More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us."
Though we experience the pain and loss of the human world, we know that our God is eternal. As Christ-followers, we are able to live peacefully with the knowledge that our heavenly life awaits us. However, the shock of death and grief can still bring sorrow and mourning into our lives. GriefShare at Cottonwood Creek seeks to provide a safe place for those undergoing a grieving process to be surrounded by others who have also undergone a significant loss.
Currently led by Meredith Jackson, a new group begins each semester. The group meets weekly for 13 weeks. Meredith first joined the class as a member, following the death of her parents and husband. She, as well as many others, have found healing through GriefShare.
Although meetings usually occur in-person, they are currently taking place online due to COVID-19. Despite a loss of face-to-face interaction, Jackson feels, “there’s a bond that’s been created in this group, not only because they share their grief, but because they are also able to share the loss that all of us have experienced in 2020.”
Every person’s grief is different and so is the journey to their healing. While attending every session is encouraged, it is not required. Some may only attend a few meetings, and some people find the meetings so helpful that they will repeat the classes a second or third time. Healing from grief is hard work, and there is no easy path. Even as the current leader, Jackson remembers the difficulty she experienced when attending meetings:
“I drove past the church every day on the way home from work, so there was no excuse for me not to go. Still, I always tried to convince myself each time that I wouldn’t be able to make it; it was too painful to talk about my loss. No matter how hard I tried to avoid it, I found myself turning into the church parking lot each week. And, I am so glad that I did.”
As we approach the holiday season, the Cottonwood Creek GriefShare group plans to hold a special session: Surviving the Holidays on Sunday, November 8th at 5 p.m. via Zoom. Those who attend this class will receive guidance on how to best manage grief during holidays that they may be spending without a loved one for the first time or many times.
Healing happens slowly, but there is a bright path ahead for those moving through a grieving process. If you or someone you know is dealing with loss, please feel free to direct them to Meredith.jackson@cottonwoodcreek.org. Everyone is welcome to join this free and impactful class.
