“One must say yes to life and embrace it wherever it is found—and it is found in terrible places; nevertheless, there it is.” — James Baldwin
Grief often brings us to the most terrible places. Many parents walk through those places with trembling steps and broken hearts. The death of a child creates a silence that feels eternal. Parents who grieve often feel like life has stopped altogether. Nothing feels familiar anymore. But even in that hollow space, something flickers. A memory, a breath, or a quiet sunrise. Life still moves. That quiet motion does not erase the loss. That motion simply reminds us that we are still here.
Saying yes to life after deep loss is not a denial of pain. Choosing life is not a betrayal. Parents who grieve are not required to “move on.” The choice to live again means honoring love in a new way. Some days, that choice means taking a walk or answering a phone call. Other days, the choice is just breathing. Grief can be unbearable, but so is the absence of hope. Life will not look the same. But life still wants to meet us, even in the terrible places.
Many grieving hearts resist the idea of joy returning. Joy may feel like a stranger or even a threat. But joy is not disrespectful. Joy does not diminish sorrow. Life asks us to hold both pain and beauty. A grieving parent can feel laughter rise alongside tears. That pairing feels impossible until it happens. Life is not asking for an answer. Life is only asking for presence. Saying yes does not end the grief. Saying yes opens space for light to enter the darkness.
Thought for today: Say yes to life in the smallest way you can. Let your breath be enough for now.