Losing a parent altered my world completely. In an instant, everything I thought I understood about life seemed to crumble, and nothing made sense anymore. It’s a feeling many can relate to, especially when your life has been so deeply intertwined with that one person. For most children, the fear of losing a parent, someone you thought you had decades with, is one of the greatest and most primal fears. If you had asked me, eight years ago, what life would be like without my parent, I would’ve said it’s unimaginable. And yet, here I am, living it. Grief has become a part of who I am. In today’s world of instant gratification, we often wish we could bypass the pain and move on as quickly as possible. But the truth is, life doesn’t work that way. Healing takes time. There will be moments when life feels completely nonsensical, but slowly, piece by piece, things will begin to make sense again. Just be patient with yourself. There are stages of grief, and no matter what kind of loss you’ve endured, we all must navigate these stages. It’s a difficult journey, one that doesn’t come quickly or easily. But it’s the path we all have to walk. Having a strong support system can help guide you through the darkest moments, but ultimately, the work of healing falls on you. It is you who must find the strength to rise, and to keep moving forward. Because at the end of the day, everyone is part of your journey, but this is your own journey to walk. For me, realizing that, even though I lost a parent, life continues to unfold, helped me embrace the precious gift of time I still have. It became a powerful reminder to live with intention, and to honor the purpose God has for me in this season of life. 🤍