It’s Just Fine

“It’s just fine to feel a little heavy, and it’s just fine to sit here and catch my breath, and it’s just fine to be a mess at times, and it’s just fine to be relatively normal sometimes. It’s just fine to miss them. It’s just fine to let it all hit me, surrendering and succumbing.

And it’s just fine to remember that grief has no rules, and that really, it will in many ways last as long as love does. Forever.” ~ Author Unknown

Our reflection today carries with it a heavier resonance. If you’ve followed my writing long enough, you know I refer to this type of dialogue as Real Talk. I came across the above quote not long ago, and I’ve been sitting with it ever since. I wish I could reference the original author, but after quite a bit of searching I was unable to find them. Whoever this author is, I appreciate the vulnerability in these words: “And it’s just fine to remember that grief has no rules, and that really, it will in many ways last as long as love does.”

Tackling grief in a celebratory season can feel isolating and out of place. It may even feel accompanied by guilt or shame for not feeling as joyful as those around you. But remember that everyone carries invisible burdens. Perhaps the deep joy that lies in this season is the underlying truth that we are more connected than we realize. Even in pain, trauma, and grief, we can come together with the purpose of listening and understanding one another well. It’s just fine to not have everything figured out. It’s just fine if questions and confusion linger in your heart and mind. Because while grief may remain a reality throughout your life, so does love.