“Each year when the azaleas bloom, I remember another spring. That one was a pall. The rain would not stop. It poured into the open grave of my son. It poured deep into my heart. I was sure it would never, ever stop. It did, though sometimes I wish it hadn’t. I was stuck between forgetting and remembering. Remembering won. Now I see his face in the azaleas. They bloomed that spring while he died –I no longer hold it against them.”

                                                                                                            ~ Fay Harden

Much like grief, death does not follow a schedule.  When it comes, it can extract all the joy from your life, leaving you feeling empty, alone, and hopeless.

If someone in your life has died recently, you may relate to these feelings. Even if your person died quite some time ago, a change in seasons can often make your grief resurface. These feelings are perfectly normal – and thankfully, temporary. So, what do we do with all these feelings while they’re here? We suggest you honor them. There has never been another person in this world like your person. Take a moment. Reflect. Mourn.

As the days grow warmer and the world awakens from its winter sleep, we urge you to use this time of renewal to find a way to integrate your person into this season. Creating a small memory garden (or maybe just one plant) for your person may be a healing experience. You can even write a letter to your person and bury it with the roots of the plant. Any tears you shed while planting will be good for the soil – and your soul. If that all seems too overwhelming, take a candle outside and light it in memory of your person. You can find a few more ideas here:  https://www.opentohope.com/grief-in-spring/

If you like what you’ve read and would like to see more, you can find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, as well as at www.lorysplace.org.

If you’d like to speak with someone from Lory’s Place or join one of our support groups, please give us a call at 269-983-2707. We are always here to listen.

With hope for brighter days,

The Lory’s Place Team