I”m headed out of town for a family funeral. It was a sudden death, which left family members reeling. This is the same family that couldn’t talk about my late husband or other family members who passed without choking up. So they avoided talking about them at all.
But that was a long time ago. The conversation now is open, sincere and heartfelt. Feelings are named and shared. There’s no pressure to hold it together or put on a happy face. It’s a beautiful things to be able to grieve openly.
For some of the family, it’s happening because hearts have come out of hiding. For others – particularly the younger ones – hearts never felt a need to hide in the first place. Such grace.