When I think of the month of June, I think about the start of summer – beautiful flowers, the leaves of trees whispering in the wind, the smell of someone grilling or a campfire, running through grass (what I like to think of as God’s carpet) and swimming in one of our many lakes.
But I also think about a month that is often filled with celebrations – graduations, weddings, anniversaries, class reunions, and family reunions. These are times that may be filled with joy with reconnecting and sharing of memories.
Yet, for those who are grieving, these celebrations can feel like a gauntlet to run or an occasion to just endure. And if one goes to the celebrations and has an enjoyable time, sometimes the event is followed by feelings of guilt for enjoying the occasion and not grieving for our one who died during that time.
The truth is that we human beings are amazing, beautiful and complex. The psalmist wrote that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” We are truly masterpieces of body, mind and spirit. We can live out of a deep-seated joy for a time while yet bearing tremendous grief at other times.
Believe it or not, this oscillation between times of joy and times of sorrow is a completely natural part of grief. It is just part of the journey to develop a way of living our lives completely with our loss.
May you be able to both celebrate and grieve, knowing that this is grief’s natural path.
Grief Support (offered via Zoom)
Seeds of Hope
Wednesday, May 20, 7-8 PM CT
We’ll explore the role of hope in the grief process.
If you are interested in joining a group, or establishing one at your community, contact Optage Hospice or call Jenny Schroedel at 651-341-7105. Optage is the home and community services division of Presbyterian Homes & Services.