Grieving the Loss

Permission to Be Human — A Quiet Act of Care

Caregivers often carry an unspoken expectation to be endlessly patient, strong, and selfless. Your role, especially at the end of life, was emotionally demanding and physically exhausting. Perhaps a better word: consuming.  And, if you are like many of us, after the death of the one we cared for, there is only a huge void. 

Allow me to create space for you to breathe and to feel your grief. “I know this was hard for you.” Frustration, sadness, and fatigue doid not diminish love—they accompanied it. And it made it easier for your loved one to pass on. They died knowing they mattered, they were worth your care and attention. And this was the ultimate gift. 

But now, there is only the empty place. Believe me when I say, there is no shame in feeling angry, sad, hopeless, lost, confused, or whatever you might feel. You gave all that you could give, and your loved one was blessed because of that. No one could have given what you did. As you go through this season of grief, allow yourself to experience your emotions without shame.  

Isolation may make your grief harder to bear. Please reach out for companionship when you are up to it.  You may want to find a grief support group in your community. We offer online grief counseling and support groups several times a year. In the meantime, I will be back again next week with another message.