About Us

We are a group made up of siblings, parents, grandparents, and friends who come together the third Monday of every month from 7:00pm-8:30pm at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd (http://www.good-shepherd.us). We are not professional counselors or therapists, but are there to offer support, comfort, hope and healing to each other through our experiences. Although our circumstances are different as well as our individual grief journey, in all, we grieve the same, in that we keep the memories of those we love so dearly close to our hearts so they are never forgotten. Death is the end of a life--not a relationship. We will always be a mother/father, brother/ sister, or grandparent to the child that has gone before us.

It has been said that grieving is one of the most difficult things a person can do. As we have learned, it is not just an emotional feeling, it is a process. Our chapter meetings create an environment that not only encourages sharing but equally focuses on healing. I invite our seasoned members to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones - together we can support others in their journey through grief. We believe it is through experience that we are meant to touch and help each other.

YOUR COMPASSIONATE FRIEND -- STEPHEN L. CHANNING. --
I CAN TELL BY THAT LOOK FRIEND THAT YOU NEED TO TALK,	YOUR CHILD HAS DIED…AND YOU NEED TO BE HEARD
SO COME, TAKE MY HAND, AND LET’S GO FOR A WALK	BUT THEY DON’T WANT TO HEAR A SINGLE WORD
SEE, I’M NOT LIKE OTHERS, I WON’T SHY AWAY	THEY TELL YOU YOUR CHILD’S “WITH GOD, SO BE STRONG””
BECAUSE I WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY	THEY SAY ALL THE “RIGHT” THINGS THAT SEEM WRONG.
THEY’RE JUST HURTING FOR YOU AND TRYING TO SAY	I’LL WALK IN YOUR SHOES FOR MORE THAN A MILE
THEY’D GIVE ANYTHING TO HELP TAKE YOUR PAIN AWAY.	I’LLL WAIT WHILE YOU CRY…AND BE GLAD IF YOU SMILE
BUT THEY’RE STRUGGLING WITH FEELINGS THEY CAN’T UNDERSTAND	I WON’T CRITICIZE YOU OR JUDGE YOU OR SCORN
SO FORGIVE THEM FOR NOT OFFERING A HELPING HAND.	I’LL JUST STAY AND LISTEN ‘TILL YOUR NIGHT TURNS TO MORN.
YES, THE JOURNEY IS HARD AND UNBEARABLY LONG,	YOU SEE, I OWE A DEBT YOU CAN HELP ME REPAY
AND I KNOW THAT YOU THINK YOU’RE NOT QUITE THAT STRONG.	FOR NOT LONG AGO I WAS HELPED THE SAME WAY.
SO JUST TAKE MY HAND ‘CAUSE I’VE GOT TIME TO SPARE,	AS I STUMBLED AND FELL THROUGH A WORLD SO UNREAL,
AND I KNOW HOW IT HURTS FRIEND, FOR I HAVE BEEN THERE.	SO BELIEVE WHEN I SAY I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL.
I DON’T LOOK FOR PRAISE OR FINANCIAL GAIN
AND I’M SURE NOT THE KIND WHO GETS JOY OUT OF PAIN
I’M JUST A STRONG SHOULDER WHO’LL BE THERE ‘TIL THE END.
I’LL BE YOUR COMPASSIONATE FRIEND