A Winter’s Night Reflection from Valerie Sanchez, Director of Bereavement Services

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. For some who grieve, who mourn, the traditions that brought joy are no longer the balm that can offer comfort and peace. Trying to make sense of the experience of grief often creates additional challenges. As we are made so uniquely, we grieve uniquely, so it’s hard to find “normal”. It would be easy to find stages or phases that once we walked through, our grief would be finished, healed, over. So instead we look for what brings us comfort, pace and some amount, although small in the beginning, joy. The answer to the question, what now, speaking your loved one’s name aloud, telling their story, your story over and over, remembering the love, gathering with family and friends  who understand  the grief experience, for  an evening.

“I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge. That myth is more potent than history. That dreams are more powerful than facts. That hope always triumphs over experience. That laughter is the only cure for grief. And I believe that love is stronger than death.” Robert Fulghum