Monthly Grief support letters

 Monthly Grief Support Letter One is for one of the first several months after the death of a loved one, or for anyone at any time who would like to start a monthly program of grief support. It provides basic grief information, a few tips for coping, and ideas to help you during your grief journey.  The link for monthly support letter #1 is:  Grief Basics:  No right or wrong way to grieve. 

Each of the following letters provides personal grief support,  grief-related information, and a faith-based reflection. Please substitute a special day/holiday letter for months during which these occur. Simply return to the "next in line" letter below the following month. Note: these letters can be read at any time in the grief process. If your loved ones' death was some time ago, read whatever works for you, whenever you wish.

Monthly Grief Support Letter Two discusses how feelings of shock at the death can numb us to the stark reality of our loved one's passing.  Don't worry: this is normal part of grief.  Even thinking your loved one will call, walk in the door, or say something to you is a part of grief.  Suggested grief related information includes:  Effective ways of Coping with Grief.  

Monthly Grief Support Letter Three covers how each person grieves in a unique and very personal way, but common ground—and sometimes common tips for survival—can be found with other persons who have journeyed through grief. Info is provided on how family members and friends can best support us. Articles include First Steps Forward in Grief  and Help Navigating Grief: how to best offer support to someone who is grieving 

Monthly Grief Support Letter Four describes how, once shock and numbness have started to wear off, we can have a wide variety of physical and emotional responses to grief.  At this point, knowing what "normal grief" looks like can be a relief. The essays, Grief Process, How we Grieve, and  Characteristics of Grief: How grief affects us review information about what grief looks like, how it manifests itself physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Most people find this detailed information helps lesson their worried wonderings: “Am I grieving or going crazy? Or both?!?” 

Monthly Grief Support Letter Five discusses CS Lewis's A Grief Observed, and how Lewis found the intensity of his grief after the death of his wife to be "an embarrassment" to his friends.  Their response isolated, rather than supported him.  Having family members and friends understand Tips from those of us who grieve: How to Help me in my Grief is essential to us moving forward with the support we need.

Monthly Grief Support Letter Six covers forgiveness of self and others, using Saint Peter as an example.  It offers information about healing of guilt and examples of life wisdom. The feature article is The Saint Thomas Guide for Surviving Grief, an excellent list of suggestions to sooth grief related feelings, including taking a bath!  

Monthly Grief Support Letter Seven discusses how grief related thoughts and feelings can be so enduring and disturbing, that we don't feel peace.  Trust in God is one way to increase internal peace, but also, surprisingly, is implementing gratitude.  As odd as that sounds, many people have found that re-routing their neural pathways to gratitude, which is the "readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness,"  can help them feel better. The featured article is Grief and Gratitude: An Unlikely Pair? 

Monthly Grief Support Letter Eight describes how  we can rediscover our own strengths and become more resilient in grief. The article, Recovering Resilience; Discovering Strength provides a guide to give you the tools to journey through grief.