During this time of year, many of us are sending our children back to school. Please tell me, where did the summer go? Time truly is moving by much too fast.
I’m sitting here wondering how it is that we are sending our youngest off to his first year of high school tomorrow. Wasn’t it just yesterday when I walked him hand-in-hand into kindergarten?
Everyone keeps telling me how quickly the next four years will fly by. I don’t doubt this. When I think about it, it’s been almost 4 years since I went Back To School. After Melanie ran ahead to heaven, there were so many hard lessons I had yet to learn. As the first day of school approaches, I thought I’d share the top 10 lessons I’ve learned in grief so far:
• No one grieves the same.
• There is no definitive period of time for grieving.
• My faith is the absolute cornerstone for all that holds me together.
• It is normal to be laughing one moment and crying the next.
• When life begins moving forward, I am not leaving my loved one behind.
• Life can change in an instant. Forgive quickly and love fiercely.
• Your priorities in life take a dramatic shift. We no longer sweat the small stuff.
• Do not expect others to heal your heart and brokenness. Only God can do that.
• I will never be the same person I was before.
• We never really recover from grief; we learn how to live our lives as best we can around the missing piece of our heart.
Grief is one of the most challenging journeys we will walk, but there IS hope during loss. Even if you can’t see or feel it now, hang on because it gets better.
Of all the lessons in grief I’ve learned, music remains a significant part of my healing as I walk this long journey. The songs I listen to continue to help ease the sadness I carry. But tears are part of our healing. We must learn to embrace them and not be embarrassed or ashamed. “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book (NLT) Psalm 56:8.
Today I woke up with this song on my heart and want to share it with you. I’ve captured part of the chorus below that resonated with me. I hope it touches your heart and reminds you that no matter how you may feel, you are never alone.
Have you ever felt like nobody was there?
Have you ever felt forgotten in the middle of nowhere?
Have you ever felt like you could disappear?
Like you could fall, and no one would hear?
Even when the dark comes crashing through
When you need a friend to carry you
And when you’re broken on the ground
You will be found