Death of a Family Member

I give myself permission to grieve fully — Jesus wept at a grave, and so can I

I hold together the reality of loss and the reality of hope — grief and faith are not opposites

I do not have to have the right words or the right feelings right now

I let people in rather than managing my grief alone — I tell someone what I actually need

I bring my anger, confusion, and questions to God directly — he can handle all of it

I take care of basic physical needs — sleep, food, movement — as acts of stewardship in hard times

I do not rush my grief or let others rush it for me — there is no correct timeline

When the death was sudden or traumatic, I accept that some questions may not be answered in this life

I trust that God is present in this even when I cannot feel him

I seek grief support — a counselor, a grief group, a pastor — rather than assuming I should be over it by now

I mark anniversaries and significant days intentionally rather than trying to treat them as ordinary

I allow myself to receive care from others without deflecting it — letting people serve me is a gift to them