It’s time again for GriefShare to begin. GriefShare will begin with the 13 weeks of two-hour classes from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 27, at Parkway Baptist Church.

My wife and I have been facilitating GriefShare classes for about six years. Dwight and Linda Arnold have been facilitating with us. The four of us have lost loved ones due to death, all under very different circumstances and each of us has a passion for those who are experiencing what we have once experienced.

I would like to tell you about GriefShare. GriefShare is for people who have lost someone due to a death. GriefShare is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences. You don’t have to go through the grieving process alone. If you’ve lost a spouse, child, family member or friend, you’ve probably found there are not many people who understand the deep hurt you feel.

With GriefShare, you will learn how to walk the journey of grief and be supported along the way. It is a place where hurting people find healing and hope. Grief is disruptive and disorienting and it is a “new normal” you never wanted or planned. It may be hard for you to feel optimistic about the future. If you’ve lost a spouse, child, family member or friend, you’ve probably found there are not many people who understand the deep hurt you feel. This can be a confusing time when you feel isolated and have many questions about things you have never faced before.

You are welcome to begin attending the GriefShare group at any session. Each is “self-contained,” so you do not have to attend in sequence. You will find encouragement and help whenever you begin. You will be able to continue with GriefShare through a 13-week cycle and view any of the videos you have not seen.

You’ll discover there are people who understand your hurts, emotions and painful experiences. When someone you love dies, it’s common to feel isolated. In GriefShare, you’ll find that you are not alone, that there are others who understand what you are going through.

You’ll learn helpful, practical information that will help you recover from the pain of grief and loss. The GriefShare DVD videos feature top experts on grief recovery subjects and case studies of people just like you, who have been through the grief experience.

You’ll have the chance to talk about your experiences. It can be very healing to tell others what you are going through. The support group sessions include a time to talk about what you’ve seen on the GriefShare videos and what is going on in your life. And while you have the opportunity to tell your story, there’s never pressure for you to do so if you don’t feel like it.

You’ll have a workbook for personal study and to write down things you’ve learned. The workbook provides opportunity for further study about the grief process and personal reflection about your grief. The weekly journaling questions help you sort through your emotions.

You’ll discover hope for the future. While things may look bleak now, you’ll learn ways to restore your hope and rebuild your life. Many GriefShare alumni tell us the program helped them move from deep grief to peace and a sense of joy again.

Some of the counselors/experts in the videos you will recognize. A few among them are:

Sabrina Black, Dr. Bill Bright, David Bueno Martin, Michael Card, Dr. Larry Crabb, Joni Eareckson Tada, Ruth Graham Lotz, Dr. Jack Hayford, Dr. E. V. Hill, Barbara Johnson, Joyce Rogers, Dr. Joseph Stowell, Dr. Paul David Tripp, Dr. Stephen Viars, Dr. Edward T. Welch, H. Norman Wright, Ravi Zacharias, Zig Ziglar and Dr. Susan Zonnebelt-Smeenge.

If you want to read about GriefShare, you can find more information on www.GriefShare.org or if you have questions, email Debbie Mizell at debbie.mizell@yahoo.com or Glenn Mizell at glenn.mizell@yahoo.com or call Parkway Baptist Church office at 601-442-7434. Workbooks for GriefShare are $15.

 

Glenn Mizell is the GriefShare facilitator at Parkway Baptist Church.