How Do You Get Through This?

Three times today, Debbie burst into tears and sobbed.  Although I'm not weeping as much as she is, I feel a deep sorrow that feels overwhelming.  I feel like I have nothing to look forward to. 

Some of you have been there.  Some of you are there now, too.  Others of you may face this kind of pain at some time in the future.

We know we'll heal.  We also know that it will take time.  I once read that it takes one-hundred hours of talking about your loss to recover from deep grief.  Although the specific number sounds a little corny to me, I think the practice of talking (or writing) does help advance the process.

Meanwhile, every day is a challenge.  Anniversary dates are noticed (it was three weeks ago - tomorrow - that our tragic call came).  Holidays are marred.  Visiting certain places catapult you back into pain.

Even though I'm a pastor and a counselor, I don't have any solid answers or remedies. 

But just for the record, here's what I'm doing.  It's helping me - maybe it can help you, too.  I pray this verse from an old hymn:

While life's dark maze I tread, 
and griefs around me spread, 
be Thou my guide; 
bid darkness turn to day, 
wipe sorrow's tears away, 
nor let me ever stray 
from Thee aside.