Citizens' Center
For Your Information
E-Mail address: [email protected] Website: www.geocities.com/seniors38464
Sandra Calvert, Director Ryan Durham, Chairman
I have recently celebrated my first year anniversary as a staff member of Hospice of the Highland Rim. What a remarkable year it has been and I have received so many wonderful blessings in return. May I give a few examples of the wonderful blessings? Last January 2004, on a Wednesday; I called HHR West to volunteer in the Columbia office. I was invited by Tere Gardner to attend training Saturday of the same week. The adventure was off and running!
I started working with Bereaved Families and enjoyed visiting with some wonderful people. I heard some remarkable stories. The more I listened, the more I learned that many people are struggling with grief issues. The more the people on the other end of the phone talked the more I focused on improving my listening skills. I was amazed how a sense of peace and stability began to come out of those conversations from those who spoke. I realized that in their grief journey they "were moving" through grief. I want to urge our friends who are going through grief to "keep moving." Hope is born in moving forward! The people who experienced setbacks and did not give up seemed to cling to that hope.
What I mean by that is that Grief is sometimes characterized as a journey. People on a Journey, move from one place to another toward a chosen destination. When we are confronted with grief it is as if we are on a detour and we must pass through the city of Grief, with a goal to get back on the road to healthy living. We encourage everyone NOT to move in and take up permanent residence ing the city of Grief. Everyone must pass "through" and the key is to keep moving. You may ask, how does one keep moving?
Keep talking, keep sharing with others, keep serving others and remain open to the challenges that confront you in adjusting to the new changes. Just "keep on keeping on" as someone once said. I have seen the greatest healing come from people who share in a group as opposed to going through grief as if it were a solo performance. The question for today is are you continuing to move through your grief?
I recently heard Mr. Bill McDonald of Centerville TN., say "everyone writes their own definition of death when it comes to them." As a Hospice Chaplain and Bereavement Counselor I have added, "At Hospice we help you get started." There are many people in our communities who are hurting, confronting terminal illnesses and grief that need the special and unique medical care offered by HHR to relieve their suffering. We will make a positive difference - I have seen it work and work well. We urge you to partner with us and be on the lookout for people who need the special brand of loving care offered by HHR. Put in a good word for us and call us with referrals and we will continue to make a significant difference in the lives of people of the great State of Tennessee - One Life At A Time.
If you are in need of information or someone to talk to concerning your grief issues, or you would like to have lunch with a group of folks who are struggling with grief issues, or if you know teenagers who would like to talk to other teenagers about grief issues please call me. Hospice of the Highland Rim remains committed to serving this community.
Eddie Rogers, Chaplain & Bereavement Counselor
Hospice of the Highland Rim, Columbia,TN
