Grief

PREPARE YOUR EYES TO READ AND YOUR HEART TO RECEIVE AS YOU TAKE IN THE WORDS THAT LOOK TO CHANGE LIVES, RENEW HEARTS, AND OPEN MINDS. The quote, "the only thing promised in life is death," is true, except for two people. According to the Bible, Enoch and Elijah were the only people who didn't suffer physical death. Hebrews 11:5 states that God took Elijah, and 2 Kings 2:11 says Enoch was taken to heaven in a whirlwind on a chariot of fire. Although these two men didn't experience death or a funeral procession, their loved ones still had to process their removal from the Earth. We will all experience the pain, grief, and overwhelming emptiness of losing a loved one. No matter how much you prepare, this one single event will inevitably flip your life upside down and leave you feeling disoriented. The envisioned opportunities, adventures, and experiences are all but a dream now. Nothing makes sense, you are in a state of shock and disbelief, and all of the expectations you once had, are now gone. This new and unexpected life is now your reality. Along with that comes the seven stages of grief: shock, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance and hope, and processing grief. In the times when you are sad, hurt, heartbroken, disappointed, angry, or hungry for revenge, you ask questions such as "what did I do wrong," "will the hurt ever stop," "why did they have to die," why do bad things happen to good people," "why not me," or "is there a God, and if there is, why did he let this happen?" These are all typical questions we seek answers to help aid our healing process. In most cases, even if you receive a response, it will never be the correct answer because it will never bring a person back, nor will it change the situation. Death is not the only time we experience this feeling. We can experience grief over losing wealth, a job, relationships, a sick loved one, war, a missed opportunity, abortion, or miscarriage. Have you considered that positive events can leave us grief-stricken as well? You use your savings to purchase a new car or house, and then you receive an unexpectedly large bill that leaves you with a financial burden and possibly have you unable to pay another bill on time. How about when you have a child, and now you have to rearrange your lifestyle or discover your child will be born with a health problem or condition? One way to help a person grieving is to make yourself available by being there. If you tell them to call you anytime, mean it by taking the time to take the call and listen. Allow them to express themselves by allowing them to use words such as," I'm sad, I'm terrified," or "I'm lonely." It's all part of their healing process. " you know, some people prefer to be alone while others might need you to invite them. While most people will be around for the immediate time and then move on, be the one who is there for the long term when everyone seems to have moved on. It will be comforting for the person to know that someone remembers them and still cares. Please don't ask if things are back to normal or if you'd like an update on how they are doing. If they are comfortable and trust you, they will seek you out. Lastly, be patient and forgiving while that person tries to figure out their new life. In the book, "Life Is Messy," the author asks, "can getting lost be a good thing?" He refers to you living in a fog due to being put in an uncomfortable situation or experiencing an unbearable loss. "The reality is, it can be a crisis or an opportunity. We get to decide. We can learn more about ourselves in one year than any other ten years." The emptiness will always remain, but how you fill those voids will always stay up to you. Learning to deal with your emptiness healthily will require you to be self-aware and have courage. Inspiration stimulates our creativity, and creativity changes the way we see everything and do anything. Learning to give yourself compliments and inspiration will allow you to live and love more creatively. #SPEAK2MYHEART