🌊🩷 Grief Comes in Waves… and Some Days, I’m Still Learning How to Swim. 🩷🌊
At first, grief felt like an ocean. 🌊💔
It was deep, overwhelming, and impossible to escape.
Some days I felt like I could barely breathe. 😢
Other days I wondered how the rest of the world could keep moving when mine felt like it had completely stopped.
And with time… something changes. 🕊️
You learn how to carry the sadness.
You learn how to smile again. 🌸
You have moments where you genuinely laugh.
You start living again…
But that doesn’t mean you stopped missing them. 🤍
Because grief comes in waves. 🌊
A song. 🎶
A smell.
A picture. 📸
A memory.
A place you used to go together.
Or simply waking up and remembering all over again that they’re gone. 💔
And suddenly, the wave hits.
Since losing my dad, I’m realizing that healing doesn’t mean forgetting him or “moving on.” It means learning how to keep living while carrying an incredible amount of love for someone I can no longer physically hold. 🥺🤍
Some days I can swim.
Some days I just let the wave come. 🌊
And on those days, I remind myself that God is right there in the water with me. 🙏🏼🕊️
📖 “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” — Psalm 147:3
I miss you, Dad. More than words could ever explain. 🤍🕊️
And maybe that’s what grief really is…
Love that never stopped, even when someone had to leave. 🌸🤍✨
Grieving the loss of a loved one is a deeply personal experience, and it often feels like navigating an endless ocean of emotions. From my own journey and hearing from many others who have faced profound loss, I've learned that grief is not linear — it ebbs and flows like waves, sometimes gentle and manageable, other times overwhelming and intense. One practical approach that helped me was learning to accept the unpredictability of grief. Some days, you feel capable of swimming through the pain, finding moments of joy and peace. Other days, it’s okay to let the waves crash over you, allowing yourself to feel the sadness fully without judgment or pressure to 'move on.' This acceptance can bring a surprising sense of relief. Triggers like songs, familiar scents, or photos can suddenly bring grief rushing back. Rather than avoiding these memories, embracing them as part of the healing process helped me keep the bond with my loved one alive. It reminded me that grief is a manifestation of enduring love. Faith played a comforting role in my healing. The reassurance that I was not alone — that a higher power was present in the turbulent waters with me — provided strength when I felt overwhelmed. Verses like "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds" (Psalm 147:3) became anchors for hope and restoration. I also found that creating new routines and small rituals in memory of my loved one helped bridge the past and present. Whether lighting a candle, tending to a garden in their honor, or writing letters to them, these acts fostered connection and meaning. Finally, connecting with others on similar grief journeys, whether through support groups or heartfelt conversations, offered validation and understanding. Sharing stories and coping strategies can illuminate new ways to navigate the waves and remind us that healing is possible, even when the waves never fully cease. Remember, grief is love persevering — a lifelong dance between remembrance and living. Some days, you will swim; other days, you will float. Both are part of the beautiful, complex process of healing.
