8 - In the presence of the Grief
It's in the presence of the Grief as you lose someone close
Transcript
Current Episode Introduction
This episode is informed by the verse of the poem representing the letter:
G
It's in the presence of the Grief as you lose someone close.
It includes a brief description of the verse, a personal reflection demonstrating how the verse has facilitated my own resonance with Doses of God in my life, a statement of gratitude, and a few guiding questions that may be considered for your own reflection.
Description
Here is description of the verse:
It's in the presence of the Grief as you lose someone close
Grieving is an enduring process that allows us an opportunity to fully accept the loss of someone or something close to our heart. As you advance through the process, you learn to appreciate the time you spent with the person and accept the reality that it was their time to leave the physical world. God is here during this time to offer you comfort and assurance that the person no longer in your physical presence is safe at home in His kingdom. In addition to grieving the physical loss of someone close, you may also grieve the loss of a special relationship or even a material treasure. God is here during these moments as well. He can help you understand that everything happens for a greater purpose. Even if you are unable to comprehend the connection between the loss and the purpose, you can be assured that God’s will is for the greater good and the loss will inevitably contribute to the evolution of goodness in the world.
Reflection
Here is my personal reflection on the verse:
To me, this verse is about accepting loss beyond my control, particularly the passing away of people who are close to me. Loss is inevitable and may occur at expected or unexpected times throughout our lives. I have had various degrees of connection to several people who have passed away over the years. Some losses have affected me more than others. Looking back, I seem to have experienced greater degrees of discouraging grief while navigating the losses of all four of my grandparents, a childhood friend who took his own life in middle school, a high school friend who unexpectedly passed away from a virus in the early years of college, and one of my very first childhood friends who died in a car accident in his early 20s. During these times, I tended to be resentful and depressed, burdened with assertive attempts to intellectually rationalize their passing and encumbered by emotional distress that seemed impenetrable. As my life has progressed, the ways in which I navigate grief and accept loss have evolved. I now tend to be more prayerful and contemplative when someone close to me passes away, seeking to connect with a deeper meaning for their existence. My connection with meaning seems to become more robust as I gravitate toward a conscious rapport with God’s comforting essence through prayer, such as:
Dear God, as I grieve the passing of this person, please help me find comfort in Your presence. Guide me toward appreciation of the time I spent with them as well acceptance of the reality that it was their time to depart the physical world. Aid me in my resonance with the deeper meaning of their existence and how the relevance of their life will be not only sustained, but exponentially advanced, through the impact they had on those who were blessed with the opportunity to be around them. Position me to be actively inspired by the ways in which they interacted with and influenced the world so that I may pay forward the gracious gifts they have given to me through my words, actions, and contemplative way of living. Amen.
Two of the more recent passings of people close to me include my wife’s aunt and grandfather. I held, and continue to hold, both very close to my heart. During my initial grieving stages for each of them, I was given an opportunity to deliver eulogies at their memorial services. I felt keenly connected to the everpresent divine source as I prayerfully contemplated how they interacted with and influenced the world. Here are a couple examples of how such contemplations during early moments of grief elicited acceptance of their passing through imperative understandings of ways in which my wife’s aunt and grandfather positively impacted others:
During my final conversation with my wife’s aunt, a few days before her passing, I asked her if there was any advice she would give to me or anyone else. This is the advice she gave me: “Live life to its fullest. Share your gifts with others. Know that God is always with you.” Although our last conversation marked the first time she vocalized this advice to me, when reflecting upon the wondrous way in which she lived her life, it’s easy to see she had been consistently communicating the message of this advice to everyone around her for years through the demeanor and actions she naturally exhibited on a daily basis. To this day, I find myself periodically pondering this advice and am certain that her gift of creating comfort and happiness for others will extend long beyond her years on earth.
I knew my wife’s grandfather in his role as a family man. He regularly demonstrated magnificence in this role and, I believe, will be identified as an exemplar of what it means to be an excellent family man for years beyond his passing. He was highly admired, abounding with authentic love. I am immeasurably grateful to have witnessed so much love, and I am so inspired by that love. It makes me want to be better at loving, to spread more love, to only exhibit love, and to be a generous giver of that love to others. I am so thankful to him for routinely modeling that type of love and for creating opportunities where that type of love could be shared among family. I always felt that love when I was near him and I continue to feel it today.
Gratitude Statement
I am immeasurably grateful for:
the peaceful acceptance and understanding gleaned through prayerful attention to God’s presence during moments that may otherwise be dreadfully daunting when people pass away.
Guiding Questions
Here are a few guiding questions to consider that might facilitate your own personal reflection upon the verse:
It's in the presence of the Grief as you lose someone close.
Take a moment to reflect on:
times when you experienced grief and how God’s presence provided comfort for you.
For example:
What are examples of when you endured a grieving process?
In what ways were you able to connect with God’s presence during your grief?
How did you feel during these times when you did or did not connect with God’s presence?
How do you express gratitude for God’s ways of easing your grief?
What strategies could you implement to maintain awareness of God’s peaceful presence during times of grief?
Closing Statement
In closing:
When you let God communicate with you during a time of grief, you receive a Dose of God
Next Episode
The next episode in this series will focus on the verse representing the letter:
H
It's in the middle of Happiness as you obtain what you want most
Positive Vibes
Thank you so much for listening. May you consistently position yourself to accept and resonate with the Doses of God that are ever-presently here for you.
