The death of a loved one brings devastating grief but, I cling to the assurance that there is hope. I realize that repeated thinking and talking about the relationships with the loved one is essential to healing. Trying to express deep feelings about the loss gives confirmation of the reality of the loss, facilitates the experience of pain, and produces a soothing effect.
Personally, I realized that talking and thinking about Willie, my husband, soon after he passed, made the pain more intense. However, I believe the sooner I hurt, the sooner I heal. Stifling my feelings or running away from reality, will simply drag the healing process.
How does one say goodbye to a loved one? As part of my goodbye to Willie, I look at photographs of him during our 46 years of married life and even before I met him. I sort and place the photographs in an album in order of events in his life story. I pray and write in my journal addressing him as my reader. I want my relationship with Willie to produce beauty that survives and surpasses death. Saying goodbye in this manner seems to free me so I can celebrate the life we shared.
Add comment