journey – Danita Ogandaga, MSW

What an awesome night of remembrance, healing, and shared stories of loved ones that has passed recently. It was an honor to be in the presence of family members who were taking the necessary time out to permit themselves to grieve and understand the stages and tasks associated with the grieving process. The grief process is unique and just because we love God, we MUST take the time to go through the process of grief.

Last night, I taught on the Price of Unresolved Grief and why we need to acknowledge grief. People are still walking around attached to pain that happened to them years ago and are unsure how to go about releasing the pain; wondering what their quality of life will be without it; the pain that is. Many of the people there were newly grieved and I was honored to share in their process.

There were people there last night that were facing:

The 2 month loss of their wife following 64 years
The 2-year loss of their husband following 65 years of certainty of who they were in the marriage and not as a single person
The 2-month loss of a daughter

We took the time to do a Seasons of Grief Exercise to remember the loved ones. Thanks to

,we took the concept of the Memory Jar with Stones and adapted it to the season and used green and red sticks to allow the participants to write the names of their loved ones one them. Walking through the crowd, we took the time to allow moments for them to share stories of their loved ones and how they are coping. The stories of unconditional love and devotion were amazing.

Despite the layers of loss, the atmosphere of peace was thick and it was apparent that the people in attendance felt the need to share and begin the process of healing.

Thank you to all who came out!

We look forward to being with everyone again in Fayetteville, GA on Thursday, December 5 at 7:00pm for Part II of the Grief Seminar: The Art of Grief. Come and bring a friend. We’re gonna laugh, cry, and paint our expression on paper.

Interested in hosting Seasons of Grief in your City? Send inquiries to danitaogandagaventures@gmail.com.

Individual Grief Recovery Programs and Sessions will begin January 2014! Stay tuned.

Grief & Loss

5 Things The Grief Experience Taught Me

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#5- FACE YOUR FEAR: Death, grief, & loss often makes people uncomfortable because it affords them an up close opportunity to face fears that they’ve had about their own experience. No matter how secure we’d like to be in our relationships, jobs, homes, and life, change is inevitable and so is loss. The only constant thing is God so put your all in Him.

#4- DON’T SAY THAT!– Although we know it spiritually, during the time of grief, some are not ready to hear, ” They are in a better place!” or “You’re young, you can have more kids!”. Take the time to acknowledge the loss of the person they loved as they prepare for that person no longer physically being in their space or grieve the loss of the child (that child) before attempting to replace. The time to stuff, repress, and repress, must stop. Some people need to heal.

#3- It’s OK to not be OK. We believe in the word of God and know the power of confession however we must know that living in perpetual denial is . Own your shadow (grief, pain, hurt), acknowledge it to God and in that confess peace while working through your pain. Know thyself but know God!

#2- Today is NOT cancelled. As much as it may seem like a major task to get out of bed after the loss of a loved one, job, or house, get up and get moving. You will strengthen your perspective when you are moving around.

#1- DELAYED HOPE WON’T WORK- Watch this video

$0.79 Therapy

$0.79 Therapy- “Identity”

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So in case you were wondering, there are no illegitimate – spurious – misbegotten-orphaned children in the Kingdom! Daddy God loves you and sets everything right…..including your birth certificate! Let Him in today!

Say it with me, “Jesus, thank you for loving me and accepting me into your Kingdom. Even though I may not have parents or a parent or a relationship worth discussing, I know that you have adopted me and have given me a renewed life. I receive that new life and declare that I am forever free from the curse of illegtimacy. My sins are forgiven.”

Congratulations on letting Daddy God in. Get ready for a love explosion to hit your heart. He will cause you to walk in so much peace beyond understanding.

He loves you like crazy!