The Pieta - A Mother’s Day Message
May 4, 2009 by Guest Post
Filed under Faith and Religion, Featured Articles, Grief and Faith, Spiritual
(by Rev. Charles T. Rubey) The Pieta is on display in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. It is one of the more famous pieces of sculpture created by Michelangelo. It depicts Mary holding the crucified body of Jesus. This mother’s heart is broken as she views her child’s broken body. I thought of this piece of art and how appropriate it is as we celebrate Mother’s Day in May. This piece of art symbolizes mothers who are grieving the death of a child, or children grieving the death of a mother or a mother figure. The hearts of people are broken as they grieve the loss of a loved one from suicide. Michelangelo’s Pieta can certainly capture the feelings of all mothers on Mother’s Day-actually, all grieving people grieving the loss of a loved one from suicide.
During this article I am referring to one’s soul. By that I mean that part of us that has the will to live. I am using soul as that spiritual part of each and every one of us. I do not mean nor am I judging one’s soul or one’s eternal destiny. The word “soul” has different meanings and I want you to be aware of precisely what I mean. The soul is affected and that is the reason that the pain is not so apparent. One does not wear a brace around one’s soul or one does not put a cast on one’s soul. The soul is that invisible part of each and every one of us.
People grieving the death of a loved one from suicide have broken hearts because a life has gone from their midst in such a sudden and tragic way. A broken heart results from someone’s broken soul. Their illness has destroyed the workings of their souls. Their souls, once lively and vibrant, have become engulfed in pain due to mental illness. Their vision and interpretation is that their souls are broken beyond repair and there is only one option open for them and that is to take their lives. The pain has become so intense and unbearable that these broken souls can no longer endure life any more. They leave in their wake a long line of broken hearts who are forever changed and altered.
Oftentimes people get angry or bitter because a loved one has “done this to our family”. The pain of mental illness had taken over this person’s life. They were totally consumed by this pain. They could not for moments consider what the impact of their suicide would be on their loved ones. The last days or weeks were spent being consumed with this horrible and awful pain. There was no evil intent or desire to inflict survivors with broken hearts. Those completing suicide had broken souls and this condition prevented them from comprehending the impact of their action. It is important to realize that a person completes suicide not because they want to cause their loved ones pain. They complete suicide because they have run out of steam and they are tired of this enduring pain. There is no repairing these wounded souls. The way to escape this life of unending and excruciating pain is to complete suicide. From broken souls come broken hearts-The Pieta.
As we celebrate Mother’s Day this year, let us especially remember the mothers in our LOSS family as well as those members who are grieving the loss of a mother or grandmother. This is an especially painful day for them. Please also remember all of those people who died due to a broken soul. Let us never forget them or their struggles.
Keep On Keepin’ On!
Rev. Charles T. Rubey
How Do We Cope When We Lose A Loved One?
May 2, 2009 by Guest Post
Filed under Featured Articles, Grief and Faith, Grief and Loss
I was asked to write an article about losing a loved one. I feel I have the experience to write this because I lost my best friend, my mother, three years ago. She was eighty-six and her age helped me cope with her death better than I thought I would, but it didn’t stop me from grieving. I know that it is natural for ones to grieve. My father is still living; he will soon be eighty-four. Although, I love him very much, my love for him is not the same.
Some people live in denial when a loved one dies, others feel that it should have been them that died, not a young child or a baby. It’s ok to cry, to stay in bed or isolate ourselves because some things help us to heal. It is repressing our grief that is harmful and unhealthy.
My faith in the resurrection hope helps me to cope with death. I am an avid reader of God’s word, the Bible and I always share scriptures containing this hope with those I visit in hospitals, nursing homes and hospices. I will share some of those scriptures at the end of this article. I am not afraid of death.
Writing poetry, letters and just talking about my dead loved ones, also helps me to cope. Sometimes, I will look at some old pictures of the deceased.
We can pray for ones who have lost loved ones in death. Our prayers can include, asking God to give them strength to cope with death. Being a good listener to ones who have lost a loved in death is truly rewarding because a person is centered on helping another person, rather than thinking about themselves, or their own problems. The Bible has many scriptures that mention the resurrection of young, old, men and women. Reading these scriptures brings strength and hope to the reader. I read my Bible daily.
Source: NWT of the Holy Scriptures. Acts 24:15-John 11:25-James 4:8-Psalms 34:18-Romans 12:12-Revelation 21:3,4
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