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Day_28_Loss

 

While grief is a complex experience, in some ways, it is a measure of our gratitude in that it can be equated to all that we knew we had. Expressing gratitude for a loved one lost is one way to keep that person's spirit alive. Consider sharing a gratitude for someone whose left a bit of themselves behind in you.

 

Gratitudes   Refresh

 
0 #62 Thomtbug72 02-24-2010 11:59
 
Pastor Thom went home to be with the Lord on Saturday Feb. 20, 2010. I thank God I got to know him and his character in a way many didn't. For the first few years I knew him it was always light, casual and fun. Great guy with a lot of love to share for everyone. A tragedy struck my loved ones which affected me deeply. In my despair I reached out for help..with Thom. He was unavailable for 3 days. I was livid at the end of the three days with no word from him. On the 3rd day my husband went to his office to carry out the brunt of my anger, hurt and disappointment. Poor Thom was cornered in his office with my irate husband threatening to kick his ass. The great thing about Thom is that he recognized the hurt he had inflicted on us in an already bad situation. Within a week he wrote us a letter asking our forgiveness and wanting reconciliation. Through that he showed me humility and a genuine love that transcended all hurt and misunderstandin gs. I am thankful that we got to experience a hardship together...we learned valuable life giving lessons and were stronger and better for it!
 
 
0 #61 Job losssuqui1122 12-07-2009 14:32
 
My husband has faced job loss twice in the past 2 years. He now has a job and is under employed. We as parents have family responsibilitie s and this crisis forced us to emotionally hit rock bottom. Through suffering we have found happiness and contentment. We learned that we do not need 'stuff'. Our family and friends are what matter most in life. We learned that "there is no way to happiness, that happiness is the way". In other words, it comes from with in...external things simply don't make you happy. We are grateful for this path we have been placed upon. If we had not experienced this loss, we would not have awakened to this wonderful understanding.
 
 
0 #60 i am thankful for my grandma.lucy 12-02-2009 22:31
 
i am thankful that every time i hear the song "When I Look to the Sky" by Train, my mind is flooded with memories of my grandmother. She is such an inspiration to me no matter if she is still here physically. I never have really taken time to express gratitude that she is gone, and while it absolutely doesn't make me happy, it has made me recognize all the wonderful things she has added to my life. I am thankful that she is in my thoughts often, and that I had such a positive role model for the first part of my life.
 
 
0 #59 Good Friendskfairman 12-02-2009 18:45
 
I have a good friend who recently died of a heart attack. I'm grateful for the fond memories he left me from childhood.
 
 
+1 #58 My grandmaAmyNB 12-01-2009 20:38
 
I love my grandma who died over 4 years ago, but I will be forever grateful that I was able to spend 33 years getting to know her.
 
 
+1 #57 LossAnna Turnbull 12-01-2009 19:56 VA
 
Loss has a way of making us grateful for who and what we had. It also makes us appreciate what we currently have in our lives.
 
 
+1 #56 gratitude and lossreeree57 12-01-2009 17:38
 
I had a grandmother who left her cooking skills with me. I loved her dearly. She taught me how to make cookies, homemade noodles, chicken soup and everything good. She had12 children and she had to make due. i will treasure all that i learned from her and everytime i make one of her dishes i think of her fondly.
 
 
0 #55 CarrickCarolLeavitt 12-01-2009 16:54
 
I'm grateful for Carrick, who died 15 years ago of cancer. He was so funny, and kept his whole family entertained all the time! He had a quick, sharp wit, and could always come up with a silly pun, double-entendre, or quip that kept us in stitches. I miss him very much, but his humor and joy are still alive in my memories of him.
 
 
0 #54 Familytcg09 12-01-2009 15:02
 
I dearly miss and love my dad, brother, and grandmothers and grandpaps who are all inspirit. All of them have taught me something - art, cooking, baking, about nature, traditions - that is a deep part of me today.
 
 
0 #53 Aunts and Unclesbreak46 12-01-2009 11:15
 
While I did not grow up with any grandparents, I was lucky enough to have many wonderful great aunts and uncles in my life. I'm so glad that they were all a part of my life and have many fond memories of good times spent with them.
 
 
0 #52 Strong in trialsTradecki 12-01-2009 06:34 Florida
 
I am grateful to have known him before he was gone. I am thankful that he came through our lives when he did. I am so blessed to have wonderful memories and lessons learned. And for learning most of all to stay strong in my faith through the trials. All prayers are heard, and there are messages daily to tell us that we are loved. I believe those we think we lost are never far...and maybe they are the ones looking after us now.
 
 
0 #51 A Different Kind of LossLEJ 11-30-2009 17:32
 
I'm currently grieving the loss of a relationship. However, it seems like a death of a different kind. It may almost feel easier if the other person had actually left this Earth, instead of knowing that we have to choose not be together. The grief it brings is definitely a feeling of losing a loved one.
 
 
0 #50 Loss4788erin 11-30-2009 17:17
 
As I think on all the deaths in my life, it realize that each one has contributed something to make me who I am. My grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends each helped shape my life in some way. I am grateful for their teachings.
 
 
0 #49 My Unclejcfair 11-30-2009 12:39
 
I'm thankful for my Uncle. We have special memories from spending time at his house.
 
 
+1 #48 EllenJodyP 11-30-2009 10:37
 
I am grateful for the time I had knowing my professor, Ellen. She was the most affirming person, saw my potential, and gave me the confidence to be my best self. When I last saw her, at her baby shower, I gave her a hug and said "I love you," not something one says to a prof often. But I meant it. I was beyond disbelief when I read in the paper that she'd been killed in a car accident on the way to church that Sunday. Every year, for almost 12 years, I sent her parents flowers and named my daughter's middle name after her...even though it's my middle name, I never liked it, until I met Ellen. To this day, I have saved the papers she graded, just so I can read her positive comments in her own handwriting. One life can change many.
 
 
0 #47 women who meant so muchmcdfam5 11-30-2009 09:35 mcdfam5
 
I'm grateful for my grandmother, my aunt and my mother-in-law - three amazing women who loved me and were role models for me when they were living. I'm so thankful that they were a part of my life!
 
 
0 #46 Gratitude for LossAngie 11-30-2009 09:16 Saline, MI
 
I am grateful for the lessons I have learned through loss, the loss of a best friend who felt they couldn't be my friend any more, the loss of my grandparents, whom I was really close to, the loss of my parent's marriage and the accompanying estrangement that occurred after. I am grateful for these things because each one taught me something new and made me a stronger person. They made me look to myself, some questioned my values and beliefs, and all made me realize that it's more the people we have in our lives and what we did with them while they were there, than it is what we wish we could have done differently.
 
 
+1 #45 My Dadpaphelps1 11-30-2009 09:11 Phelps/Merrick FL
 
It's been two years since Dad passed away and there is not one day I don't think of him or a week I don't shed a tear or two - even writing this is hard. Even tho I know my dad was not a perfect being, I treasure having had him in my life. I wouldn't have been given a life if it had not been for him. He was a teacher, a listener, a guidance counselor, an explorer, a veteran, a jokester, a disciplinarian, ...and I miss him.
 
 
0 #44 LossCatherineHilker 11-30-2009 08:25 Catherine Hilker Detroit MI
 
I have discovered a thread of amazing beauty in all the deaths that I've experienced in my life. I am grateful for the ability to see it.
 
 
+1 #43 My friendSoulsinger 11-30-2009 03:13
 
I had a wonderful friend who died a couple of years ago from a brain tumour. She was first diagnosed quite a few years ago and at the time told to go home and put her affairs in order. Being the strong, determined and brave soul that she was she did not take this advise but instead found a doctor who was willing to operate. She survived the operation and went on to have another five years of a full and loving life before the tumour return and quickly took her. I am grateful to have know her, and to have experienced her grace, humour and courage.
 
 
0 #42 grandpa'sDavid Kapusansky 11-29-2009 22:28 DUMC Dexter, MI
 
My most recent losses have been Grandpa Sam and Grandpa Charlie.
Grandpa Sam was a good man who loved everyone around him. He was better than he thought he was.
Grandpa Charlie was almost 95 and never saw a deck of cards that he didn't want to put in action. He wanted to compete and win every day of his life.

They had lessons for me to learn. I am thankful for them as my teachers.
 
 
0 #41 my auntA2Tarheel 11-29-2009 20:56 Wowmoms Ann Arbor, MI
 
I am grateful for my Aunt Annabell who passed away this past August. She was always a steady source of love and encouragement for me. She gave my husband and me a handmade quilt when we married and I can still wrap myself up in the love she shared.
 
 
+1 #40 A Young Widow's Thanksrerez 11-29-2009 17:11 zirkeldon/ the other 9 ny
 
After our 31-year-old son Tom died in an auto accident, the family was in great shock. Amidst the tears, his young widow Paula shared deeply with other mourners. Among the things she said that helped us all was this: If I had known in advance that our wonderful marriage would last only five years, I would have accepted it with thanks.
 
 
0 #39 Song for Grandmatammayrend 11-29-2009 15:12 Tammy Michigan
 
When my grandfather first asked me to sing when he and grandma would pass, I mena how could he ask me to do that when I'd be grieving too? Several months later though when grandma passed away, I was grateful to be able to stand in that beautiful church and sing Amazing Grace. God gave me the strength to stand up there and grandma gave me the strength to sing with everything I had for her!
 
 
0 #38 Parentsarborwoman 11-29-2009 14:35 Ann Arbor, MI
 
I didn't often agree with my parents, but I am grateful that they were my parents.
 
 
0 #37 Loss2Degus 11-29-2009 12:39 our family Saline, MI
 
Truly, this is one topic with tremendous difficulty. When my father died, gratitude was slow to come. A young man of 62 years, dies from a brain aneurysm, and there was so much sorrow in my heart. Gratitude took years to cultivate. I am grateful for the years I had my father. I am grateful for the wisdom that came over the subsequent 20 years to overcome the sadness. I am truly grateful for the event in which my daughter and I participated in his memory. I am grateful that I learned so much over time. I must leave it at that.
 
 
+1 #36 cousindocdocdog 11-29-2009 12:32 ceballos saldana houston/tx
 
I'm still feeling the violent loss of a favorite cousin 2 years ago; I'm grateful for the time we spent together, for the outpouring of family and community support that followed her death, and for our family's ongoing remembrance.
 
 
+1 #35 DavyddKylie 11-29-2009 08:14
 
My cousin tragically did not wake up from his fourth brain cancer operation leaving behind his amazing wife and five week old daughter. Davydd brightened the lives of every person he met. His beaming smile, infectious energy and passion for life was incredible. Not only am I grateful for every day he was alive, but also bringing Chrissy and Charley into our lives. Sometimes it feels like he's still here.
 
 
+3 #34 my best friendjadeheart 11-29-2009 02:10
 
I am grateful I happened to visit my best friend the weekend before she was killed. I got to hear her voice, hang out with her, not knowing it was going to be the last time I saw her. I'm grateful for every moment we had and every happy, sad and angry moment we shared. I can still hear her voice and feel her around me when I need her, it'll never be the same, but I am grateful for ever having known her.
 
 
+1 #33 My FatherRaddRedd 11-29-2009 01:55
 
Although life was very hard with my father growing up, at one point in my life I expressed how I hated him, I'm thankful I had a chance to mend those wounds and come to the realization that he had done the best he could. I recall expressing those feelings to him, now wishing I had never done so. I hope with all my heart that those thoughts weren't with him the day of his passing.
 
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