My Dear Fellow Grievers,

This photo from the cottage shows the end of my break wall and my neighbor’s property. I came out to lament that the repair of this damage left by a winter storm has been pushed out again!​

As I stood there - it’s serene, rugged and beautiful! Mother Nature with all her power tore apart this shoreline. Yet today, there’s something undeniably peaceful about this place.

I love this cottage. Right now I see the contrast of destructive power and incredible beauty and I’m thinking about how it mirrors the healing process we go through in grief.

Just like the storm that left this damage behind, grief can hit us suddenly and with a force that we never could have imagined. It tears through our lives, leaving devastating destruction and a deep sense of loss.

And yet, here we are, standing by the still water, waiting for the repairs that - if we’re honest - take longer than we ever imagined.

We’ve been waiting all summer for those repairs to be done. It’s a reminder that healing is a slow process. Just as the shoreline will eventually be restored, so too, will our hearts. But it’s not immediate. We must be patient with ourselves, with the process, and with the unexpected setbacks along the way.

Can you see how even in the midst of our pain, there can be beauty, peace, and hope?

Grief doesn’t mean we will never experience joy again—it means that joy might take on a different form, and it may take time before we can fully embrace it again.

If you’re finding yourself in a season of waiting, know that it’s okay. Healing is happening, even if you can’t see it yet. Repairs take time, and you deserve the space to heal, too.

Dedicated to Your Peace

Alan

Alan Farmer
Rise and Shine Grief Support

​P.S. If you’re looking for a safe space to share and connect with others who understand, join our private Facebook community, the Rise and Shine Grief Support Group for Widowers and Widows. We’d love to have you.