Monday, January 7, 2008


Draw a circle. This circle is your life.
Draw a slightly smaller circle inside of the first circle.
It's okay if the edges touch in some places. This circle is your grief.

Now you can see that your grief almost totally fills your life.
There isn't room for anything else. Your life and your grief are one.

Now draw another circle the same size as your grief circle.
This circle is still your grief.
Draw a larger circle around it. This is your life in the future.
Your grief is still there, still the same size, but now there is space around it for other aspects of your life. As time goes on, the circle of your life grows and includes many other things, but your grief remains. It doesn't
go away. It doesn't get smaller. But now there is room for other things and you are not always focused on the grief. You can laugh at a joke, go to a party, get a new job, maybe have living children, but your circle of grief is still there.

8 comments:

Kenzie said...

Mandy-

Thank you for reminding each of us that there is hope in the Lord and that He will continue to give us room to grow. I can only imagine that in the beginning, it is all-encompassing... as time moves on, like you say, the grief doesn't get smaller, just our capacity for life gets bigger!

Thank you for being such a blessing!

Love and prayers,
Kenzie

Laurie in Ca. said...

Thank the Lord for giving His peace as the capacity for life gets bigger.
I pray that your outer circle grows bigger each day, surrounding the grief that will always be there, with love and comfort and wonderful new memories. I know I don't tell you often enough, but you sure are a blessing to me and I love you guys. Praying for your healing to continue and be gentle to you.

Love, Laurie in Ca.

So Blessed said...

Praying for you and your family...

Chrissy said...

Perfect! Perfect explanation!

Laurie in Ca. said...

Hi Mandy,

Just thinking about you this morning and wishing you a blessed and wonderful weekend. I think about you all the time and pray.

Love, Laurie in Ca.

Emily said...

I love this. It is so true.

Anonymous said...

Wow...thank you for sharing this. Would it be possible for me to share this on my blog?

I've been journaling my entire grief journey since our little one's heart stopped beating, through his stillbirth and my grief journey and this is so well said.

Thank you for your consideration and my heart and prayers go out to you and your family as we walk along the path of grief.

Tamara

Melissa said...

Mandy,

That says it all.. I continue to pray for you!
Love,
Melissa