saying, ‘Thank you” just never seemed enough to show our appreciation. However, sometimes things were said or done that wasn’t what I wanted or needed. I kept in mind that it was truly done in love. Friends and family just wanted to help and do whatever they could to lesson our pain. It’s best to let them know what you need and the best way for them to help you. If you’re anything like me this could take some effort...
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