Scissortail Hospice Chaplain Bristow, Oklahoma
Start Healing like a Beautiful Butterfly!
'Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly' ~ Anonymous.
Our grief experience may have been unbearable, and we may have felt like a caterpillar crawling about aimlessly. We may feel uncertain and lack clarity just like the caterpillar's uncertainty about the future. Grief can cause us so much confusion and lack of direction. Can we ever be happy again? If so, how can we achieve this? These questions can seem to be larger than life.
'The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible' ~ Arthur C. Clark.
Exploring the limits of what is possible beyond the grief and loss that we experience often requires us to move past what we feel and to take a step out into the unknown. Let’s examine two simple actions that can presently think are beyond our limits: Action #1: Don't Hurry Past Small Pleasures! 'Life is made up of small pleasures. Happiness is made up of those tiny successes. The big ones come too infrequently. And if you don't collect all these tiny successes, the big ones don't really mean anything.' ~ Norman Lear.
A phrase often used but not so often heeded is: 'Stop And Smell The Roses.' Little children can repeatedly teach us. Try walking down the sidewalk with a four-year-old as they pause to notice a bug, a worm, a roly poly, or some other little thing as you stroll together. Notice how they pause to enjoy the small pleasures and learn from them. They bring awareness and happiness to us in an action that otherwise we would have passed by. Grief and loss happenings have a way of overshadowing many simple pleasures and pastimes. 'Most men pursue pleasure with such breathless haste that they hurry past it' ~ Soren Kierkegaard. At a time when our grief and loss takes our breath away, as our sorrow is so deep, can we say again, 'Stop And Smell The Roses?' Take the time to reflect and ponder simple pleasures, actions, and things that can bring us joy.
Action #2: Healing Blessings Come In Many Ways! Grief, loss, and the resultant sorrow that follows hide many blessings that surround us. Our 'sorrow cross' is unique, and how we carry it is personal. After doing all we presently feel we can do on our own, seeking healing help from others ... a grief counselor, a minister, priest, rabbi, a friend, and from communion with our God should also be strongly considered.
'Healing blessings come in many ways, each suited to our individual needs, as known to Him who loves us best. Sometimes a 'healing' cures our illness or lifts our burden. But sometimes we are 'healed' by being given strength or understanding or patience to bear the burdens placed upon us.' ~ Elder Dallin H. Oaks November Ensign 2006.
Our belief in a Supreme Being can give us added strength. Many testify of a God who loves us and knows us by name and watches over us in good times and bad. We need to express our gratitude for that belief. Those things that we believe have comforted hearts. Even though we don't always understand the why of our grief, our deep discouragement has been met and conquered, our beliefs nurtured. For this understanding and blessing, we need to express our humble gratefulness. We need to encourage others to seek comfort, peace, and strength through communion with God as we see new purpose, hope, and peace.
As we deal with our personal and unique grief, be aware that healing blessings come in many ways. Be diligent in seeking sources to bring you happiness and all ways to heal from your sorrows. Let’s diligently seek for all solutions to give us the strength to reconcile our grief circumstances. At all times, embrace all available positive social media, technology, internet, and all other beneficial and essential resource solutions. Overcoming despair, grief, and loss should be our highest priority. To stop grieving like a caterpillar and start healing like a beautiful butterfly from grief, loss, and sorrow ... and finding hope and joy ... is vital to experiencing lasting peace and fulfillment.
John T. Catrett, III Scissortail Hospice Chaplain 306 North Main Street, Suite E Bristow, OK 74010 918.352.3080