"Grief is a tidal wave that overtakes you, smashes down upon you with unimaginable force, sweeps us up into its darkness, where we tumble and crash against unidentifiable surfaces, only to be thrown out on an unknown beach, bruised, reshaped... Grief will make a new person out of us, if it doesn't kill us in the making." ~ Stephanie Ericsson
Grief can overtake us and smash down upon us with unbelievable pressure! We need to learn to acknowledge and accept the effect that grief can permanently have on us in making us into a different person and to understand that this is the healing process. The new you may be bruised and reshaped. You learn how your grieving can crash upon you and reshape your unknown state of healing and growing. "The most difficult phase of life is not when no one understands you; it is when you don't understand yourself." ~ Anonymous
Accept the reality of your grief, sorrow, and loss. Call your grief what it is - Grief. Understand that grief is a mixture of many emotions. Have confidence there is hope after this stage. Relief from grief is not accomplished in an instant; a stepping stone path is meant to be followed one step at a time. The path purpose is for healing your grief. Stepping stone path detours may be faced. Your will can be swallowed up by many distractions around you. Also, some useful stepping stones may never be used because you are not yet ready to confront your grief and loss.
Stepping stones can take you into new unchartered territory which you may be very reluctant, even frightened to explore. Nonetheless, successfully following a chosen stepping stone path can make available powerful enabling possibilities and healing actions. The path may help you focus on essential steps that can close the gap from where you are now to a place where you have discovered new healing opportunities to reconcile your circumstance to a happier, better place in your life. "True courage is taking another small step each day toward achieving your vision." ~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie
Imagine you are in a beautiful garden following your foot path one step at a time. Never forget the goal is to follow the grief healing pillars of strength. Then when sorrows bear down on you and the ache in your heart goes on and on, you can find solutions to stop grieving and start healing and find joy. "You make a mistake, you keep going." ~ Linda Gra
Most people learn from their mistakes and receive inspiration from their process and victories. Let's not ever turn our backs on our unique personal consciences. May we always choose our steps wisely. Sometimes it may seem like one step forward and two steps back. Small path corrections may be needed. The healing path we choose may not necessarily be the easiest to follow. Thinking correctly, choosing wisely, and stepping cautiously will take prayerful consideration and courage. The challenge of the uncharted stepping stone path may leave us temporarily aching and injured but always a better person. Holding back is self-betrayal. Keep going! We will then begin to recognize progress in our healing journey. Let's follow our own unique path of stepping stones for renewal and strength.
John T. Catrett, III
*Scissortail Hospice Chaplain
124 East Broadway,
PO Box 1216
Drumright, OK. 74030
918.352.3080