Without wanting to, I have developed somewhat of a specialty in providing services for parents of deceased children.
I have lost two of my own in 1993 in a drunk driving crash. Ryan was 8 and Brigid was 5. I think it gives people comfort to know that there is a counselor who has been there.
These are not the credentials that anyone would choose or want to obtain. Meeting with grieving parents is entering into sacred space. I do so with humility and trepidation hoping that I can help.
The type of death has a large bearing on the grieving process. If it was anticipated, there is not the element of surprise that there is in a sudden death. Recently, I have seen a couple of people who have lost their children due to suicide. This adds additional elements to the loss.
I will be writing more about grieving parents so I am starting a new tag on this blog today entitled, "Grieving parents". This is article #1 on this topic.
A dear friend of ours died recently and I felt honored to hold the hand of his mother during the beautiful memorial service on a beach alongside the Atlantic Ocean.
ReplyDeleteSacred space indeed...
Bless you on this healing journey.
--Ms. T. J.
Hi T.J.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your poignant comment. One of the most powerful experiences we human humans have is just "being there" for another. Providing the proverbial shoulder to cry on is so important and yet often underplayed in its significance. Hand holding is a very important part of comforting and offering solace to those bereft.
Thank you for your comment.
All the best,
David Markham