This morning I read an incredible story. Art and Healing: A Personal Reflection is by Cherry Winkle Moore, M.F.A., M.Div. Cherry shares her story of a great grief and how both God and art have helped her. She writes “Recently I came across a statement by Anne Lamott in which she asserts that there are certain griefs we are not intended to get over. We, rather, “receive” them into some deep place in our lives. I don’t expect to ever “get over” the life and death of my beloved son, Lew, and I don’t want to. With God’s help I am “getting through” and “going on.”
I know Cherry and love her for the amazing woman and inspiration she is. I love learning from her. As a result of reading Cherry’s personal reflection, I searched to learn more about Anne Lamott. Here is her quote: “You will lose someone you can’t live without,and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly—that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp.” You can read more quotes from Anne here.
Further exploration to the Anne Lamott Facebook page, led me to discover that four of my female friends also like Anne. Two are friends from grade school (one of whom is an artist), Cherry, and another marvelous woman pastor that I admire. I own original art from both Jeanne and Cherry.
This Thanksgiving I am grateful for creative women who inspire me. And my grief.
Wendy J. Manuel 
Thank you for sharing my article, Wendy. I’m grateful that you are in my world!
I also thank you, Wendy. And I think you’ll really enjoy getting to know Anne Lamott. I started reading her books about writing (Bird by Bird) but I find both her creative and spiritual approach very refreshing.
Jeanne
“approaches”… sorry.
Excellent share. Thank you!
Thank you for sharing this. I sat and pondered this for a long time. In a world where the push is to “get over” your grief and move on, it is an incredibly freeing concept to think that perhaps one is not meant to get over it. After our son died, I, too, felt like I had to figure out a way to move on. I have since learned that you don’t get over the death of a child; you have to weave the loss into the fabric of life. It becomes a permanent part of who you are.
Hi Rebecca. I’m glad you found my post. I think each loss we experience is unique, just the way we loved that person. And that each person and each loss becomes part of us – just as you said. Cherry too lost a child, you may find her writing and art inspiring. Your blog is full of great resources! May God bless you and comfort you always.
Hi Wendy, Found your post through LinkedIn. It has been a while we’ve been in touch!
Liked your postg and Anne’s quote. So true. Here another one I like:
Thinking of you is easy –
I do it everyday
Missing you is the heartache
that never goes away…
I lost my son Benjamin to cancer.. so I know about grief
Marga! Hello. So wonderful how social media keeps us connected. Yes, you know about grief. I am sorry for your loss. But I am also continually amazed and in awe of the strength of women dealing with grief. Look at the amazing book you have written which will help others. So wonderful!
Yes, isn’t it. Who would have thought this would all be possible in those days we worked for Apple. Apart from grief there is still so much to live for. I am now a grandmother of three beautiful grandchildren. And I am sure Benjamin looks down on us with a big smile. That’s what keeps me going.
Have a look at my website:
http://www.theboyandhisdeath.com
of my facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/theboyandhisdeath