An excerpt from Greg Iles’ Mississippi Burning reads, “Grief is the most solitary emotion; it makes islands of us all.” I know in my own experience with grief this was true. Grief can be one of the hardest and confusing times in life. It is an unavoidable part of the human experience but, despite how isolating it can feel, we don’t have to work through grief alone.
In 2010, my husband and I began our journey through grief when our son, Bishop, was born still. The loss of him was devastating and the grief that followed was excruciating and isolating for both of us. It left us reeling with thoughts of “why?”
The holidays that year were especially difficult. I remember running out of the dining room to cry while the blessing was said over Thanksgiving dinner. I held back tears while I ate the turkey counting down the minutes to go home. Christmas was also tough. We had dreamed of that Christmas being filled with new family traditions with our first child but found ourselves just trying to survive. I wanted to put on a happy face for my loved ones, but inside, the grief was raging. I wanted to enjoy the season, but honestly, a part of me also wanted to block out the holidays while I sat alone in a dark room.
Do you find yourself dreading this holiday season and are wondering how you will survive the upcoming weeks? If so, Northwood Church in Gulfport will be hosting a special GriefShare Surviving the Holidays seminar on Sunday, November 21, 2021, at 5 p.m. This free seminar will equip you to deal with the many emotions you’ll face during the holidays, as well as provide tips for social events and how to handle the changes to holiday traditions and discover hope for your future.
The Surviving the Holidays seminar is open to anyone and will last about two hours. During that time, participants will view a 40-minute video. The video focuses on holiday survival tips and testimonies of real people who have walked through grief themselves. Afterward, there will be time for discussion where participants can hear from other attendees about their experience and can share their own. Participant sharing is an option. No one is required to speak if they do not want to. Each participant will also receive a free personal copy of the GriefShare Holiday Survival Guide.
To attend this free event, register at GreifShare.org.
