April is upon us – although nights are still chilly, the days are getting longer and brighter. Here in Minnesota, signs of new life are all around us: tulips, daffodils and crocuses are pushing up through patches of snow.
Easter is coming. For those who grieve, a holiday devoted to Christ’s triumph over death can feel a little strange. What does it mean to celebrate the resurrection when you are exhausted, disoriented or deeply sad? Perhaps one way to navigate Easter while still experiencing the impacts of loss is to recognize that sadness and joy mingle after the death of a loved one. There is no “getting over it.” Each day we live more deeply into the discovery of what the loss means for us. And yet, Easter promises that death is not the final word. Just as flowers push up through dark soil and snow toward the sun, life is mysteriously at work in the world around us and in our own hearts.
-Chaplain Jenny Schroedel
Grief Support (offered via Zoom)
Signs of New Life
April 16, 7-8 p.m. CT.
Together, we’ll explore signs of new life in seasons of loss.
A Grief Observed Book Club
Tuesdays, Apr. 1–29 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. CT
We’ll discuss the journal CS Lewis kept after his wife died. Books will be provided – we’ll mail them after you register.
Optage Hospice Chaplain Jenny Schroedel facilitates grief groups across PHS sites and in the larger community. Jenny is also an author, most recently of Naming The Child: Hope-filled Reflections on Miscarriage, Stillbirth and Infant Death.
If you are interested in joining a group or establishing one at your community, contact Optage Hospice or call 651-746-8200. Optage is the home and community services division of Presbyterian Homes & Services.