A Major part of our lives

Grief is a major part of our lives seems every one I know is in some part of the process. We grieve when we have a loss. It doesn’t matter if the loss is a person a place or a thing. Many different things become important to us the loss of the important thing causes us to miss it.

My grief is for people that I have lost. I have lost some people who have been close to me in different areas of my life. The loss of my cousin when I was twelve had a huge impact on the rest of my life. It was years before I could even believe he was dead, never mind accept it. The grief of my family hindered my own ability to make my way through the grieving process.

I have friends who have lost their jobs and they are going through the grieving process. I have friends who had to move from a location that was home for such a long time to a strange place. Having to rip their families from the place that has been home and create a new home far from all that is familiar.

When we loose a person, the places that we have been with them can become painful to visit. Memories can overwhelm in familiar places. Places that felt like home no longer feel that way. Leaving us feeling alone or abandoned.

When nowhere feels like home what can you do; where do you turn?

For me I have learned to find my home in my heart. My home is in my relationship with God. The peace and comfort that comes from knowing God the way that I do and the love that he showers on my life gives me a home that never fails me.

I grieve but I grieve with my heavenly father. The process of grief is easier to bear because I lean on my father's love.

Trust is a big part of being able to do that. According to Elisabeth Kubler Ross there are 5 steps of death and dieing. "

The five stages go in progression through denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

I don't find myself in denial long reality hits me quickly and I leap into anger full force. I take that anger and turn to God. Through prayer, I talk to him and share my anger and my heart. Until I find myself no longer angry. Instead of yelling at God, I am trying to make a deal with him. God isn't into deal's he is into our best interest. When we are angry or in the let's make a deal mode he listens to us and loves us through the process. When the depression hits I am already in God's hands and have been sharing the whole ordeal with him. At the point of depression, I am open to him and cry in his arms. Sometimes he provides human arms to hold me why I cry my heart out to God. At this point, I am ready for God to begin healing me. The work that God has done in me during those times of grief just before I reach acceptance astounds me. I come out the other side closer to God with peace in my heart.

I have gone through the 5 steps with God and without Go, with God I don't get stuck on one step. With God, I don't feel alone on top of everything else that I am feeling. With God, I grieve in my home safe and warm knowing that in the end it will be ok. With God acceptance comes quicker and less painfully. Without God, I was lost and stuck. It took many years to find the peace that I now have.

My house is comfortable and my family and friends are loving and wonderful but I'll stick with my home in God for all the important things in life.