This list began after my Dad died in 1991. I chose not to preach at his funeral, but several weeks later, in a sermon, I listed some of the graces I had experienced since his death. They are included in the list below.
Since then, my mother died (1995) and my two best friends died, at age 60 and age 63. I have experienced other kinds of grief, having nothing to do with death, as well.
Recently, I was asked to make a presentation on “Overcoming Grief,” based on the principles of my book, Overcoming Adolescence. I asked my Facebook Friends to help with my catalog. Here it is as it stands now. The inventory grows every day, because we each have unique experiences in suffering and in overcoming grief. What works for one person may not work for another. But God is active, and if we can pay attention, we will experience grace.
The Grace of Accepting Help
The Grace of Activity
The Grace of Appropriate Words
The Grace of Balance
The Grace of Challenge
The Grace of Charity
The Grace of Clarity
The Grace of Closure
The Grace of Discovering that Suffering and Happiness Can Coexist
The Grace of Family
The Grace of Flowers
The Grace of Food
The Grace of Forgiveness
The Grace of Friends
The Grace of Gratitude
The Grace of Growth
The Grace of Housekeeping
The Grace of Hugs
The Grace of Humor and Laughter
The Grace of Kindness
The Grace of Limits
The Grace of Love
The Grace of Memories and Stories
The Grace of Music
The Grace of New Births (e.g., Grandchildren)
The Grace of Photographs
The Grace of Prayer
The Grace of Presence
The Grace of Receiving Love
The Grace of Reflection
The Grace of Release from Obligation
The Grace of Relief
The Grace of Reunion
The Grace of Scripture
The Grace of Seeing Suffering End
The Grace of Sharing
The Grace of Silence
The Grace of Sleep
The Grace of Sacrifice
The Grace of Tears
The Grace of Time
The Grace of a Glass of Wine
The Grace of a New Normal