GriefShare sessions at Dixon’s Sauk Valley Community Church open to all who need support

There were scraps of wrapping paper on the floor, and a few crumbs of pumpkin bread remained on the platter.

It was a lazy Christmas morning.

My grandson Leandro was playing with his new skateboard outside, and the other grandchildren were playing video games in the basement. The adults in the family were lingering over coffee, enjoying a few quiet moments.

My son and nephew pulled out a box of old family photos. So many memories were embodied in those pictures; memories of laughter and joy were pierced by the painful reminders of loved ones no longer alive.

Life is like that.

We walk a line between the temporary and the eternal, between the joy of living and the overwhelming emotions of loss. Grieving is a journey that can mold us or break us. How we grieve will determine our path forward.

There is a danger in ignoring our grief, for it may manifest itself in an unhealthy mindset or habits that can cause harm to ourselves or our relationships. Too many thoughts assail us – the “what ifs, the “if onlys” and the “whys.” To walk this journey alone is a very isolating way to live.

It has long been known that our burdens lessen when we are able to share them with others who are experiencing similar situations. Reaching out to God with our pain and our questions can give us glimpses of eternity and provide comfort and hope.

GriefShare, a grief support group, does just that. GriefShare is designed for people who are experiencing grief due to the loss of a loved one. It is a nondenominational, faith-based seminar that is offered in Catholic and Protestant churches around the world.

It is designed as a 13-week seminar that includes a video segment, a workbook and group discussion. The video and the workbook address all types of grief and are presented by people who have experienced that type of grief in addition to addressing the issues that accompany grieving. The group discussions are more individualized. Each session is complete, and you do not have to attend all sessions.

A new seminar of GriefShare for the Sauk Valley is beginning Tuesday, Feb. 11. It will be from 1 to 3 p.m. at Sauk Valley Community Church, 498 Route 2, Dixon. For more information, call 815-661-6350, or visit www.griefshare.org or www.saukchurch.com.

Please come if you are grieving – alone or bring a friend. You are welcome. You are not meant to walk this journey alone.

You are loved.

Joanna Glenn is the director of ministries at Sauk Valley Community Church.