Many people do not like to cry.  I am one of them!

Today I was participating in a teleconference on helping patients and family members process grief.  I was reminded of patients I have known who because they did not want to cry, would change their focus anytime a painful memory and emotion came to them.  The powerful thing about tears is that once we talk about the source event behind them we gain emotional release.  It is actually healthier to face the tears early on rather than try to force them away,  If it is a strong emotion it will surely come back to you at some point.

People who a grieving can appear to be angry when they are really simply hurting and don’t have another way to express it.  To love these grieving people we have to not be put off by the anger we see and engage with them in conversation until the hurting behind the grief is brought to light so it can be dealt with in a positive restorative way.

You can be a friend by not being afraid of the tears of others and staying with them through the tears.