Below are some additional interactions on the article: Where Do We Go From Here?. Read it first.
411:
The reality is that this may be too much for you to handle. The grief that you are experiencing over the death of your mom or dad may seem insurmountable. Instead of trying to handle it all on your own or look for help from friends who may be over their head, have the courage to seek out help from people who are experienced and educated. One resource is through your youth leaders and chaplains. Other parents and trusted adults can help, too. Perhaps your base or community has grief counselors. They can help you or connect you with someone who is equipped to guide you. Another can be found though the Department of Veteran’s Affairs. For more information, click here.
Challenge:
T.A.P.S. (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors) has an article about Military children and Grief. In order to facilitate communication between you and your family, I want you to read this article with a member of your family, perhaps a sibling or even a grandparent, and discuss how this fits into your situation. You can read it separately if you need time to process, but the point is to talk with one another about this article and your present situation. Pick out things you liked or didn’t like. What described you? What has nothing to do with your personal story? To take it one step further, read Psalm 139 and John 14:27 or another verse that has stuck out to you along with this article. Consider how your faith in God impacts you and how you process your grief.
Words:
These are some great words in the form of a song/poem by Linkin Park
Stories:
These two young men tell their story in songs that they wrote, both with the same title. The question of “Where do I go from here?” seems to be answered a little differently by each guy. What do you think of their responses? Does one seem ‘healthier’ or more ‘resilient’ than the other? What’s do you think makes the difference?
Scripture:
Isaiah 41:10—Do not be afraid—I am with you! I am your God—let nothing terrify you! I will make you strong and help you; I will protect you and save you.
John 14:27—Jesus said: “Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.”
Proverbs 3:5—Trust in the LORD with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know.
Romans 8:38–39—For I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love…there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Revelation 14:13—The Lord promises to bless those who have faith in him when they die.
Small Group Guide:
Video:
Watch this clip from P.S. I Love You, where Holly sings a love song to her deceased husband. Think about what she’s saying to him despite the fact that she’s moving on.
Disney movies have dealt with the death of a parent several times. Take a look at these scenes. How do each of these young characters ‘move on’ after the death of a parent?
Large Group Guide:
Life Questions:
- Rewrite Psalm 139 in a journal or notebook. Make the words or phrases that are important to you bigger; give them shapes and colors. Use drawing, writing, etc. to express the parts of the psalm that describe your soul right now and spend some time articulating those feelings to God.
- Look at the Supporting Scripture section and choose one to memorize this week. Put it by your bed, fridge, locker, or somewhere you will see it multiple times a day. Tell a family member or close friend why you chose that verse and what you need to understand about Jesus Christ’s presence in your life.
- Write your own psalm, poem, or prayer and try including the 3 components from Psalm 139—that God knows us, that he is always there, and that his protection is constant and all encompassing. If words won’t come to you at this time, find another way to communicate these things to God like drawing, dancing, making a video, or whatever way you find easiest to talk to Jesus.
