Good Grief

There is a quote that says: A limb has fallen from the family tree that says grieve not for me, but remember the BEST TIMES, the laughter, the good life I lived while I was STRONG.

Within the last few weeks, we’ve experienced the loss of three family members. The freshness of a loss communicates so many different thoughts through your head.  They range from sadness, despair to shock, guilt or regret, rage and even anger. Often these come from finding it difficult to accept that the person is really gone, or wondering if will you ever recover from the loss.

But grief can also be a teacher. According to the American Heart Association, some may suffer from broken heart syndrome when the grief is too much to bear. But losing a loved one may also be a positive teaching moment and an enlightening process. Though you can never be ready for this, there may be a message and insights you can gain from such a tragedy.

Upon returning home, I shared with my husband that when the Lord takes me home; I’d prefer that he forego any services, but for us to continue to make every day count. My request is for him, my family and friends to remember me as I lived and not how I took my last breath.

His response was, “We’ll see what happens when that day comes.”

Later that evening I jotted a few things in my journal:

1. Death is inevitable for all of us, find something to laugh at on a daily basis.
2. Life is too short; the old cliché is so true; give people their flowers while they can enjoy them.
3. Make a list of one or two things you’ve always wanted to do and do not let money limit you. There are creative ways in which you can experience them.
   a. For example: I always wanted to go to Paris and London. So, until I got a chance to take that trip, I would ride my exercise bike while watching YouTube videos and tour around the cities.
4. Be there for others and help them grow through their seasons of life. Remember, that grief can make us or break us.