Grief Matters

We can't go far in life without experiencing the impact of suffering and loss. Although we wish we were exempt, none of us are. For over a year now, the pandemic has thrown us into a swirl of chaos. We've experienced uncertainty, change, and loss, leading us to grieve what we once had, and even the expectation of how our lives would look.

For me, I’ve had to let go of some of my hopes of what my newly adopted daughter, Gianna, would experience during her second year of life. With childcare, the rhythms of ministry, motherhood and life were sustainable. Without that anchor of support, I’ve had to grieve what I once had, recognize my limits and make major adjustments. Although I’ve experienced the gift of more time with my daughter, there’s been an unprecedented level of stress, stretching and sometimes downright exhaustion. Because new losses can tap into old ones, the isolation and juggle of life have also tapped into the grief I’ve carried for a long time over not having a husband to partner with me in life.

As I look, even at the circle of people in my life, I see grief all around.. A few of my friends who are single and live alone feel like they've been hit by a truck of loneliness. My friend, Stephanie, has had to grieve missing her daughter's long-awaited college graduation because she cannot leave her country of residence. My friend Dave no longer has the lung capacity and vigor he once had due to long Covid. Several others are grieving the loss of loved ones to a disease we hadn't even heard about a year and a half ago. No matter what package the loss comes in, grief is always attached. Know this...grief matters. It matters to God because we matter to God.

The pandemic and its effects are not over. The suffering in certain parts of the world, like India or Brazil, is current and immense. And although other parts of the world are opening up more, the full impact of the pandemic has still not been realized. People are still dizzied by what they've experienced. Some have not yet been able to stop long enough to recognize their grief, but will eventually. Many are keenly aware of the people and the life they've lost. Others have been ushered into depression, anxiety, addiction, or illness and daily face the effects of coping with their new reality.