“I had crossed the line. I was free; but there was no one to welcome me to the land of freedom. I was a stranger in a strange land.” — Harriet Tubman
Grief can feel like crossing a border you never meant to reach. Life after loss often resembles a foreign place. Many parents grieving a child feel like strangers in their own lives. Nothing looks familiar. Joy feels distant. Conversations around them sound like a language they no longer speak. The pain of loss isolates the heart, even when surrounded by people. Freedom from shock or numbness does not always bring comfort. Leaving the fog behind can leave a person feeling more lost than ever.
Grieving parents are often told that time will heal. But time alone rarely heals a shattered heart. The ache remains long after the world expects you to move on. Each morning may still begin with disbelief. The routines of life can feel hollow and cruel. Grief teaches a new way of being. This new life requires courage. Every day can feel like stepping into a place without a map. Grieving parents must learn how to walk in a world that no longer makes sense.
Even in this strange land, connections remain possible. Other grieving souls often become lifelines. Shared sorrow builds bridges across impossible terrain. Words from another parent can feel like oxygen. Even silence can become sacred when shared with someone who understands. Over time, a new kind of freedom takes shape—not freedom from pain, but freedom to carry it with grace. That grace helps others feel less alone. In grief, freedom is not found in forgetting, but in learning to live truthfully, broken and brave.
Thought for today: When the world feels unfamiliar, remember that your pain is not proof of weakness—it is proof of love.