Grief can feel final.
It comes like a wave that knocks us down, leaving us gasping for air. It rearranges our days, our energy, and our sense of normal.
But grief isn’t the end. It’s part of the journey. Healing is not forgetting, replacing, or erasing. Healing is the slow, sacred work of being restored.
What Healing Is Not
Too often we pressure ourselves—or others—to “move on.” But moving on suggests leaving love behind. That’s not healing. Healing doesn’t mean:
- Ignoring the pain.
- Pretending everything is fine.
- Erasing the memory of what mattered.
What Healing Really Looks Like
Healing is deeper, quieter, and more gradual:
- Integration: learning to carry the memory without it crushing you.
- Compassion: becoming gentler with yourself and others through the process.
- Renewal: discovering moments of joy again, even in small ways.
Psalm 147:3 reminds us: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” God does not rush us. He restores us, one step at a time.
A Process, Not a Deadline
Healing is not linear. Some days the ache feels fresh. Other days, you notice the light breaking through. The beauty is that every step—even the hard ones—can grow roots of resilience and hope.
Closing Word
Grief changes us, but it doesn’t define us. Healing is not about erasing love—it’s about allowing love to transform us.
💡 Want to walk this process with more intention? Explore The Journey Continues Bundle in my shop—a guided path through grief, hope, and renewal.
Rita Lynn Berry, EdS, LCMHC, is a licensed clinical mental health counselor and the founder of NewVision Counseling and Consulting Services, PLLC. She is also the creator of the Journey to Me™ program and Mend n Muse Media™, where she shares tools and reflections that support healing, resilience, and self-love.