BEREAVEMENT
Losing someone is hard to accept, but we do not have any choice about it. When someone you know dies, it stuns you. You are forced to face the reality of death, and to try to comprehend its meaning. If the person that has died was very close, you can feel like part of yourself has died. It takes time to recover from the shock and the pain, so give yourself time. Don't let well-meaning friends force the pace of recovery. And remember, everyone is different and grieves in their own way. Because the loss is permanent, the aspect of our lives that that person represented is permanently affected. So the old saying "time heals all wounds" does not really bear out.
Bereavement is the process of grieving the loss of a loved one. It is not an easy task. It is work and a journey. There is no time limit for the grief process. Perhaps as short as 1-2 years or as long as 3-5 years. But, you really never get over it--there is no cure, only healing. That person is a part of you and always will be. The key is to accept your loss and continue your journey through life.
Despite our hurt or our fear, we always have hope in Christ, no matter how we feel. We can know the comfort of God, as his Spirit comforts us and stays close to us. Welcome the Lord in to your deep feelings. Invite him to help you make sense of your emotions, and to define how you felt about the person who you have lost. He understands your situation - the complexities of your past experiences and all of your thoughts. He can help mend the gap that you probably feel inside.
Under'Contacts and Links' below, we have listed some web sites and contacts that provide more written reflection or other help, which we hope will be useful.
USEFUL LINKS AND CONTACTS
http://www.griefshare.org/ - support groups for grief.
www.geocities.com/Heartland/Falls/9648 - Resource for Christian parents who have experienced the death of a child.
www.whitebuckpublishing.com/ale/index.htm (Christian). Please also search www.christian-directory.com.
http://www.bereavement.org.uk/ - secular site focused on London and UK, with helpful content.
www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/3634 - Information and guidance concerning marital/family problems; addiction; bereavement; crisis and/or stress related issues.
Child Death Help line (UK). Tel. - 0800 282986 (free phone).
The Compassionate Friends. Tel. - 0117 953 9639 (Bristol, UK), Tel. - 0208 332 7227 (London, UK).
IF WE CAN BE OF ANY SERVICE PLEASE CONTACT US, WE ARE HERE TO HELP.
