Embracing Grief Grief Is Important

[Gwen Johnson]

January 16, 2008
Embracing Grief
Grief Is Important
Change is something that happens each and every moment in our lives. Since nothing is constant, it may sometimes seem as if we are losing something whenever things do change. Understanding that this is part of our daily existence and that there will not only be gains but also losses in our lives can help us more readily accept and deal with whatever happens.

Whenever we lose something or somebody we love, it is important for us to take time out for ourselves and truly feel the weight of what we are experiencing. Although it may seem that doing so will push us into a deeper state of sadness, truly giving ourselves permission to be with whatever arises actually creates space for us to begin the healing process. This is because the act of grieving is a natural process, allowing us to sort through the range of emotions that are present in our everyday existence. Even though it may sometimes seem easier to involve ourselves in activities that take our minds off of our sadness, this will only make the route to healing more difficult. Unless we listen to where we are in the moment, the emotions we experience will only grow in intensity, and our feelings will manifest themselves in more powerful and less comfortable ways. Once we consciously acknowledge that these emotions are present, however, we are more able to soothe the sorrow of the moment. In so doing, we become more open to our natural ability to heal ourselves.

Grieving doesn’t have to be a process that keeps us rooted in our thoughts of fear and sadness. For the moment we might feel despondent, but by expressing and coping with our true feelings, we face the sadness head-on. When we allow ourselves to accept and deal with our loss fully, we will then be able to continue our life’s journey with a much more positive and accepting outlook. This will make it easier for us to see that our grief is ephemeral and, just like our moments of happiness, it will also come to pass.

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[Sara Huizenga]

Wow, Gwennie...thanks so very much for sharing this...I live and breath this message as of late, I'm going to quickly forward this onto my Mom as well, I know it will bring her comfort......thanks again, sweet Angel...xoxoxo

[Gwen Johnson]

I HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE. IT IS TRUE THAT ITS BEST TO FEEL HOWEVER IT IS THAT YOU NEED TO AT THE MOMENT YOU NEED TOO. IT IS HEALING.

[John Quinn]

Personaly my lose effects me greatly.I have been grieving for 6 months and it only gets worse When will I finally be at the plateau ?

[Gwen Johnson]

HELLO JOHN. I LOST BOTH OF MY PARENTS WITHIN A 2 YEAR SPAN OF EACH OTHER ONE IN 94 AND ONE IN 92. I THINK IT TAKES A PERSON AS LONG AS THEY MAY NEED. ONE THING I KNOW FOR CERTAIN IS THAT YOU GRIEVE AS LONG AS YOU NEED TO. I STILL HAVE MY DAYS HERE AND THERE. ALTHOUGH THEY ARE FEWER IN NUMBER BECAUSE OF THE TIME I HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH IT. I CAN ONLY SAY ONE THING JOHN YOUR STILL IN A VERY NEW STAGE OF GRIEF. I LIKE TO SAY 6 MONTHS COMPARED TO A LIFE TIME IS STILL THE BEGINNING. YOU WILL TAKE TIME AND IT WILL BECOME EASIER BUT ITS OKAY TO REMEMBER ITS OKAY TO FEEL. IT IS OKAY TO LOVE. IT IS OKAY TO HEAL....HUGS AND BLESSINGS JOHN.

[Jim Harnage]

This is a weel written and insightful article on grief. It is true that grief has it's ways of keeping us suspended in time and even feeling like we are locked into a circling holding pattern. This is the time God has given us in the midst of our loss to reflect, grow, love more and more indepth. This is the time God has given us to heal. Grief is as much a part of our lives as joy. These are human reactions and responses to hurt, loss, and in the case of joy, new birth and the creation of life.
The Bible says that the whole creation, natue, ourselves as humans, the universe, groans and travails waiting for the redemption of the body. As ugly as it may sound the Bible teaches us that the death of His saints is precious in the sight of the Lord. He longs for us , his precious, prized, creation to be with him. The grief, hurt, sickneses, travails, haertaches, as well as the good times is this bodie's way of groaning waiting for the redemptin of the body so that our spirits can be with the Lord.
Odee, Maggie, my loved ones, your loved ones, and anyone else who has gone to be with Jesus and are part of His Angel Tree, if they could speak to us in the flesh would tell us that they are happy, whole, and well. Grief is God's and nature's way of allowing us to let this act happen, to hurt for their loss but rejoice in their home going. There is no right or wrong way to grieve through this process. Their is no wrong way to feel. God is a personal God to each individual and allows each individual to hurt and grieve in their own personal ways.
Maggie and others who've lost loved ones, and especially those who were very close to their heats, serve a God who is just as loving in His helping you and understanding you through your loss as He is loving and accepting of His loved one who has come home to Him.
We love you and God loves you.
Jim

[Gwen Johnson]

THIS WAS SO VERY LOVING JIM. THANK YOU FOR THE ASSISTANCE ON THIS ONE. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL AND IT WILL HELP OTHERS.

[Gwen Johnson]

I HAVE TO AGREE TO THIS DELILAH GRIEF BECOMES MORE SUBTLE, MORE KIND, MORE TENDER.

[Miranda Rhuda]

My sister just lost her fiance'. He died suddenly and unexpected.
She is grieving and it is quite the process to watch. I will respond more later. Thanks for this article!!

[Gwen Johnson]

YOUR ALWAYS WELCOME. I FIND WORDS COMFORTING SOMETIME AND SOMETIMES ONE NEVER REALLY KNOWS QUITE HOW TO COMFORT ANOTHER WHEN THEY ARE GOING THROUGH THIS, SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO JUST LISTEN, JUST BE THERE, I DONT KNOW OF ANY WAY WE CAN ACTUALLY SOOTHE A PERSONS HEART PAIN, OTHER THAN JUST TO BE THERE AND TO LOVE THEM INSPITE OF ANGER, HURT. THEY WILL MISS TIME AND SPACE WITH SOMEONE AND THE TOUCH AND THE FEEL, THEY WILL MISS THE SMELL OF SOMEONE, SOMETIMES EVEN THE WORDS OR THE FUSSING THEY MAY HAVE DONE WITH THAT PERSON. SO MANY STEPS TO GRIEF AND SOMETIMES IT TAKES A WHILE. EARS AT THIS TIME CAN BE THE ONLY THING THAT CAN CONSOLE SOMEONE. AN UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS WILL NOT LAST FOREVER, AND SOMETIMES A TOUCH OF SPACE SO THEY MAY COME TO TERMS WITH HOW THEY FEEL. I AM HERE FOR ANY OF YOU WHO NEED TO TALK OR NEED AND EAR TO LISTEN...HUGS AND BLESSINGS.