The Old "You" Is Simply Gone
So often Judy and I hear people who have not lost a child, talking about people who have, saying things like, “They just aren’t themselves anymore.” And those people are absolutely right!
When a mom or dad loses a child their whole life changes! Priorities change. Career satisfaction often changes. Marriages are affected. Surviving siblings flounder. An empty spot at the dinner table screams out “NEW NORM!”
The image above talks about spending your life on a new level. New level, new norm, whatever term you use, it’s true. The grief journey after the loss of a child is a lifetime journey. That’s not to say that the initial grief and struggles don’t soften over time, they do. But there is a scar on the heart that reminds us every time we look in the mirror that something has changed. A piece is missing.
If you’ve lost a child know that every other parent that has lost a child is feeling the loss too. Literally millions of other moms and dads are walking this journey with you. You may not see them at first, but if you look closely there is often a scar that you will notice that others cannot see. When we hear of your child’s death, our scar aches too. You are not alone. You are simply on a new level.
Once again, Judy and I want to remind those of you who haven’t lost a child, but know of someone who has - reach out to them today. Let them know that you’re willing to walk with them on this new level of their lives. Some days we just need a fellow traveler on this journey we call grief. God bless, and know that Judy and I love you!
