Re: Grief.

darkon wrote:
> Charles Wm. Dimmick <cdimmick@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> 
>> dilbert firestorm wrote:
>>> anyone know what to do handle grief?
>>>
>>> my dad died in late February 2008 and my mom misses him and has
>>> crying spells.
>>>
>>> my grandmother who's 93 isn't really helping with my mom handle
>>> the grief as there is a bit of long running drama between the
>>> two. (not exactly the favorite daughter one would expect of a
>>> mother) 
>>>
>>> I try my best, but I don't know what to do ease her pain.
>>>
>>> does grief counseling be of any help for my mom?
>>>
>> Grief counseling can work wonders, but it requires the
>> cooperation of the griefee. There are several people in
>> our parish who are good at this [I'm not one of them].
> 
> Can you -- or anyone else -- describe what's involved in grief 
> counselling?  I don't have any idea where to start, except to let the 
> person know you care and lend an ear when wanted.

All I know for sure is that the person who is good at this
sort of grief counseling has a finely-attuned sense of empathy,
and can "play it by ear" in terms of knowing what to do with
any one person grieving. I totally lack that talent, which is
why I leave it to others. I have been assigned to help with
some cases, but only when it was determined by others that
my own peculiar talents would be helpful. This essentially
consists of putting people to work at various tasks. We get
a lot of useful work done around the Church by people working
their way out of grief.

Charles