Grief is….
Grief is….
Losing your past, present, and future all at the same time.
Creeping forward when the weight you carry seems to push you to the floor.
Feeling like your heart is stuck in a meat grinder.
Straining to hold your head above the crashing waves when you feel like you may drown.
Forgetting who you are. You can’t be who you were and you aren’t sure who you will become.
It is identity loss and an identity crisis.
Grief is…..
Feeling weak and vulnerable.
Wondering if you will ever be happy again.
The moment you realize that severe emotional pain causes actual physical pain. You have real chest pain because of your broken heart.
Feeling like you don’t fit in a world you used to belong in.
Feeling like a perpetual Eyeore when you’d really much rather by a Tigger.
Grief is….
When everything around you triggers your pain.
When facing doing even the simplest things feels like the pain of putting your hand on a hot burner.
Trying to walk in quick sand.
Crying so much your face breaks out in a rash.
Trying to remember when your brain feels like it has holes in it.
Grief is….
Seeing the things you used to enjoy as meaningless and empty.
Carrying constant stress.
Hard morning reminders that your loss really happened.
Feeling lonely even when you are with others.
Trying to walk up a steep mountain in a thick fog.
Grief is….
Feeling like no one “gets it.”
A long journey to an unknown destination with no map.
Seeing everything through a smoke screen.
Feeling like everyone else sees you as different because of what has happened to you.
Needing to talk about your loved one over and over.
Choosing a positive attitude and people assuming you are happy again with your life, but you are far from happy.
Grief is real
And should be valued.
And validated.
Don’t judge it.
Don’t try to control it.
Don’t lose patience with your grieving loved one.
They need your help now more than ever.
In Hope & Prayers,
From This Widow Mama
Do you know someone ready to make a meaningful impact this holiday season? Join us in embracing the true spirit of giving by getting involved in the Hope for Widows Foundation’s ‘Bring Hope Holiday Assistance Program’ virtual initiative, now in its third year. This program directly supports widows who may be struggling to provide gifts and essentials for their children during the holiday season.
For many widows facing financial challenges, the choice between keeping the lights on, putting food on the table, and buying presents can be heart-wrenching. When you add the responsibilities of solo parenting, the weight of grief, and the toll it takes emotionally and physically, the burden becomes even greater.
To become a sponsor and access more information, and details visit the following link: https://bit.ly/3ZROBWo
For our widows/hope sisters in the community, please stay tuned as we’ll be sending out widow applications for sponsorship this holiday season very soon.
Let’s come together and make a difference in the lives of those who need it most.
About Dorothy Swanson
Dorothy lost her beloved husband Oct 2021 to a very unexpected bacterial pneumonia that quickly became septic shock. Her other half and best friend was born with a serious congenital heart defect. Because of that, she had always feared the possibility of being a widow, but she thought it would be more likely due to his heart, and more likely when her husband was in his 50s after the children were grown. Instead, he graduated to heaven just one week before turning 34. Dorothy was 36 with young sons ages 5 and 16 months who adored their Daddy. In less than 48 hours, the life Dorothy and her beloved husband so carefully built together shattered. They were blessed to share just over 8 wonderful, joyous and fun years of marriage. While her heart is so thankful to God for having had their journey together, she has struggled since his death with feeling hurt and let down by God. She has felt so devastated that their love story was short and ended so abruptly. Join her as she shares her unfolding journey of grasping to faith in Christ as she journeys through love, loss, single parenthood, honoring her husband's legacy and guiding her sons through their grief and life without Daddy.
This posted nailed it! I lost my husband May 4th. Been married 30 years. Our oldest son’s wedding was 2 days later. David fought an incurable cancer for 8 years. Doctors gave him 5. This weekend our middle son is getting married. My youngest is 23….and a work in progress. I’m not sure what my role in life is now. My husband is gone, my boys are moving on…yet my world has stalled. I have my faith, wonderful support from family and friends…but miss my love terribly. I will be ok…but I’m just so sad some days. The tears are always close to the surface. I dear friend told me on the days that I struggle, just focus on the next 15 minutes…and then the next 15…and the next…before you know it…you’ve made it through another day. I was blessed to have had 30 amazing years with my husband. I lean on the hope of being reunited with him again someday.
This so beautifully and painfully describes grief. Thank you so much for sharing these words. It’s 17 months since my husband passed away unexpectedly and I understand these words even more now. Your words help so much in the heartbreak.
You are such a precious encourager of what I have shared here in the blogs. I am so glad that my words have helped you. It certainly is a help to me in my heartbreak to write here and connect with this special community. I agree, the more time passes, the greater the understanding of grief’s many descriptions.