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The loss of a loved one is never easy. Nobody can really tell you how to deal with it, and everyone is different. You will feel grief that can cause anger, pain, and hopelessness. But all is not lost. God is with you, and you can help yourself by remembering the departed in various ways. You can embrace the Lord and live a full life without forgetting treasured people and cherished memories.
Know in Your Heart that they are With God
Losing a loved one at any time in life can be heartbreaking. Romans states: “For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.” If you believe in the Lord, you know in your heart that while your love will be missed, they are with God. You can find solace in knowing that we are all God’s children, and to his home, we will be called.
Walk a Personal Pilgrimage
A life shared with someone you love, whether a friend, a relative, a partner, or a child, is a life filled with joy. However, some of the most treasured memories you have are likely to be away from home. Keeping personal items or even urns is a standard remembrance method. But you could visit the place you got married, your first vacation together, or a shared experience are great examples of personal pilgrimage. You can remember a loved one by revisiting those magical places you created treasured memories together.
It’s OK to Grieve and Miss a Loved One
Grief is a natural healing process, and it is different for everyone. Don’t try to fight it. There’s not much you can do about it. It’s also OK to cry or become angry, and if you have a hard time accepting a loss, that’s fine too. Time helps with grief, and all medical professionals observe grief as an essential part of coming to terms with the loss of a loved one. Give yourself to the Lord and allow his healing grace to help you through the most challenging times. When you go through deep water, he is there.
Find Peace with Yourself
A natural aspect of grief is to blame others or yourself. However, blaming yourself for the death of another is never helpful. Even if you are directly responsible for causing someone’s demise, there’s nothing you can do about it after the fact. Instead, find peace with yourself by asking the Lord for guidance and make the time to reflect upon death as a natural part of life. As your loved one needs to rest in peace, you need to find peace in rest.
Find Ways to Remind Yourself of their Light
The loss of a loved one can cause darkness in one’s life that is hard to rectify. However, the Lord is the brightest light of all, and as his children, we are all responsible for shining as best we can. Remember the light of someone you lost and think about how that light shines throughout your life; the good, bad, and loving. Think about how their spirit and love helped you throughout your life while they were around, and take joy from knowing you were privileged enough to receive it.
Absence Doesn’t Have to Mean Not Present
Just like some light can be taken from your life, a hole can be created by losing a loved one. While this hole cannot be replaced, it doesn’t have to get bigger. Just because someone has gone with the Lord, it doesn’t mean they aren’t still there to guide you. It’s not uncommon for people to feel the presence of someone who has passed on. Perhaps this is spiritual, or maybe someone’s presence can still be felt because of the small things they leave behind. Take comfort in those things.
Make Strides to Help Others Who Miss Them
Of course, unless the departed had no family and friends, it’s unlikely that you are the only one who misses them. Stricken in your grief, you might find it difficult to see the light in life, but with the Lord’s grace and enough time, you will find the strength to come to terms with the loss. Then you can find the strength to help others in their time of need. Siblings, children, and friends will also miss your loved one as much as you do, and you will need each other through the most challenging times.
Do Good Deeds in their Name
Is there a more noble way to celebrate a life and honor someone than to do good deeds in their name? Evil begets evil; good begets good. That is the true spirit of Christ. Doing good deeds in someone’s name benefits everyone. Some people find peace in helping others in a similar predicament to the lost loved ones. For example, if your son died of cancer, then help others with cancer by raising money in his name. As Galatians 6:9 states: “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up.”
Take Solace that they Would Want You to Move On
Finally, you would help yourself if you remember that your loved one would want you to move on with your life. This by no means implies that you should forget about them, but you cannot hope to be happy again without addressing your own life. You can take solace in knowing that your loved one is with Christ in the kingdom of Heaven, and you will be reunited in due time. For now, help yourself by healing yourself; move forward, find someone to love, and live your life as best you can according to love and respect for others.
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