A Message from Jan Hartsook, Pastor at Copperfield Hill

August is National Grief Awareness Month. All people at some time in their lives will experience grief. It is a normal human emotion. Yet, grief comes not only as a result of the death of someone we care about, but, can also be experienced at other kinds of losses. These losses may include: loss of a relationship, loss of a job, financial losses, deteriorating health, moving, loss of a pet, a betrayal by someone you had trusted and concern for a child/teenager.

When experiencing grief, most people will go through a normal series of stages: shock, guilt, anger and bargaining, depression, acceptance (working through the grief) and finally hope.

The time it takes to move through these stages is different for each person. Some may return to previous stages before moving on with hope. Grief takes time to heal. Some people find that seeing a doctor, therapist, joining a grief support group or talking to a good listener whom they trust, to be helpful.

~Pastor Jan

Pastor Jan holds a monthly Grief Support Group on the first Tuesday of the month at Copperfield Hill.