It's Okay To Grieve
COVID-19 restrictions have turned our lives upside down, altering our well laid plans. From graduations, weddings, funerals, holidays, to little league we have had to give up, let go of and relinquish plans to celebrate milestones, bid farewell to loved ones and patiently wait for the day when we are given permission to restart activities.
We’ve become creative with finding some alternatives, like drive by birthdays and standing outside the windows of loved ones. But loss is still loss and it’s okay to be disappointed, to lament on what wasn’t and to grieve what might have been.
Let Yourself be Disappointed
Part of grieving is accepting the reality of the situation, including unmet expectations and the loss of a shared experience. None of us will be able to turn back time to recapture lost moments. Ministry programming and outreach events that you’ve invested hours of hard work and resources into may just need to be stored for now. While you do need to embrace the now, you also need to allow yourself to be disappointed.
Lament
This involves expressing loss. It might be a poem, painting, journal entry, song, rant or some means to expressing your feelings of loss. There’s an entire book in the Bible named for it and it’s a healthy thing to do.
Celebrate the Main Thing
For every occasion and event there is a purpose. A wedding celebrates a marriage, a funeral remembers a life, a graduation marks a milestone of educational achievement, a community carnival is a way of presenting God’s love. Find new ways to celebrate the main thing. Be creative, be simple, be intentional and be thankful.
What are you grieving? What do you need to grieve?
Christine is a purpose-driven and compassionate leader in education who believes lasting impact is built on trust, authentic connection, and empowered teams. She loves it when effective leaders multiply! With a people-first mindset, she champions initiatives that uplift students and families facing complex challenges across her region. For Christine, leadership is rooted in authenticity—showing up with clarity, courage, and care to bring people together around a meaningful vision. She thrives on creating spaces where individuals feel seen, supported, and inspired to grow. At her core, Christine finds her greatest fulfillment in helping others thrive—whether that’s the families she serves or the dedicated teams she leads.