| Watching someone you love die hurts. | | | | For me, when grieving and when I felt low, lonely |
| No matter how much you pray or beg for them | | | | or alone, I would pick up one of the sympathy |
| to live, your calls are fruitless and go unanswered. | | | | cards or condolence letters I received and would |
| Even if your loved one is in pain, and gains relief | | | | sit and read them. Sometimes, tears would fall as |
| from suffering - it still hurts. | | | | I recalled happier carefree days spent with my |
| Like you, I have grieved the loss of dear ones. | | | | brother and cousin; but generally, I would find a |
| Looking back, time does ease the sense of loss | | | | sense of grace, calm and comfort in reading and |
| and sorrow. However at the time, it seems as if | | | | reflecting upon the higher meaning of the words. |
| the darkness would continue forever and no | | | | Even today, I am still touched by the sentiments |
| matter what folks said, nothing could erase the | | | | expressed, especially as the sender was going |
| sense of loss and anger I felt. | | | | through their own grief yet still took the time and |
| I recall friends sending me sympathy cards and | | | | energy to send me a card or write a few words |
| letters sharing their distress, sadness and pain. | | | | of sympathy. At the Service, the written words |
| Strange as it may seem, it was these cards, the | | | | -poems or religious texts again came into their |
| quiet words written on scraps of paper which | | | | own. Preparing for my brother's funeral, I was not |
| made sense. It was if the sender could feel my | | | | particularly conscious of my spirituality or devout |
| pain and sorrow and spoke directly to my soul. | | | | follower of any religion. Yet, was moved by the |
| At that time, I was not familiar with the word | | | | beauty and simplicity of the Lord's Prayer and |
| 'Affirmations'. My experience of reading | | | | hymns and psalms sang at the grave side. |
| inspirational quotes, prayers or poems sat | | | | The sound, the quality and reverence of the |
| squarely in the corner of former Religious Studies | | | | texts struck deep and I felt "yes, everything is |
| and English Literature lessons at school. | | | | going to be alright." This is just the beginning and |
| It was only during my first experience of grief | | | | today is a new day. |
| that I realised just how powerful the written | | | | Nothing can ever replace our loved ones, but in |
| word is. | | | | the process of grief and coming to terms with |
| Can you remember the joy and elation you felt | | | | your loss, words can be a great source of |
| when you received a certificate for passing your | | | | comfort and inspiration. |
| exams or slip of paper to confirm you had | | | | If someone you know is mourning, drop them a |
| passed your driving test? | | | | line, send them a card and rest assured your |
| There is something magical about a piece of | | | | message will be heard and deeply appreciated. |
| paper with a message written on. | | | | |