Iron Rod Press Newsletter Vol. 1, No. 14

The Nature of Grief

September 30, 2025 - Grief feels like a constant companion lately. From a public assassination to the loss of our dear Prophet, President Russell M. Nelson to a shocking attack on one of our meetinghouses just two days ago.

Yet, if you were to describe what grief looks like or how long it lasts, how would you respond? Without question, every response would be unique to each person's experience.

Then how can we address our own grief with grace and have compassion for what others may be going through?

1. Recognize that no matter how much we want to understand another's journey, we will never truly know what they are experiencing.
2. To encourage positive communication I've become familiar with the phrase, "We listen and we don't judge." Think of applying this to your interactions with someone who is grieving a loss you may not understand.
3. Just as you can't fully understand what others are grieving, remember that other people will never fully understand what you're going through.
4. Consider what losses you have had. What would have helped you at the time?
5. If we know loss, we can relate to another's loss, even if it's different. Allow your personal understanding of loss to bring compassion to your heart for another's experience.

Grief is a very personal thing. If someone brings you into that sacred space as they share their loss, we can honor them and their experience, without diminishing our own. And in a wonderful way, we can then be healed from our own grief in the process. Even if it comes one piece at a time.

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So until next time, always keep your eye on the One that loves you most. Ciao!

Janine

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