Have you ever noticed that once you experience grief, it finds you in the most unexpected situations? You notice it in things and places that it once failed to exist. It interweaves its existence into the nooks and crannies of your daily adventures.
One evening, while cuddled up with my children, we read a familiar story, “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.” A book we’ve read dozens of times. But this time, it was different. This time it eerily reminded me of grief.
I read the book, repeating the words that appear on most pages, “We can’t go over it. We can’t go under it. We’ve got to go through it.”
That, my friends, is grief.
You can’t hide from it. You can’t go around it. You can’t escape it. You simply must go through it.
You must learn to accept it, because it will always be there, waiting and steady.
It becomes a companion that you cannot part from.
You can deny it. You can avoid it. You can pretend it doesn’t exist, but it will find you. Always.
Just like the words in this popular children’s book, the hunt for healing is long and scary and unpredictable. It’s a journey without an end. A journey that we step into, each and every day.
You can’t get over it. You can’t hide from it. You’ve got to go through it.
So find people willing to go on the journey with you. Surround yourself with the tools, the love, and the comfort you’ll need for each step of this painful adventure. Remember to be patient with yourself and to keep stepping, no matter how slow.
This journey, while painful, has been beautifully paved by love.
