In Grief, Be a Student, Not a Master

Today, I stood beside my niece and her husband as she faced one of the deepest pains imaginable—the funeral of her child after a heartbreaking short life born pre term and unable to survive. No words can fully capture the weight of that loss, the shattered dreams, or the silent sorrow that lingers in the air.

In moments like these, we are reminded that grief is not something to fix, control, or explain—it is something to honor. Too often, we try to offer solutions when all that’s needed is presence. We attempt to define grief through our own experiences when, in reality, each person’s journey is unique.

Supporting someone in grief requires humility. It demands that we become students, not masters. We must learn to:

💔 Allow people to grieve in their own way – No two hearts break the same way. Some cry, some go silent, some need space, and some need company.

💔 Recognize generational differences in mourning – Older generations may express grief with rituals, faith, or resilience, while younger ones may navigate it through vulnerability, therapy, or quiet reflection.

💔 Offer love, not instruction – Sometimes, the best thing we can do is simply sit, listen, and hold space without trying to fill the silence with words.

Grief is a sacred process. We do not graduate from it; we only grow through it. Today reminded me that love does not erase pain, but it can soften its sharpest edges. May we always choose love, presence, and patience when walking with those who grieve.

#GriefIsPersonal #HonoringLoss #SupportingWithLove #BeAStudentNotAMaster