Over the past several years, Grenada has experienced several heartbreaking losses — a tragic boating accident, a car crash that left families without a parent or a child, and other quiet losses that never made headlines but forever changed lives.
In the immediate days that follow, we show up. We cook. We cry. We hold vigils. But grief does not end when the casseroles stop coming. For those left behind, the ache stretches into the many firsts— the first holiday, the first school pickup line, the first family photo with someone missing.
Scripture reminds us to “weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15). But what does that look like months later when the cards stop, and the crowd thins?
Here is how we can continue to love well:
• Say their loved one’s name. It honors their memory and reminds the family they are not forgotten.
• Hold space. This means offering your quiet, nonjudgmental presence without trying to fix, compare, or fill the silence. Your willingness to just be there helps more than you know.
• Mark the hard days. Text or call on the anniversary of the loss or during difficult seasons.
• Avoid clichés and comparisons. Never say, “I know just how you feel.” Even if both lost a mother, each grief is unique.
• Don’t disappear. Grief lasts longer than you think. Stay available and present in small, consistent ways.
And to those who are grieving: We see you. We care. You are not alone.
As a hospice professional for over 15 years — mostly as a volunteer manager and for several years as a bereavement coordinator — and as a minister’s wife, I have seen more grievers up close and personal than most. While your loss is uniquely yours — and no one can fully know how you feel — there is a community of fellow grievers who understand the tears, the quiet aches, and the unexpected waves that can take your breath away.
We want you to know we are here if you need us. And if you don’t, that’s okay too.
Loss leaves a mark on a whole community. But together, we can choose to be the kind of neighbors who walk with one another — through grief, with grace, and toward wholeness.
If you are grieving and need support, I am here to help.
Debbie Simler-Goff, Certified Mental Health Coach (AACC) Email: debbiesimler@gmail.com
