Speak the Name

Recently a minister ended his talk at a funeral with this message delivered vehemently: “Don’t stop using the name of the deceased. The family needs to hear it.” While we may think not mentioning the deceased will prevent grief, it has the opposite effect. The loved ones think the deceased is forgotten. Speak the name.…

Read More

The Best Part of a Picnic

I love picnics. I love to plan them. I love packing the basket. I love finding a table in the perfect spot. I love the breeze on my face. I love looking around at sky, trees, and other picnickers. The best part of a picnic occurs after the food is eaten and the lighter basket…

Read More

Grief’s Varied Emotions

This morning I went to the funeral Mass of a religious sister. In the afternoon I traveled an hour for the visitation of a brother to one of our SND sisters. There did not seem to be many expressions of grief at either place. Those emotions have probably already occurred and will occur again in…

Read More

Krazy Glue Unstuck

Joan Rivers once said, “No matter how trapped in the Krazy Glue of life you may be feeling, you can get unstuck. My favorite way is to make a list of all that I have to be thankful for.” May is the busiest of times. May is the loneliest of times. (Do these questions sound…

Read More