People who are grieving the death of a loved one need enormous levels of support and encouragement. Since grieving people are often emotionally delicate, it’s important that your deacons and small-group leaders know how to care for them. A wrong word, an oversight, an unintentional offense can harm someone who is grieving and even prompt that person to leave your church. Here … [Read more...]
Why is my grief lasting so long?
Even with a solid belief system, a person’s grief can be long and intense. Sandy: I am a Christian, and I was surprised that my grief was so long-lasting and strong. I knew where Mother was, I knew she’d gone to heaven, I knew she was in a better place, and I guess I felt that my faith would get me through. Surprisingly, most of my grief lasted a good two years after … [Read more...]
Grief with a side of guilt: Inside the surprising concerns of the bereaved
When you’re helping grieving Christians, it’s important to remember that they’re doing more than grieving their loved one’s death. They’re also evaluating their response to their loved one’s death. They’re wondering, Am I grieving like a Christian should? Do my feelings of despair indicate a lack of faith? Am I being a bad example to others who look up to me? I believe in what … [Read more...]
How young children and teens differ in their grief
Dr. Elias Moitinho gives a quick and helpful overview of the differences between the ways children and teens grieve. Looking for more information on grieving children and teens? About ten years ago, our team created a video to help parents and guardians know how to care for grieving children. The video accompanied the second edition of the GriefShare series. The video … [Read more...]
How children respond to loss and how to help
Most of us like to think of children as lighthearted, happy-go-lucky, without a care in the world. Yet, we know that many children will experience the death of a loved one. When a death occurs it turns a child’s world upside down. It is times like these that children’s pastors and church leaders need to be prepared with how to help the parents help the child. At other times … [Read more...]