December 7th, 2011–Seventy years after the attack on Pearl Harbor, crowds of mourners gather at ceremonies across the United States and around the world to remember the lives of important men and women who died on that “day of infamy.” Despite the passage of decades these mourners are compelled each December 7th by their need to remember those lives and deaths that changed us all as a nation and world forever.
December 8th, 2011—A small group of children and their adult family members in Dallas Texas gather at the Prestoncrest Church of Christ compelled by their need to remember and honor the lives of significant loved ones no longer physically with them. The gathering which includes a potluck dinner, fun family activities, and a candle light memorial is the eleventh annual commemoration held by GriefWorks, the free children’s grief support ministry for children and teens ages 5-18. Each year over 3,000 young people in the Dallas area suffer the loss of a significant loved one in their lives. Many of those young mourners could benefit from special support and encouragement such as is provided at GriefWorks.
With the skilled support of the caring, compassionate staff and volunteer group facilitators at GriefWorks, mourning children and teens learn that in grief they are going through a natural reaction to the loss of someone they love. They learn that they are not alone, that they can express grief emotions without being judged and that they can continue a healthy, healing relationship with their loved one through memories, love expressed in grief and a life well lived.
Through the free services of GriefWorks made possible by generous donors like you, mourning children and teens learn that their loved ones should be remembered and honored because (1) they are valuable, significant people who gave these young people much and (2) their loved ones’ lives and deaths have changed them and their family forever.
To become a GriefWorks volunteer click here or call 972-960-9981.
To hear tips on how you can help mourning children during the holidays, click here.
To find out more information or to get involved in GriefWorks sessions, click here or call 972-960-9981.
