Journeying With Wisdom

Grief is not just the absence of someone we love—it is the deafening silence, the hollow emptiness, the reminder that life has shifted forever. When my husband passed away 14 months ago, I discovered that silence is not just quiet—it is a weight, a presence, a reality that presses in from every direction.

He was 13 years older than me, and from the beginning he would say, “I’ll likely go before you.” The logic was undeniable, but the thought was unbearable. Living without him felt like hell on earth. And for over a year, that’s exactly how it was: silence, emptiness, devastation.

But then something shifted.

The same words I had heard in my mind for months—“You knew this would come. Show me you can cope. I love you, and I know you can.”—suddenly made sense. It wasn’t new. It wasn’t different. But somehow, the message finally reached me.

This is the paradox of grief: sadness and clarity living side by side.

Lessons From Love and Loss

• Grief is a teacher. It reminds us that love is eternal, even when presence is not.

• Voices remain. Whether through memory, faith, or spirit, the ones we love continue to guide us.

• Symbols matter. I still wear my wedding ring. My marriage is sacred, and honoring it gives me strength.

• Mixed feelings are normal. You can feel devastated and yet strangely empowered at the same time. That tension is not a contradiction—it’s the human way of carrying love and loss together.

Faith and the Hope of Reunion

I believe my husband is my soulmate. I live for the hope of reunion in heaven. Some say relationships change in eternity, but to me, love is never erased—it is transformed. That belief keeps me moving forward, even when the silence feels unbearable.

Just as Mary and the disciples must have felt after Jesus ascended—confused, devastated, hollow—yet later understood His words in a new way, I too am learning to hear my husband’s words differently.

Moving Forward With Strength

Grief does not end. But it evolves. It becomes less about surviving the silence and more about carrying the voice of love into each day.

So if you are grieving, remember:

• You are not alone in the silence.
• You can honor your love in ways that keep it alive.
• You can find strength in the very words that once felt unbearable.

Grief is proof of love. And love, even in absence, is proof of life.

Closing Thought: I am still sad. I still miss him. But I am also learning to cope—not because the pain is gone, but because love itself is teaching me how.

If this post resonates with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Share your own journey in the comments—your story might encourage someone else who is grieving.