As you consider whether to do grief share again, or do things that brings honor to the person who died, remember that because of what Jesus Christ did on he cross means that He is in heaven the moment your loved one arrived.

Moving Forward: Embracing Grief After Grief Share

As the final session of Grief Share came to a close, a hush fell over the room, a poignant silence punctuated by the echoes of shared stories, tears, and laughter. This was a journey where every heartbreaking memory was met with understanding, where the weight of loss was shared in empathetic embraces. It was a space created for connection and healing, a sacred place where every person had a voice and felt seen.

Many of us come to Grief Share searching for closure, hoping that by the end of those sessions, we might have gathered the strength to move forward. However, as we sat together on that last day, it became clear that closure was perhaps an unrealistic expectation. The word itself carries a sense of finality that feels antithetical to the journey of grief — an unpredictable and often turbulent path that doesn’t end with a neatly-tied bow.

In our discussions, we shared how moving forward does not equate to forgetting. Grief is not linear; it is a tapestry woven with threads of love, memory, and longing. One participant shared a story about how she had sat in her living room filled with photos of her mother, candles, and flowers. Each evening, as she lit a candle, she felt her mother’s presence, as if they were sharing a quiet cup of tea together. This ritual wasn’t about clinging to sorrow; rather, it was a way to celebrate a life that had deeply shaped hers.

Another group member spoke of how he had started a garden in honor of his daughter. Each plant represented a memory. Tending to the garden became a therapeutic act, a way for he and his wife to honor the love that remained. It reminded us all that love doesn’t end with death; it transforms, shows itself in different forms, and can coexist alongside the pain.

As we shared our individual perspectives and ideas on how to honor our loved ones, the atmosphere shifted from solemnity to empowerment. Together, we recognized that the end of Grief Share didn’t signify the end of our grief but the beginning of a new relationship with it. Grief would continue to ebb and flow like the tides — sometimes overwhelming, sometimes gentle, always shifting.

It’s important to acknowledge that while we may feel a heavy heart on certain days, those feelings do not overshadow the love and memories we hold dear. As one insightful participant eloquently put it, “Grief is the price we pay for love.” This phrase resonated deeply, emphasizing that while our heart may ache, it also swells with the memories of those we have loved and lost.

In these moments, we allow ourselves to embrace grief as a testament to the connections we have forged, the bonds we have made, and the lives we have touched. Each day is a new opportunity to move forward, not by letting go of our lost loved ones, but by carrying them with us in our hearts, in our stories, and in our everyday lives.

As we wrapped up our final session, we didn’t exchange goodbyes but rather “see you laters.” Grief Share was just one chapter in our stories — a story that continues to evolve. We left knowing that we would carry the love for those we lost into the future, fostering growth, healing, and an enduring connection.

So, as you venture into the next phase of your grief journey, remember this: moving forward doesn’t mean forgetting. It means honoring what once was, understanding that grief is an ongoing story, and inviting those cherished memories to be a part of your life as you continue to write new chapters. In the end, grief may change, but it will always remind us of the love that was, and will always be, a part of who we are.