The response to Jude’s book continues to amaze me. It has always been stand alone but a thought had come into my mind recently to incorporate it within a bigger site as I continue to go forward by God’s grace.
It reminded me of the “Lois Tonkin” model that we went through at the Bereavement Journey Course. Let the following diagram explain it better that me.
The Bereavement Journey Course explained the model like this:
“Our grief can feel as big as we are, overwhelming and too much to bear.
We imagine that the task ahead is to reduce our grief to a manageable size. Yet what does that say about the significance of the one who has died ?.
In fact, the bereavement journey enlarges us. We grow to incorporate our loss, to keep it safe and with us, yet we are free to function and move on.”
I know sometimes people can just say the wrong thing like, “You’ll get over it”, but the Lois Tonkin model was a great help to me because I knew I would never “Get over”, Jude. The amazing life we shared together would remain profound and if anything the memories have become much richer as the days go by.
In addition, I know I will see her again and the way the Bible speaks about the days we live in, it might not be that long amen.
Jude Gray 