Encouragement : Handling Grief with Care

Dear Friend,
How are you? To those who are grieving:

1. Begin where you are. Learn to ask for and receive help. You need not try to be 'alright' for everybody. Don't be afraid to be needy of others in your time of weakness. It is safe to be vulnerable to those who love you.
2. Don't be afraid to cry. Learn that tears are healing for the heart. Keeping the anguish trapped within, unexpressed, will merely increase the pain. Let it find expression in a decent way.
3. Tell it to Father God. Its very comforting to be alone in a quiet place with God so that you can pour out your heart freely even to physically to let out the steam. God understands your pain and sorrow more than and better than any one else and He has His own peace and comfort to offer you.
4. Pen it down. Another helpful thing to do to bring emotional closure is writing letters to Father God or to the dearly departed one. Things unspoken. Dreams unfulfilled. Promises neglected. Regrets. The 'sorrys' and the 'I love yous'.
5. Give yourself time and permission to grief. Suppressing grief under a cloud of busyness with work is dangerous-it will show up in other areas, which may be worse for yourself, your children or others around you. It may take several days or even months for you to deal with the issues of grief. Wait and hold on. However, watch out for depression-seek professional help for it.
6. No major decisions. It's advisable not to make major decisions within the first year of grieving, as we aren't rational. Take time to ponder and consult trusted family members or friends. "sleep on it" and never sign contracts under pressure.
7. Hope for the better days ahead. There is always hope as long as there is life. So do not feel hopeless whatever you grief is. There will be certainly a time to rejoice too. As the night changes into the day, so there is always joy and gladness after the time of grief.

"There is a time for everything-a time to grieve... and a time to laugh..." Ecclesiastics 3.
"You (LORD), who have shown me great and severe troubles, shall revive me again, And bring me up again from the depths of the earth. You (LORD) shall increase my greatness and comfort me on every side." Psalm 71: 20,21.

Be Encouraged.

A.Othniel

><> Letter # 36 (19. 9. 2004 ) <><