Today is the first birthday (19th) of a daughter taken way too early, and yet, in God’s perfect timing. So, how are we celebrating? Honestly, with mixed emotions. The same way we celebrated Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Every “holiday” is an understood more challenging day. My spiritual side is ecstatic as I picture her first birthday celebration riding horses with her “Father.” The vision is a vivid plurality of color as I see the depths of the greens in the meadows and surrounding vegetation, the hues of continuous blooming flowers bordered only by streets of gold. She is a manifestation of the fullest expression of her freedom. No more medical limitations, no more pain, and for her “no more tears.” For us, today, we are not all spiritual, we are human. In our humanity she is missed with waves of passionate tears and heartache. We forge new traditions. We include her memory. Grief is a journey of transparency. It unravels when you least expect it. The unexpected blessing during periods of grief is that it can be used as a catalyst to build bridges. In Mitch Albom’s, A Phone Call from Heaven, he writes on page 199, “When love dries in a marriage, the children become mortar for the bricks. When the children leave, the bricks just sit atop each other. When the children die, the bricks tumble.” If you have lost someone, your desire to repair broken relations within the family, or a friendship that was cut- off by unforgiveness, could be fostered and motivated by your recent loss. Death certainly does put the “world under the sun” in perspective. There are many venues for seeking assistance through a period of grieving, both in Couple Therapy » and Individual Counseling ». Grief is not just about the death of a person, it is also about losses of situations and the grieving of expectations which can be addressed even within Premarital Therapy ». Can I just say we understand? Please reach out to someone who can help you navigate the process.
Marriage and Family Therapy
