Moments with Mary

UN-anticipated grief are those moments when everything seems to be rolling along just fine and then all the sudden….POW…out of the blue this tornado of emotions quickly rolls in and twists and turns the moment into unexpected gales of grief.  Torrents of tears and memory flashbacks consume our thoughts.  This unexpected blast of emotions become overwhelming and unexpectantly rocks our world.  How could things change so quickly?  We were rolling along just fine and in a moment in time, it feels as though we’re falling into an abyss. How do we calm that unexpected torrential storm inside?  B-R-E-A-T-H .  Slowly.  Steadily.  Methodically.  Breathe .  Breathe in the power of God which is sheer love.  That love is the deep soulful love God feels for you and the love you feel for your loved one.  After the intake, breathe out that love and share it with all the loved ones who are here for you.   Love is the source that wi...

The Grief Journey is all about traveling down a road from grief to peace that encompasses many twists and turns, bumps and bruises, heartache and pain until you eventually reach a place where you find peace.  It’s not the kind of peace that tones down the audible noise from hectic households nor is it a kind of peace from ending a war or halting a fight.  True inner peace is the kind of peace that brings an overwhelming sense of calm inside.  This peace is rooted in the Hebrew word “Shalom,” meaning having an overall sense of fullness and completeness in mind, body, and spirit. This inner peace is found as your grief transforms from inner turmoil to inner peace.  It may take months and even years; but rest assured, it’s worth going down the road of grief.  Going from conflict and pain and sadness within to arrive at a place where you will feel a true sense of peace is incredibly holy.  You will know when peace arrives.  There will be a holy groan from ...

Sometimes death can double or even triple up on you.  Oftentimes, there are people that have not just one person they love die close to the death of another loved one, but then another important person they love dearly dies around the same time.  In our family, it seems like death comes in threes.  That’s like pouring grief over grief on top of grief.  There is this sense you’re not sure who to grieve for or what to do with all that pain.  Some people go to silence.  Some to anger.  Some to numb.  Some to nowhere.  The heaviness of that grief feels like it is way too much to bear.  Just know you will be lost for a time.  You will feel empty and alone. Your heart has been broken, not just once, but many times. You feel crushed and broken because you are crushed and broken. No matter where you put yourself or how broken or crushed you are…you are not alone.  God is right there. God is closer than ever.  God is holding your b...