This topic has been on my heart of late with several friends having lost their spouses at relatively young ages. Young or old, there will never be a good time to lose a partner, parent, child or sibling. My desire to help them led me to the discovery of the GriefShare program that has been hosted by the Hardin Valley church of Christ for several years. If you or a loved one are dealing with grief, I hope this group can be a tool and a source of comfort for you.
What is GriefShare?
Healing from the loss of a loved one is a journey and the Hardin Valley church of Christ wants to walk beside you through it. GriefShare is a support group to help you move through the grief process where you will discover what to expect in the days ahead and what’s “normal” in grief. Grieving is unique for each of us; because there are no neat, orderly stages of grief, you’ll learn helpful ways of coping with grief, in all its unpredictability—and gain solid support each step of the way. With 13 stand alone meetings, there is never a bad week to join or a need to wait. Weekly topics include Loneliness, Fear, Anger, Regrets, Relationships, Hope and more.
Baby Steps
Even reading this article may have taken all that you have to give today but it is a step towards healing. Larry Cline, minister and program lead, shared that he has seen some work up the courage to visit a GriefShare lesson only to walk out before the evening finished…their heart just wasn’t ready yet but it was another step. When they do come back to try again, most will go through the remaining lessons but a few might need to take another break for a week, a month or even longer before trying again. No judgment is ever made and the door remains open to all whenever they are willing to try.
When and Where?
Hosted on Wednesday nights, the group meets at 6:00 PM at the Hardin Valley Church of Christ (located just west of Food City) at 11515 Hardin Valley Rd. No dinner? No problem! The church serves a meal each Wednesday starting at 5:30 PM for those coming directly from work or other obligations.
How? – Three Healing Supports
A GriefShare evening consists of an encouraging 30 minute video featuring respected experts on grief related topics and helpful stories from those who have also experienced loss. Their counsel will help you find clarity, engage your emotions and address the common questions of a hurting heart.
Following the video, you and the group will have an opportunity to share insights about the evening’s topic and to share the highs and lows from your week. Members of the group will include those like you who are in the midst of their grief journey, those who have found peace from their loss and those who have years of experience comforting and caring for the bereaved. Sharing with others who have been where you are brings a measure of relief, normalizes the grief experience, and offers a supportive environment to work through your grief.
The third support is a guidebook that has helpful tips and exercises for personal support throughout the week. Using these tools, you will apply what you’ve heard during the GriefShare evening to deal with complicated grief.
Registration and more info
Ready to sign up or just need more details? Click here.
Schedule:
Meeting | Date | Time (ET) |
Is This Normal? | Wed, Aug 07, 2024 | 6–7:30pm |
Your Grief Journey | Wed, Aug 14, 2024 | 6–7:30pm |
Loneliness & Sadness | Wed, Aug 21, 2024 | 6–7:30pm |
Self-Care | Wed, Aug 28, 2024 | 6–7:30pm |
Fearful & Overwhelmed | Wed, Sep 04, 2024 | 6–7:30pm |
Anger | Wed, Sep 11, 2024 | 6–7:30pm |
Regrets | Wed, Sep 18, 2024 | 6–7:30pm |
Grief & Your Household | Wed, Sep 25, 2024 | 6–7:30pm |
Grief & Your Friendships | Wed, Oct 02, 2024 | 6–7:30pm |
Questions for God | Wed, Oct 09, 2024 | 6–7:30pm |
Stuck in Grief | Wed, Oct 16, 2024 | 6–7:30pm |
Hope & Resilience | Wed, Oct 23, 2024 | 6–7:30pm |
What Do I Live For Now? | Wed, Oct 30, 2024 | 6–7:30pm |
GriefShare Lunch | Sun, Nov 03, 2024 | 12:15–2pm |
Special Seminar
They say holidays are the hardest so the Hardin Valley Church of Christ is offering a seminar on Friday, November 29th entitled Surviving The Holidays. The event is free and it runs from 6:00PM to 7:30PM.
An Invitation
We need you as much as you need us because we are all better together. There is a seat waiting just for you. Won’t you join us?
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