Hope for the future
O ur grief share group met again last week. Over a period of several months, we had bonded together as we dealt with our grief over the loss of someone dear to us. We had shared our stories with each other as we unashamedly shed tears as a healing process began. We finished the course over eighteen months ago and each of us was happy to check in to see how others were doing.
Lee met me at the door with a wide smile and a firm handshake and helped me up the steps and opened the door for me. I have acquired a cane since our last meeting and appreciated his help. Inside I discovered Lynn was on crutches after a car accident.
Rita, our facilitator, had gra-ciously made arrangements for a meal where we could share events in our lives since we had last met.
If you ever need a friend, find her!
You will be blessed.
There were no tears but much laughter during the evening. We spent the next two hours in fellowship as we brought each other up to date on the events in our lives. When it was time to dismiss, we turned to scripture for words of encouragement. Since I was the minister in the group I was asked to share a few devotional words. It gave me joy to commend each on their progress giving them hope for the future.
I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the grief share group. Those who shared in it were very important in helping me deal with the loss of Effie, the love of my life. We had been married fiftyeight years when she died. In our sessions, I discovered emotionally what I knew in my mind. I was not alone in my sorrow. Others had suffered similar losses. Slowly the burden of our losses had become lighter and our pain had lessened as we shared our grief.
I have learned through experience and study that the process of dealing with grief is an individual journey for each of us. We grieve differently. Those who have studied the process tell us there is no right or wrong way. Some choose the “stiff upper lip” way and deal with it internally without sharing our pain with anyone. Others may find comfort in sharing as I did through the grief share group.
My journey is not over but I have made much progress. To those of you who shared in our group, I offer my sincere thanks and gratitude for your encouragement. You helped me see beyond the present. You will always be special to me.
“If in this life only we have hope we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept.” (I Corinthians 15:19,20)
