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October 2012
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As the air gets more crisp, and the leaves start to change color, I am beginning to embrace the switch from summer to fall. From taking down the pool and storing the air conditioner away until next summer, to pulling out the crockpot and sweatshirts, I am ready.
Looking forward to fall is not just about the change in weather, it is about preparing for all the family traditions that take precendence during the fall and winter. It is about sitting down for family meals, buying costumes and giant pumpkins, and remembering all the years past that formed my cherished memories of loved ones that have died.
The beginning of November brings holidays that also seek to lovingly remember the deceased. Dia de los Muertos and All Saints Day are both holidays that focus on honoring the dead through rituals and tradition. But, even if neither of those days speak to you, many people find that setting aside time to honor their deceased loved ones can be comforting, healing and enjoyable. Here are a few ways to remember your loved one:
- Plant a tree or bush in their honor
- Light a candle for your loved one on special days
- Go through old photo albums and share stories about your loved one
- Make a regular donation to a cause that your loved one would have appreciated
Chuck DeKlyen
Editor
webmaster@griefwatch.com
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Rituals
by Pat Schwiebert
There is nothing new or unusual about performing rituals. We’ve been engaging in rituals all of our lives, often without even thinking about what we are doing or why. We just do them because we’ve always done them, or because we would feel off balance if we didn’t. They bring meaning to our lives in very subtle, yet profound ways. Putting a hand over your heart when a flag goes by in a parade, saying hello to the bus driver, kissing your loved one good night, attending a weekly religious service, walking to the store to buy the newspaper and then sitting down to read it cover to cover, taking your son to the first football game of the season, just like your dad did with you. These are examples of rituals that have been passed on to us or ones that we created ourselves to say “yes” and to help us feel grounded.
The rituals we engage in tell our own personal story of who we are as individuals and what we believe. They provide structure, meaning and connectedness.
In grief rituals are a meaningful part of our healing journey... Read More...
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You hold your loved ones who have died close to your heart, and these ornaments are the perfect acknowledgement of that feeling. A small heart or star is suspended in the center of the ornament, illustrating how you carry your loved ones with you, wherever you are. They make a beautiful chiming sound, and can be used as a holiday ornament, a wind-chime, or as a remembering gift to loved ones.
Personalize your ornament by adding a birthstone to it's center. Available styles include Heart, Star, Angel, Butterfly, Dragonfly, Bell and Tree. Shop Here...
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Honoring our grandmother, Jesusita
By Yvette Marquez-Sharpnack and Veronica Gonzalez-Smith
What is Día de los Muertos or the Day of the Dead? Día de los Muertos is a time to honor and celebrate deceased loved ones. The celebration occurs on November 2 in connection with All Soul's Day. Unlike Halloween, which is characterized by goblins, witches, and the occult, Day of the Dead, was initially celebrated by the Aztecs to honor the memory of the dead. This 3,000-year-old Aztec ritual fell on the ninth month of the Aztec Solar Calendar, which is the beginning of August and celebrated for a whole month. The "Lady of the Dead" or goddess Mictecacihuatl died at birth, but believed it was her spirit who officiated the celebration.
Growing up along the border in El Paso, Texas, a small town separating the United States and Mexico, we grew up with the Mexican and American cultures intertwined. As kids we traveled in and out of two worlds daily. The moment we left our casitas to go to school, we entered an American world but at home we had our own language, cultures, and traditions... Read More...
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In Memory of Your Baby
We were gonna have a baby, but we had an angel instead.
A children’s book told from a young child’s perspective about the excitement and dreams of a coming baby, and the disappointment and sadness of a miscarriage. Beautiful ink and watercolor illustrations. Shop Here...
We Hold You in Our Hearts
A beautiful memory book for those who have experienced the tragic death of a baby. Includes special sections for mementos, photos, certificates and more. Shop Here...
Someone Came Before You
A book for the child who comes after the one who died. It explains in a gentle way the parents’ desire for a child and the sadness that comes over them when that baby dies. It then shares how the parents got to the point of wanting another child to come into their lives. Shop Here...
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Part Four: “Personal Doubts and Questions”
by Rev. John T. Schwiebert, MDiv
... Most of us who suffer loss find ourselves asking the question, “why did this happen to me,” and sometimes more specifically, “why did God allow this to happen?”
At first, in the immediate aftermath of the loss of his children and his property, Job does not suppose that God should therefore be censured because of what has happened. Instead, Job turns to God in worship, uttering these famous words that indicate an amazing trust in God in the face of extreme loss: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there; the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Read More...
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Planning a memorial
Bittersweet Hellogoodbye
The most complete guide for use when planning a memorial or funeral for a baby. Covers both religious and secular services. Includes prayers, scripture, readings, stories from bereaved parents and other resources. Shop Here...
What About the Kids
Addresses the best practices for funeral and memorial services with children and teens. Learn how to include children in these rituals and creative ways to involve them in the process. Shop Here...
Remembering Hearts
Two beautiful handcrafted ceramic hearts in one. The tiny inner heart can be placed with the loved one who has died as a reminder of their unbroken connection to those who remain behind. The outer heart is kept by the bereaved to symbolize the missing piece of their heart. Shop Here...
Click here to customize them with your company's logo.
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Quote of the Month
"Memory is a way of holding on to the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose". from The Wonder Years
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Mission Statement
MISSION: The Grief Watch mission is to offer spiritual, emotional and other support to persons who are grieving and the professional caregivers who assist them. Grief Watch is a non-profit 501(C)3 organization. For more information about us please visit our info page.
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