“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
By Victoria LeMay
It is still mind-boggling to think about what our world has endured since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
And as a speech-language pathologist, I witnessed the toll first-hand on our healthcare system in a variety of hospitals, clinics, and private practice settings. Soon, I found myself seeking healing, not only for myself, but for my coworkers. That journey led me to grief experts David Kessler and Elisabeth Kübler-Ross: On Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief through the Five Stages of Loss.
Although we tend to think of grief primarily with the loss of a loved one, there’s also internal grief associated with the loss of other aspects in life outside of death, such as missed opportunities at work and activities that did not come to fruition. “These emotions need motion,” as David Kessler shares, “There is something powerful about naming them as grief. It is important we acknowledge what we go through.”
Through our life experiences and by the grace of God, we can learn from the importance of asking questions, seeking help, establishing boundaries, advocating for ourselves, and taking care of our physical and mental health.
The lesson we learn that makes the greatest impression is that we cannot fix other people’s problems. We can be with them in their pain, and we can pray for and with them; if we ask God for patience during these times, he will give us opportunities to cultivate and practice patience, courage, and hope.
Pray
Lord, help us to understand our grief and know we “will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”
Reflect
When coworkers and family are suffering, how can support them without telling them what to do?
Discuss
What actions can you take to heal the grief associated with lost activities?
Victoria LeMay is a speech-language pathologist and has worked in a variety of hospitals, clinics, and private practice settings. She is happily married, has a daughter, is a member of Fresno Women’s WorkLight Chapter and an active parishioner at her church.