Every day I drive by this quaint antique shop. It might be my imagination, but it appears to be the same charming furniture outside every single day. In the morning the antique treasures are carefully placed in the front yard, and every evening they are brought back inside. A few Coca-Cola chairs may have been added since the turn of the century, but otherwise it seems the process is repeated every day.
The death of someone you care about deeply is one of life’s most difficult challenges. It’s easy to fall into a rut of doing the same things day after day, leaving you lonely and feeling stuck in the sorrow. If you’re struggling to move forward would you consider trying something different to help break through the intense sadness? Hopefully one of these ideas will help:
*Remember. Memories of your loved one’s life are treasured gifts to keep close in your heart. Take some time to record memorable stories and save photos in a notebook or journal. Remembering happier times is a beautiful way to honor the person you’re missing, and allow some light into a painful season of life.
*Get help. People who have been where you are now can be a great source of hope and encouragement. It might take a few visits to know if a support group is a good fit for you, but don’t give up. A caring group or maybe professional grief therapist can provide a safe place to process traumatic loss.
*Find hope. Regardless of your religious beliefs, deep sorrow often draws us to seek spiritual help. In my darkest season of loss I realized I was drowning in the sadness. When I finally called out for help, friends offered to pray when I couldn’t find the words. They prayed specifically for God to take some of the pain from my heart. And He did.
Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”