Grief sucks.

Hey Reader,

I am going to be completely honest with you today: grief sucks.

Life has taught me that grief comes in different shapes, forms, and fashions. It rarely hits in a predictable line. Instead, it comes in unpredictable waves.

The first time I remember feeling its weight was in 1999 when I lost my grandfather at 16. A few short years later, my grandmother passed away. Over the years, like many of you, I have grieved lost loved ones, lost jobs, lost friendships, and lost seasons.

Lately, though, grief feels unusually fresh.

We unexpectedly lost my mother-in-law last year, and we are still carrying that void. At the same time, my daughter is heading into her senior year of high school. I find myself constantly caught between the excitement of her "firsts" and the ache of her "lasts."

On top of all of that, my son is starting school. Because he is on the autism spectrum, getting him settled into school has not been an easy or seamless process. Holding the beauty of watching my kids grow while navigating the real stress of his daily needs has brought up a layer of grief I did not realize I was still carrying.

Sometimes we grieve people. Other times, we grieve the future we pictured or the way we thought things were supposed to go.

I have learned that we cannot rush through that space. We have to allow ourselves the grace to simply sit and grieve what was, what didn't happen, and what changed.

Grief is not meant to be a permanent period at the end of your sentence. It is something we honor so we can eventually find a way to step forward. Moving forward is how we honor the people we lost, respect our own past, and embrace what God has placed directly in front of us today.

At the end of the day, our tears are just a tender reminder that we loved deeply, cared fully, and were blessed enough to be loved in return.

It is a process, and it takes time. If you are carrying a heavy wave of grief today, please know you do not have to pretend it is easy.

Today’s 5 Daily Anchors: Navigating Grief

Filter today’s weight through your 5 pillars with grace:

• Faith: Trust that God can handle your full, messy emotions. You do not need to present a polished prayer today; just hand Him your heart as it is.
• Move: Be gentle with your body. Take a quiet 10-minute walk, sit in the sunlight, or just take five deep, intentional breaths to clear physical tension.
• Build: Focus on micro-moments. Do not try to solve the entire future today. Focus on building one peaceful routine for your family tonight.
• Connect: Let someone in. Send a text to a trusted friend and simply say, "Today is a little heavy." Allow yourself to be supported.
• Reflect (Journal Prompt): What expectation, past season, or unfulfilled timeline do I need to give myself permission to grieve today so I can move forward?

Are you carrying a quiet wave of grief in this season? Hit reply and let me know. I am holding space for you today.

Talk soon,

LCJ

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