Grief

What is it?

I have always loved psychology and have found it fascinating in terms of how if reflects human nature. I find it so amazing that people don't realise how brilliant the Christian World view is in terms of offering help to people in stressful situations and people who face grief and depression etc. A good understanding of the Bible goes a long way to help with recovery. I have had two secular professionals advise me on how to manage a child using excellent Biblical principals without understanding that that was where they got them from.

As I have watched my children working through a grieving situation over the past few weeks as we have prepared them to leave our dear and precious friends at church, my heart has ached to see their grief at saying goodbye to their friends. My little PDD.NOS girl sobbed when I corrected her for being rude and grumpy...."I am not being rude and grumpy," she shouted, "I am just sad, that is how I am when I am sad." She also told a sibling she was so sad she felt as if she was dying inside. For her it is brilliant that she can explain herself so well. Although she has had some totally irrational moments to remind me to be very careful with her frailness at present. In the providence of God she has a beautiful sister, 2 years older than her, who loves God and who has spent all day playing and talking with her. And this little girl has a birthday party next weekend which she helped me plan in finer detail today. I can slowly see her aching ease a bit. She wrote a story about an orphan who was hurt and rescued by lovely new parents, I think she was able to realise that others hurt even more than she does.

It led me to think that I don't know much about grief in the whole Apergers, PDD, autistic etc area. Can anyone help me with links? Apart from the fact that I hate generalisations, it would be helpful research. I looked up the stages of grief again.....here are two different versions, the first would be the traditional view.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%BCbler-Ross_model

http://www.recover-from-grief.com/7-stages-of-grief.html


Sometimes it takes a while before we can stand back and see things in clear perspective, but God can always see the bigger picture! He has a plan and a purpose for our lives and for each of our children's. As we are faithful to Him, so He will undertake for us.May we honour and glorify our wonderful God in the process, may our children be enfolded in His love as a mother hen gathers her chicks beneath her wings, and may they grow strong in their love for Him! May they be able to do mighty things with their lives as a consequence of good and passionate love!