What Does Healing Look Like?

It had been about a year since her dad’s death. My friend, Lizzy was eleven when we had a conversation about what healing looks like. 

“Miss Beth, I think I know what healing looks like.” She took a breath and explained, ”there was this kid in my class who was sad because they’d lost someone they loved. Right after my dad died, I would have run away from her; but now I wanted to go toward her. To help her.” Maybe that’s what healing looks like. 

Lizzy’s grown up insight touched me deeply. Does Lizzy still miss her dad like crazy? Absolutely. Every single day. Is she 100% healed? Of course not. But, what Lizzy experienced that day was a glimmer of light- and the possibility that her pain and sorrow were not wasted.   

Sometimes when terrible things happen- divorce, extreme illness, even loss of a loved one, it seems we will forever be stuck in that place- dark, alone, discouraged, maybe even hopeless. 

What if a brighter day is just around the corner for you? The day when, rather than running from the mess, you embrace it and run toward someone’s pain to offer hope and compassion.  

Thank you, Lizzy for your wisdom, faith and the beautiful image of how healing begins.  

To quote her amazing dad, Zac Smith, “God is still God. God is still good. To God be the glory.”  And I love what Lizzy’s mom, Mandy taught me, “grief is not weakness or a lack of faith. It is the consequence of awesome love. And that’s OK.”  Amen.  

Beth Marshall-     GriefSurvivor.com