If you have lost a loved one or friend to death, you are probably feeling a deep sense of grief. Without support and encouragement, it’s possible that you will become stuck in your grief, and healing will be difficult to impossible.
Often, friends and family want to help but don’t know how. That is the reason for Griefshare.
When I lost my husband Fred to a fast-moving cancer in September 2019, my shock and grief were overwhelming. I found it difficult to sleep, think, pray, get out of bed, or do anything but cry and simply try to go on for another hour. I only did that for the sake of my daughter, family and friends.
I knew I needed help, but wasn’t sure where to turn. Within weeks of his death, most of the people around me returned to their normal lives, but my grief, isolation and pain continued. I saw a counselor who offered secular suggestions and medication. I felt worse after my session than before it.
I read three books, I talked to family and finally went on the internet looking for support groups. Griefshare jumped out at me as making sense. It is faith-based but non denominational, and is successfully used by over 15,000 churches worldwide. I looked for a local group and the closest available was Carson City. Being a weekly group, driving down for meetings was tough, but I was desperate to start feeling better. My mom lives in Carson City so I made the commitment to join the group. Showing up and actually walking into that first meeting was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. When you already feel vulnerable and are in pain, getting yourself to move outside your comfort zone is a tough lift. I’m sure glad I made myself do it.
Griefshare and the fellowship with other people who truly understood my pain saved me. The program uses a weekly video seminar, followed by group discussion and use of a personal workbook to work on exploring and conquering different aspects of your grief each week as you feel ready. It’s a 13-week program for adults.
Because the weekly overnight trip to Carson City was difficult for me, and as I began to feel better as a very direct result of using the program, I felt a genuine calling to bring the program home to Humboldt County. In February of this year, I collaborated with Pastor Judy Robbins of the United Methodist Church in Winnemucca to bring the program home to local folks suffering with profound grief.
I purchased and donated the videos and workbooks so that the Church could offer the program without cost to its congregation or Griefshare participants. I was happy to make this donation in hopes that the program could help others suffering from the pain of grief the way it has helped me.
Judy and I facilitate the program and the group discussion, but the program is self-contained and even offers online support in addition to the in-person program. You are welcome to pay $25 for your workbook, but no payment is ever required or requested.
We will begin a new cycle of Griefshare on Thursday, Aug. 11 and meet weekly into November. The program is built so that you can join at anytime, but honestly, it’s most helpful to start at the beginning.
In simple terms, Griefshare offers a structured way to process grief and bring you through to the other side, where joy and peace are possible. You will never forget your loved one and you will always likely be changed by their loss, but if you work through the program and want to feel better, you can and will get to a place where much of your pain is replaced by warm memories and hope for the future. I can say this because it worked for me and I’ve watched it transform every other person who has participated along with me.
I urge you to join us on Thursday, Aug. 11, at 6 p.m. at the United Methodist church on Winnemucca Blvd for Griefshare. I provide a light supper at each meeting for all participants and you should expect to stay 2 hours. Please call me in advance of our first meeting so that I can have a workbook ready for you, enough supper for all and get you registered so that you can use all online resources. Kris Stewart (775) 304-9399. Because the church graciously also offers soup kitchen on Thursdays, please plan to enter through the main church entrance rather than through basement where the soup kitchen is located. We meet in the upstairs meeting room.
If you have any questions about the program, please feel free to call me. I look forward to meeting you and helping you start your journey from grief to joy.