Checking in with you since it has been a long time since I last wrote. I am not a blogger and I don’t spend a lot of time at my computer after work since my full time work is on line.
2020. A year of loss and heartaches. The losses related to the pandemic and the racial and political issues have effected us all. Many different levels of grief surround these.
However, many rose to the occasion to think about others with care and concern. Individuals and groups did what they could, being creative and reaching out for good-from the very young to the very old. Lets keep learning from life experiences. We can all show love and respect to others everyday, whether they are like us, think like us, or believe like us or not.
Personally, the year started out with a devastating blow of having to cancel my book release event. I had worked so hard in 2019 to finish my book, get it published, and plan the release. Everything was in place and felt so right. Then, a week before it was to happen, everything was shut down. This was a loss that messed up my mind and emotions for quite a while.
My husband Jon and I lost seven family/extended family members and dear friends, most not due to the COVID-19. I will only mention a few here, but they all are in my heart and are missed.
Jon’s father, Arnold Straight, passed away and is now reunited with his sweetheart. We said goodbye to my Mom’s brother, Stanley Oleson, a wonderful and talented uncle that is sorely missed. The last of my Dad’s siblings, Aunt Gladys Tracy, went to her heavenly home. Not only losing a precious auntie, but a whole generation is also gone. I can still hear her sharing family stories. Lastly, my very sweet cousin, Debbie McKinley , who passed away just weeks after a terminal diagnosis.
The loss of not being able to get-together to say a final goodbye and to grieve with others has added to the loss. Part of the grieving process is to share this heartache, and to hug and console one another. Not being able to do so, has left unfinished business on the table.
There is a list of stages people may go through with any kind of loss. These are called the Five Stages of Grief. The five stages of grief are:
*denial*anger*bargaining*depression*acceptance
Not everyone will experience all five stages, and may not go through them in this order. (If you are not familiar with these, please look on line for more information.) If you are experiencing these, it may be helpful to know it a normal part of grieving.
Grief is different for every person, so you may begin coping with loss in the bargaining stage and find yourself in anger or denial next. You may remain for months in one of the five stages but skip others entirely.
John 16″33 says, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart because I have overcome the world.” NLT
I pray that His peace, which is beyond our understanding, may rest upon you. God bless you-Lisa