Grieving the Loss

Dear Family,
We would like you to take a moment and listen to this interview from Family Life Today. The Deals lost their 12 year old son 9 years ago. We’d like you to listen closely to what they talk about. Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING they say strikes a chord with us. Please listen and then apply it to everything you say to us concerning our grief for our precious Austin.

Please be patient and have much grace for us. This couple is 9 years out and they are still hurting badly. Consider that and then remember that WE are only 3 YEARS out. We know that you just want us to be “back to the way we were” before Austin died. We know you think you are “helping” when you tell us to move on and when you don’t say his name or specifically ask for the pictures without his framed picture in them. But please know you’re not helping. At.All.

Most of you were there when we found out that Austin was too injured to live on earth anymore, you heard our cries of anguish when we heard he was going to be with Jesus. We can’t understand why you think that telling us to move on is okay or in any way helpful. In fact it really just makes us angry that you think we need to leave our grief behind and just “be happy” and ”live life” because that’s what YOU need us to do.
That’s US taking care of YOU, and that’s not the way it’s supposed to go.

Listen closely, listen carefully, and please, I beg of you, be gracious.

https://www.facebook.com/100009356787578/posts/2102424186746120/