Recent reports rang throughout the world that all lives have been lost and the Malaysian Flight 370 loaded with approximately 239 passengers from all backgrounds, nationalities, and religions have perished.
In a recent interview, Prime Minister Najib Razak reported that the airline responded via text message declaring its “deepest regrets leading to an assumption that Flight MH 370 has been lost and that none of those on-board survived.”
Suddenly, a loud wailing burst forth from families whose repetitive questions week after week since this suspicious and mysterious vanishing of the plane led to no clue of understanding where their family members are. We can only imagine how helpless they must have felt to be in such a state with no definitive answers of the last moments of their loved ones.
This type of grief produces complicated grief for many where there is no finality associated with the death of a loved one and no proper burial or resting place. The passengers aboard were not just that or crew, they were fathers, children, mothers, sisters, brothers, cousin, and friends. We take this time to pray for those who are survivors of the lost.
In the days ahead, the tasks of grief may seem complicated but we wish the family peace in gaining acceptance for the loss of their loved ones. The tasks of grief, developed by William J. Worden include
- Accepting the reality of loss
- Experiencing the pain of grief
- Adjusting to a life without the deceased
- Withdrawing emotional energy and investing in other relationships.
All of these things will not be done overnight, we pray for the strength of the families in the days ahead.
Danita Ogandaga, MSW 