Instant Grief

Do you remember hand writing letters and waiting and wondering when your friend might write you back? I do. I had a pen pal overseas and his letters were months apart. Today, we communicate with friends around the world instantly. Microwave ovens prepare a meal in mere minutes when the same dish would have taken over an hour in a traditional oven. Credit cards allow us to buy what we want now, rather than waiting until we have saved enough cash.

The instantaneousness of today’s culture has invaded American lifestyle in such a way that we want instant everything. When I’m in pain, I want it to be over now! Pain, be it emotional or physical, is miserable. But grieving the loss of a loved one, or a failed marriage, or even simply an empty nest, is a process that takes time. While you might want to rush it, allow grief to takes it time so you can fully heal.

The giant redwood trees of California are the result of over a thousand years of growth. While many may disagree whether it took millions of years or thousands, the Grand Canyon is ancient. Much of the life around us takes many years to grow to maturity. So why should we expect to experience life so instantly?
Debra L. Butterfield © 2010 Photo by M. Reed Butterfield © 2010