Finding Love in Grief

Last week, I received a text message that stayed with me long after I read it. A young lady shared about her grief experience, and she wrote something that resonated deeply: “Grief is such a strange thing… we often think of it in such a negative light.” Her words reminded me of the conversations I have had with so many people who feel lost, overwhelmed, or afraid of their own grief.

I responded from my own experience. Grief becomes a part of who we are when we lose someone we love. For me, it’s in my grief where I still find my Kathy. In those moments, I can see her smile, hear her laugh, and imagine her dancing like no one is watching; she was such a wonderful dancer. I have learned not to fear grief or push it away, even though it can be overwhelmingly painful. Instead, I have come to see grief as love.... love that never left. I believe that part of grief is our loved ones just trying to feel our skin again... It’s like they are caressing our faces as the tears trickle down our cheeks.  

Her reply humbled me: “I’ve never heard grief described so beautifully before.” That simple message reminded me why I wrote Grieving You. Through these poems, I hope others will begin to see grief in a new way, not just as pain or loss, but as a reflection of deep, enduring love. Even in our heartache, even in our tears, love remains.

Grieving You: Poems of Love and Loss is now available on Amazon in Hardcover, Paperback, and eBook formats. Every copy supports In Her Name, a nonprofit organization dedicated to mental health awareness and suicide prevention. My hope is that these words offer comfort and reminds you that even in grief, we are never truly alone.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please don’t wait, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Support is free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.