A Bereaved Parent’s Spring
By Terre Belt, BP/USA , Anne Arundel
County Chapter
Regardless
of the calendar or the meteorologists, April marks the beginning of spring for
many of us. The world outside begins to
awaken from its winter slumber and the sights and sounds and smells of spring
abound, from the flowers peeking out of the ground to the birds chirping
merrily outside our windows to the smell of the blooming trees as we venture
out for our first walk of the season.
This
is what spring is all about unless, of course, you are a “newly” bereaved
parent and then you might just be oblivious to it all. In fact, you may even resent the reappearance
of spring and its symbolic rebirth. The
message to you from an “old timer” on this grief journey is to be easy on
yourself…it won’t always be this hard and just fell whatever you feel. Don’t let anyone tell you how you “should”
feel this spring (or next.)
Like
all seasons, spring will have its share of emotional triggers for the newly
bereaved – graduations, Mother’s Day, planning for summer vacations, favorite
flowers and just waking up. But just as
April showers bring May flowers….the tears of grief will ultimately sow the
seeds of hope and someday you too will see the beauty of spring again.
For
those of us who have been on our grief journey for awhile, not only do we
recognize (and welcome) the beauty of spring again, but we also see our
children in everything that is beautiful in spring. It is our way of carrying them with us
through spring and through all of the seasons.
So, as spring unfolds, here’s wishing each of you peace and whatever joy
you are able to find.
