Grief
and Gratitude
by
Scott Stoner
Earlier this week I wrote about the full range of emotions
that we naturally feel. Our feelings will undoubtedly range from the
challenging feelings of grief and sadness to the more pleasant emotions of
happiness and gratitude. As we think about the emotions we are likely to feel
in the midst of significant change, grief certainly needs to be included.
Grief is an inevitable part of our lives because change
is always happening in our lives. We all experienced times of grief and loss
before the pandemic, and we will experience them again after the pandemic has
passed. While none of us desires grief and loss experiences, they are part of
the fabric of life. The choice we have then is how we will carry our grief.
Francis Weller, a well-respected psychotherapist and
grief expert, provides helpful wisdom on how to carry grief. I will close with
the full version of the above quote. His keen insight reminds us that when we
take time to honor and listen to our grief, we will find that our capacity for
compassion and gratitude are enhanced.
The work of the mature person is to
carry grief in one hand and gratitude in the other and to be stretched large by
them. How much sorrow can I hold? That’s how much gratitude I can give. If I
carry only grief, I’ll bend toward cynicism and despair. If I have only
gratitude, I’ll become saccharine and won’t develop much compassion for other
people’s suffering. Grief keeps the heart fluid and soft, which helps make
compassion possible.
Making
It Personal:
In general, how comfortable are you with listening to and
honoring grief—your own and others?
What stands out to you in the Francis Weller quote, and
how does that speak to you right now?
Living
Well Through Lent 2021
Copyright
©2021 Scott Stoner.
All
rights reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment