What I learned at a friends funeral

“We can complain that rose bushes have thorns, or rejoiced that thorn bushes have roses.” ~Abraham Lincoln

Three people in my life, a cousin and two friends all passed away in the last couple of months.

Learning about each of these deaths has taken me to a different place in my own grief over my son.

In some ways they have showed me places I’ve healed, but in others has been like ripping the band-aid off the wound revealing painful new territory. Another layer of realizing my boy isn’t physically here. Yes, the raw deep ache of my mothers grief lays just beneath the surface waiting for the right moment to peak out. And oh boy does she.

One of my friends was cremated, her ashes will be spread in the grand canyon. My cousins service will be in May. My other friend’s funeral was this last Wednesday.

No, funerals aren’t any fun but usually there is a heart touching piece or two to come away with.

This funeral was no different. The message still fresh in my mind. Not really an unfamiliar one around here. Matter of fact its a message at the very core of who I am. It goes something like this.

We can chose to grieve differently than the typical stereotype of someone grieving or we can grieve in healing ways if we so chose. We mustn’t get caught up in the irrational ways the grief path often takes us on. Grieving someone is sad hard work but we can chose to “Rejoice Always.” Or as I like to say Thrive Through Tears anyway.

What are your thoughts about living a life where you practice “Rejoice Always?” Leave me a comment below. I’ll reply.