Your Journey Through GriefНамуна

DAY SEVEN: Family Relationships

In some families the death of a loved one brings skeletons out of the closet. Relatives end up fighting about inheritance, money, and possessions. You may discover things you wish you didn’t know. 

In other families a loved one’s death brings out the best in people. Family members step up and support each other in important ways, helping each other through the painful journey of grief. 

Jesus’ statement to the person who asked Him about inheritance does not mean such things are unimportant. It just means they are not the most important things. Memories of your loved one, and who you became as a result of your relationship with the person, matter more. 

Relationships with family members may change after the death of your loved one. You cannot control how other family members respond, but you can choose how to respond on your end. 

Choose to be responsible for your own grief work, and to also be open to deeper connections with family if they are open to such. Choose to value people and your memories of your loved one more than things. And where possible, stay connected with family; they are the ones most likely to be near you at the end of your own life.