Grief Counseling

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Having come so far through our loss and grief, we have gained something. There comes a special calmness and depth to our soul that we never knew before. This calmness is not something we wish for anyone because it is born of terrible hurt and pain. We are able to smile again now – perhaps not as bright and innocent as it once was – but smile all the same. In losing the innocence we once had we have gained a compassion and gentle strength that would never have been gained any other way. We now have a unique perspective on grief that we are able to use to help others. When a person has experienced the kind of grief that seems to kidnap our souls, we can minister in a more compassionate way to those who are hurting. When those who have been broken and healed speak to a broken heart it is like giving nourishment to a starving child. There is a depth to our words that seems to pour a healing balm into their wounds. We who have felt the sting of grief, who have experienced the pain of loss, are often the best at helping others. It’s important to have a good understanding of the stages of grief. Knowing these stages will help you in ministering to those who are in the midst of their grief. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 describes this saying, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” We can relate to the pain others are feeling, because we have experienced pain too. It may not be exactly like our grief journey, but the pain is similar. The next few pages will give you some tools to help others work through ... ... middle of paper ... ... one may not work for another. The important thing is to be available to the person who is grieving, and encourage them to find the things that work for and help them. People tend to fall into routines. Sometimes that is a good thing. However it may be that if a person gets stuck in a routine they will not be able to move forward in their grief journey. It is important to continue making progress and grieving the loss. If a person seems to be stuck, encourage them to try something different. This book is full of suggestions of different things to try. Thank you for taking the time to read this resource. My prayer is it will be used to minister to the broken hearted, and those whose spirit has been hurt – who feel like grief has kidnapped their soul. May God use you to minister to them and love them as Christ loved the Church. God bless you gentle reader.

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