A Journey of Hope After Loss

For those of you that have recently lost a loved one, the intensity of your pain may be indescribable, unlike anything you have ever experienced before.

Friends and relatives try to console you by saying that time will heal the pain-and for some this may be true. However, quite often when we lose someone we are very close to, we carry the pain of our grief to our own grave.

Death is inevitable, but knowing this alone does not make it any easier to endure the loss of a loved one. It is through knowledge of the soul's journey that we find comfort and healing.

Death is part of the soul's journey from one lifetime to another, yet our Western society does not understand about death. This lack of knowledge about the soul's journey through death creates unnecessary fear and often leaves us unprepared for the roller coaster of emotions that we experience when we are facing our own death or the death of a loved one.  These emotions are part of the natural grieving process, but again, we know little about that process until we are immersed in the intensity of these emotions.

As the "baby boomers" age, many of us are facing a time in our lives when the welfare of our parents has now become our responsibility. Walking with a parent to the doorway of death can be an amazing experience, even considered a privilege. If your parent is able to communicate with you, take this time to talk about their life or to reminisce about your joyful childhood memories. Tell them you love them, even if you are typically uncomfortable expressing your emotions verbally now is the time to try. This may become a treasured moment that can bring both of you great comfort in the future.  The dying loved one needs to have the opportunity to express their thoughts as well. This is part of their closure with life and their relationships.

If their life journey is coming to an end, it is the family’s responsibility to is give them permission to cross over, ending their struggle with life and returning to the loving arms of God.

If your relationship with your parents was perfect, treasure it. All too often our relationship with our parents holds unresolved and painful memories. If a parent dies and a healing has not occurred, you, as an adult child, may experience a sense of abandonment. This may be accompanied by anger that things were not as you desired in your relationship. Understanding where these emotions are coming from can assist you in working through them. The most important key to healing is love and forgiveness. Accept that your parents did the best they could at the time. Find forgiveness for your parent as well as for yourself for any negativity you contributed to the relationship. Holding on to any negative emotions as your loved one is preparing to pass over only contributes to the struggles within your own life. This is a time to open your heart and begin the healing process through love, forgiveness and compassion.

If your loved one is taken from you suddenly, do not feel that you have lost your opportunity to say goodbye. Many of us talk to God or Spirit even though we cannot see him. God/Spirit gives us feelings of comfort, messages of joy and signs that he is present within our lives. Your loved ones in spirit do the same thing. Talk to them and allow yourself to feel the love they have for you. No matter what your relationship was prior to their passing, they return to you in spirit body with unconditional love and are focused on helping you fulfill your life purpose.