You can be doing “okay” for weeks—steady, functional, even hopeful—and then a date shows up, and your body remembers before your mind can explain it. Anniversaries have a way of reopening a door you didn’t plan to walk through. Not because you’re failing. Not because you’re going backward. But because grief isn’t linear— it’s relational . Love keeps time. A Personal Note On a personal note, 2025 was a hard year for my family. We lost two family members, and it feels like grief “bookended” the months—one loss in February, and another in December. Some weeks don’t just feel busy; they feel heavy. The world keeps moving—emails, errands, responsibilities—while you’re carrying names, memories, and dates you’ll never forget. So if you are coming up on an anniversary, you’re not alone. These Dates Hit So Hard 1) Your body stores the story. Even when you’ve processed a lot, certain seasons, songs, weather, and routines can stir grief in your body—fatigue, tightness, tears that surprise yo...
Grief carries more than pain—it carries pressure. The quiet expectation that you should be “doing better” by now. Even when no one says it, we feel it in the questions: Are you okay? Are you back to normal? Have you found closure? Are you moving on? But grief isn’t a problem to solve. It’s a relationship to honor. And faithfulness often looks like staying—staying present, staying honest, staying connected to God—long after the first wave of support has passed. This month’s theme is No Quick Fix for Grief , and this first week begins with a simple, courageous practice: Name the loss. Not to get stuck—just to tell the truth, so your soul doesn’t have to carry unspoken sorrow. Naming can be an act of love. And sometimes, an act of worship. The Lie Grief Whispers: “If I Name It, I’ll Break” Many of us learned to avoid naming what hurts. We default to “I’m fine,” spiritual shortcuts, or silver linings. Underneath is a fear: If I name it, I’ll fall apart. So we stay b...