Speaking of Spirit

By Bestbudbrian (Own work) CC BY-SA 4.0  via Wikimedia Commons This holiday season is a difficult one for my loved ones and I, as it is for many people this year.  In my circle of family and friends, there have been numerous deaths - loved ones who are no longer here to share our joy or celebrate along side us. We must be gentle with ourselves and each other. In other words, we need to give ourselves permission to be happy as well as sad.  We need to allow ourselves the ability to laugh and cry.  Being gentle means it is OK to  want to be with others, but also wish to be alone.  When our hearts are filled with sorrow, grief becomes part of our life.   Grief is our response to sorrow.  Each person grieves differently.  The catch is that in order to move forward, to do the things we need to do in this life, we must not let sorrow consume us.  When we are consumed by sorrow, our lives become dark, empty places. Grief enable u...

Let's Be Brave by Edgar A. Guest Let's be brave when the laughter dies And the tears come into our troubled eyes, Let's cling to the faith and the old belief When the skies grow gray with the clouds of grief, Let's bear the sorrow and hurt and pain And wait till the laughter comes again... Let's be brave when the joy departs Till peace shall come to our troubled hearts, For the tears must fall and the rain come down And each brow be pressed to the thorny crown; Yet after the dark shall the sun arise, So let's be brave when the laughter dies. May all those who have battled the ravages of hurricane, cyclone, floods and earthquake be blessed with quick relief, loving aid and compassionate hands to help them through this dark time.

 commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mourning_angel.jpg I originally posted this several years ago.  Recently, after the sudden death of our dear friend, Wendy, I have been looking for words that might help those who knew her.  Here is my original post -    In the past month, several friends have shared the death of a loved one with me.  Some have sat at the bedside of a parent as they transitioned from this life to the next.  Others have told of releasing into the Creator's loving hands, their child.   At times like this, words often ring hollow.  They don't seem to have the depth we hope for in order to bring comfort to the hearts we know are breaking.  However, to say nothing, would be worse.   I have often responded by writing poetry.  The following are poems I have written and sent to loved ones when they are grieving.  I pray that their words will bring comfort to any of you who are in need of balm ...