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Last year at this time I wrote an article titled “ Grieving? Some Christian and Secular Suggestions” which can be found on my Facebook page dated 12/21/23. I reread it along with the almost 200 comments and would not make any significant changes. However, one year later I am in a very different place with less grieving and more joy.

To explain I am going to share some very different experiences over the past 10 days from which I hope you will see a tapestry emerging to help with your grieving. First, the Friday after Thanksgiving I took Bo, my 17 year old grandson, and 7 year old Savannah and 5 year old Bella, my granddaughters, to lunch. I spent much of the time absorbed in listening to the conversations that ensued among the three of them; unbelievable!

This was followed by watching and rewatching a YouTube of “Brittain’s Got Talent” where Sydnie Christmas was one of the contestants. She has one of the most contagious personalities I have seen in a long time and her rendition of “Tomorrow” from the play “Annie” left goose bumps! The first 6 words from that song are, “The Sun will Come Out Tomorrow” which is the title of this article, is increasingly happening to me, and I pray is/will be what you are experiencing!

As I proofed this article I played “Tomorrow” 4 more times!

Friday, I watched the final episode of “Blue Bloods” on CBS. This is a show I have watched for 14 years where faith and family are interwoven with several subplots.  Star Tom Selleck who played The Commissioner of the New York Police Department and Donnie Wahlberg who played his detective son related that a family dinner was the last scene filmed as it was in most of the other 293 episodes. After that last scene, the actors just sat there in silence.

I need silence to meditate, ruminate, reflect, and pray.

Woven in over these last 10 days have been parties, eating ice cream cones with my granddaughters at a soda fountain, two outstanding concerts; one by the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra and the other with the Sons of Lafayette. Also going to Columbus with church friends to see “Christmas with C.S. Lewis,” a great lunch with my son Greg, a poignant Bible study with my weekly group where we discussed “for to us a son is born, to us a son is given,” my best singles tennis match in a long time, etc were enjoyable!

There is one huge change that has occurred which is I have started dating! It was preceded by much prayer and stoked by a book from a friend called  “Every Moment Holy: Death, Grief, and Hope” Volume 11 and in particular the liturgy titled, “A Liturgy for Removing One’s Wedding Ring.” This is something that needs an article by itself which I will at least try sometime.

This tapestry will never be finished, nor do I want it to be finished. I still tear up; greatly miss Shirl and Eric and have periods of loneliness which I know will continue and it’s ok. As I said in my prior article faith, family, friends, and fond memories are still very consequential for me and now I have added a fifth “f,” find enjoyment!

I often send a draft of an article or key response to a few for whom we have both shared much and ask for their critique. There were 2 who answered my question should I send it to the press and post on social networks. One felt that “I should not send it because it was personal vs public, and it was cathartic for me to have written it so stop there.” The other key responder said, “send it because when you are candid you help people.” I hope this helps some of you grieving!

I do not have many decorations up; the annual Christmas letter is still not done let alone printed nor mailed but so what!

Merry Christmas,

Jeff Brown

LaGrange, GA