Everyone grieves differently.
Every hurt is felt uniquely.
No two deaths or losses feel the same or are seen the same.
Perhaps this poem is for where you are in the great heaviness of life.

[ read slowly ]

Hold your grief for as long as you need.

This is not something to get over, but something to carry forward.

Grief brings a storm of change.

There is rain and thunder and stillness and lightning and a rainbow and waiting and when you least expect it, a hurricane.

If you need, sit here with the silence or replay the memories or gather close to the celebration.

Somehow there is joy in this, too.

Maybe you’ve seen it or you’re still looking.

Keep looking.

Honor the past with the time you have.

As you know, it’s all fragile.

Don’t listen to them when they say it’s time to let go.

You don’t have to let go.

Please don’t let go.

Keep holding on.

Hold onto the beautiful memories and moments that flood your mind and keep you awake at night.

You don’t have to let go, but there will be a day when you begin to move forward.

Every step is a small step, one to be proud of.

It’s okay to move forward, to keep living, to continue making memories.

They may no longer be with you, but you are not without them.

Ahead are steps forward and back, a heavy aching heart, and glimmers of light.

Even on the darkest of days there is light.

Look for it.

It’s there.

Open your hands and let the light touch your grief.

And as you go, may you come to see sadness cannot be fixed, only shown love.

With hope,

Tanner Olson

About

Tanner Olson is an author, poet, speaker, and podcaster living in Nashville, Tennessee.

He is the author of I’m All Over the Place, As You Go, Walk A Little Slower, and Continue: Poems and Prayers of Hope.

You can find Tanner Olson’s books on Amazon.

His podcast is The Walk A Little Slower Podcast with Tanner Olson and can be found wherever you listen to podcasts.

Tanner Olson travels around the country sharing poetry, telling stories, and delivering messages of hope.

You can follow Tanner Olson on Instagram (@writtentospeak) and Facebook where you’ll daily find encouraging words of faith and hope.