Good Monday morning...

… and as Mondays often go, I will be sitting with people who have lost a loved one and are getting help by attending one of the bereavement groups offered by Hospice of the Valleys.  I have been impressed with the courage, vulnerability and wisdom each person brings to the group as they tell their stories.  Two of the three groups we offer are on Mondays, the third is on Thursdays.

It takes courage to attend a support group of any kind.  People don’t like to admit they need support, but pain can be a great motivator for seeking support.  Not everyone who grieves will attend a group, but those who do have overcome the fear of sitting with strangers and telling their stories.  They find that telling their story is like twisting the valve on a pressure cooker to let out the steam, there is relief and a resettling of emotions.

Many of our attendees are widows and widowers, and so often there is an acute sense of vulnerability that goes with the loss of a spouse.  Even those who have experienced a long illness and caring for their loved one, the void of the other “just being there” creates this sense of vulnerability.  So, in groups, it becomes a shared vulnerability, and like a lot of things in life, it feels much better to be known.  The thing I hear so often is that the group becomes family.

When I get to listen to these men and women share their stories of grief and observe the kind and supportive atmosphere in which their stories are received, I hear wisdom coming from their souls.  Thoughts that emerge from the depths of grief reveal some of the most important ideas about life, love and loss that I’ve ever heard.  It is a win-win proposition when they go deep and share, a win for the one articulating their thoughts, putting their grief in perspective for future growth, and a win for the rest of the group listening to and learning from the others.

I like Mondays (and Thursdays) because I am with some of the most courageous, humble and wise people I’ve ever met.  They always teach me something about life, love and loss that I need to know.  What we have intentionally created as a safe space for sharing has led to a profound place of growth.

For His glory,

Pastor Mike