Grief is All-Encompassing

 𝗚𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘀. 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲, 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗮𝗹𝗹-𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴.

We all know what grief is by definition. We will each experience it at some time in our lives. Our mind often says “God forbid” when we think about losing a child, spouse, or a parent. We cannot wrap our minds around the incredible pain that surrounds it, until we have stood in it. That is when others who have grieved BEFORE you become instrumental in grieving WITH you. Being part of a child loss grief group has helped me in so many ways. It has given me a place to share my heart without judgement. It has forged friendships with other parents who understand the deepest sorrows and know how to best support us. I have been so blessed to have that support.

What has surprised me more than once is how grief makes your heart so raw that your compassion for others is greatly increased. Your own loss makes you keenly aware of those around you walking through loss. It also makes your heart heavy, and your tears fall when you realize others are starting this intensely heartbreaking journey of grief.

• Some of our best friends from our young married years lost their adult son this week…

• Another cancer family that we met in the waiting room during our time with Millie just had a second child diagnosed…

My tears have fallen many times today for both families. Please lift them up in prayer… The Lord knows their names.

Part of sharing my grief transparently is to write Millie’s story. Today, I allowed myself to write the chapter that tells of Millie’s last moments before heaven. I will not share them here--they feel too personal, too precious for a Facebook post. I had to think about those moments, walk back through them in my mind, add details between each tear. I had to stop, catch my breath, and start again. I will have to go back and edit it later, clarifying the details and making it more reader friendly—if death can somehow be friendly. I will cry again…then edit…then cry… Grief is so all-encompassing when you look it in the face.

As I sign off, my eyes glanced upon a postcard on my desk that says:

𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒈𝒐 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒖𝒈𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒔 𝒄𝒂𝒏'𝒕...

May my words touch you with the feel of my arms around your shoulder, of a hug of compassion, and of knowing that my heart shares your burdens, just as you have shared mine.

Blessings sweet friends…

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆　｡･:*:･ﾟ★｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

I still believe in Millie’s Miracle

｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ Hebrews 11:1 ｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

︵‿︵‿୨☆୧‿︵‿︵

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