Grief Waves

On a cruise last fall, I leaned over the rail and watched as the bow of the ship pushed through the ocean. Deep blue water mingled with white caps as the ship moved forward.

Mesmerized, I watched for several minutes snapping picture after picture. Not one of the images was exactly the same. Smooth. Choppy. High. Low. Interesting yet powerful and unknown at the same time. 

For me, this is a pretty good image for grief. 

In the early days of loss, big waves come at you, wash over you, and knock you down. 

Then the tide goes out. A little calm. Feet sinking deeper into the sand. 

Another wave. Big, overpowering, and scary. 

Smaller wave. Easy, calm, and gentle. 

Grief comes and goes. 

You can't run from it because it will find you. 

In the messy middle of grief, you begin to know when it will come. Not always, but a lot of the time you do. 

Big events for sure. Birthdays. Weddings. Graduations. 

Our family had a high school graduation last week. Each of us missed someone. Grandmother. Grandfather. Great grandmother. And others. 

Each of us expressed our grief in different ways. A smile. A tear. A quiet sense of gratitude. 

In that event, the waves would rise and fall. Triggered by those who were absent, a look, or the empty spaces in the picture. 

In the deep, dark scary moments of grief, the waves come at us. 

What can we do? Let the energy take us where it needs to go. 

Even the biggest waves won't overpower you. It may feel like it, but it won't. 

Here is the path to healing and hope. You don't have to walk through this alone. That is why a Grief Companion can go with you. Find your support and encouragement right now!