Side by Side Grief Support

Take a deep breath and read. If you can’t finish this poem, put it aside and try again later. {Content warning: this poem is about death, about witnessing death as a nurse and about the privilege that it always is, to be there in that moment for the one leaving, and for those staying behind. If your grief is still raw, this might leave you with deep emotions.} the moment arrives, it always does...Continue reading

The best way I can describe grieving over a child as the years go by is to say it’s similar to carrying a stone in your pocket. When you walk, the stone brushes against your skin. You feel it. You always feel it. But depending on the way you stand or the way your body moves, the smooth edges might barely graze your body. Sometimes you lean the wrong way or you turn too quickly and a sharp edge pokes you. Your eyes water and you rub your wound but you have to keep going becau...se not everyone knows about your stone or if they do, they don’t realize it can still bring this much pain. There are days you are simply happy now, smiling comes easy and you laugh without thinking. You slap your leg during that laughter and you feel your stone and aren’t sure whether you should be laughing still. The stone still hurts. Once in a while you can’t take your hand off that stone. You run it over your fingers and roll it in your palm and are so preoccupied by it’s weight, you forget things like your car keys and home address. You try to leave it alone but you just can’t. You want to take a nap but it’s been so many years since you’ve called in sad you’re not sure anyone would understand anymore or if they ever did. But most days you can take your hand in and out of your pocket, feel your stone and even smile at its unwavering presence. You’ve accepted this stone as your own, crossing your hands over it, saying mine as children do. You rest more peacefully than you once did, you’ve learned to move forward the best you can. Some days you want to show the world what a beautiful memory you’re holding. But most days you twirl it through your fingers, smile and look to the sky. You squeeze your hands together and hope you are living in a way that honors the missing piece you carry, until your arms are full again. Jessica Watson Gorgeous piece written by Jessica Watson, Four Plus Angel. Reposted from a post at A Bed for my Heart.

Thank you for the prayer Carm C. Covid-19 is hitting way too close to everyone's home. With a sad heart, but with strong faith in our Heavenly Father, today I kneel down in prayer, asking for a full recovery for those with Covid-19 and those in pain. Lord I'm asking You to protect & cover each of us with your healing hands and precious blood. Please protect and strengthen our children, the elderly, homeless, sick, frontliners and caregivers who are exhausted, but not giving ...up. Please refresh their minds and renew their strength. Prop them up on every leaning side. Thank You for Your grace, love, mercy and healing powers. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. May I request you to put this prayer message on your status, for at least one day. Let us be united in praying for one another. May God bless us! Amen

All Souls Day, to remind us again, of our loved ones, the forgotten ones, the redeemed ones, the glorious ones and the ones who can guide us home.

Those of us who know grief... don't need the rest of you to decide... when we need to finish grieving!

This is a very strong message of Hope for those that are experiencing the ultimate, complicated loss in their lives. The loss of a beloved child. Thank you to Duncan and Teresa for allowing me to share this on our support page. May you all continue to see that small patch of light ahead of what seems to be nothing but a dark road.... And may you know for certain that your child is holding that light for you.

Thanks to Mary R. for sharing this beautiful poem.