Saturday, March 12, 2011

Grisaille oil painting by NORA KASTEN

"Nora at Seventy One"
Grisaille oil sketch on linen on board  (20"x16")  January 22, 2009

Below is today's entry in the book "Healing After Loss" by Martha Whitmore Hickman.

"The present crisis is always the worst crisis"  -  Elaine M. Prevallet

We get through one terrible day.  Then another.  Eventually the first anguish of grief begins to fade.  Maybe we think we have passed the worst of it.  Then something will happen - the strains of a familiar song, the scent of flowers or perfume, the figure of a stranger across the street who holds his head in that familiar way - and we are overwhelmed with fresh grief.

Things will get better.  But we are always open to new recall, new occasions that remind us of our loss.  Our grief seems fresh again, but it, too, will pass.

AFFIRMATION

May I accept the rhythms of grieving.  I have enough to worry about without scolding myself that I'm still so vulnerable."