HUG Corner: Thought for the Week 10/1/18
October 1, 2018
Healing After Loss (Martha Whitmore Hickman)
To keep a lamp burning we have to keep putting oil in it.
-Mother Teresa
At first, we are almost immobilized. We do what we have to do and are grateful for the customs and rituals that guide us through those first days. There are many to care for us – other loved ones, friends, members of our community of faith.
But then that wave of support recedes and we must learn to assume care of ourselves.
How to do that? We may cultivate new interests. Do we have a talent for painting? For music? Artistic ventures are wonderful ways to lose oneself in work – and also, often to express one’s grief. Some people seek out grief recovery groups, in which you can share what is in your heart without wondering whether you’re imposing on friends who may not understand your need to tell your story again and again. Some join service networks like Foster Grandparents or Alive Hospice, which helps the dying and their families.
The important thing is that, like a lamp that needs oil, we too need to keep our sources of healing and energy fed.
I have the power – and responsibility – to keep my life moving.