No images? Click here Dear FriendWhen talking with bereaved parents, we will sometimes ask them what support they are getting. Often we hear the same reply: ‘Well, they try to help, but they just don’t get it.’ We offer support and befriending from people who do get it because they are bereaved parents themselves. We are delighted to be running both in person and online support days for bereaved parents in the coming months. We are also planning our Bereaved Parent Support Weekend in Daventry for parents and adult siblings. More information and booking links are provided below. In the article ‘The room’, Mark, one of our befrienders, shares his experience of helping at a bereaved parent support event. How can we help others around us to support us better? One way is through sharing with them how we like to receive love. Many of you will have heard of 'The 5 Love Languages’ or read the book by Gary Chapman. In her article below, Jane reflects on these in terms of showing love when we are bereaved, as she believes it can help us feel loved and help us show love to others too at this most difficult of times. Our final article is a reflection of love from a bereaved parent, also called Mark, who after losing his daughter, expressed his emotions through digital art. His images are both stunning and poignant and spoke to us in many ways of love, loss, pain and hope. With our love Dave and Jane Park Email us at daveandjane@cff.org.uk The roomMark, one of our amazing volunteer befrienders, gives us a powerful insight into what it’s like to help at a Bereaved Parent Support event. Expressing love in bereavementHow can we help others support us better? Jane Park, our Bereaved Parent Support Coordinator, suggests one way is through sharing with them how we like to receive love. Expressing love and loss through digital imageIn this article Mark reflects on how creating digital art helped him work through his feelings following the loss of his daughter, in the context of his own personal faith in God. Events for bereaved parents and adult siblingsOur support events are wonderful opportunities to meet and share with others in an atmosphere of understanding and we have more scheduled over the next few months. Support days for bereaved parents: · Saturday 11 June – Swindon Support weekend for bereaved adult siblings and bereaved parents: Bereaved parent support from Care for the FamilyWe hope you have found this newsletter helpful. There are more articles and other useful links on our website pages. |