The Gift of Bearing Witness to Grief

"When I stood up behind the wooden podium next to the big floral wreath to share about my dad, I looked out and saw not only my husband and mother and sisters, I saw my community. There was nothing left for them to say or do. Just be with. And that is one of the greatest gifts we can give someone on the often-lonely journey of grief. We can give the gift of bearing witness to the pain. Not coming with neat answers wrapped in tidy Christian clichés. Just come. Show up so a friend is not alone in the question-asking, faith-wrestling, soul-wrecking agony of losing a loved one. It will probably feel awkward. My friends who came in their black blazers and dark navy dresses didn’t know what to say. Frankly neither did I. But I was deeply thankful for them just being there. Their presence alone spoke volumes. It told me my dad’s life mattered. My loss and grief mattered. I felt lost, but I was seen."



The Gift of Bearing Witness to Grief