The next cycle of GriefShare, primarily facilitated by Pattie Davis and Jane King, will begin Monday January 23, and consists of 13 weekly sessions ending April 17. This program is a support group to help and encourage persons after the death of a spouse, child, family member or friend.

 

These sessions aim to help each participant, collectively and individually, learn to deal with grief and loss; a place where they may move forward in their journey from mourning to joy.

 

Guided by the facilitators, of whom I am one (glad to have learned of the program and very glad to have enrolled), each meeting features a video seminar, a group discussion, and the use of a personal workbook.

 

The videos feature comments and suggestions by experts who help deal with loss, personal stories of people who are grieving, and         enactments by some about how they have confronted their own situation.

 

The group discussions, which are completely confidential, offer participants the opportunity to share something they noted, to ask questions, or to learn how something shown in the video or expressed by others might apply to one’s own life. It can prove to be a vital source in finding the help and comfort they seek.

 

The workbook has questions, suggestions, and Bible verses that can help an individual in learning how to cope with their loss. For instance, an item from the workbook might cause them to approach their loss in creative and helpful ways, complementing other important activities. Journaling or simply taking notes can help them work through a particular problem. The referenced scriptures are vital.

 

Many people find, as I did, that grief is a surprisingly complex subject and that the needs and solutions may be quite different from those of fellow participants. But somewhere in the 13 sessions, it seems often to happen that by hearing what others share about their stories, a listener might find an approach that they can use.

 

A group of folks on a similar journey, giving and receiving ideas and support.  That’s what GriefShare is.

 

 TrinityLife – February 2023