Dear Compassionate Friends:

I was so grateful to receive this poem and column written by a bereaved dad to share with you this month. Too often in our society men are not encouraged to share their feelings of pain and grief; only expected to 'take care' of the other loved ones going through their own journey of grief. Your Compassionate Friends understand dads, brothers and grandparents' pain and grief are just as strong as those of women, and we need to validate those feelings and encourage them to express their grief to help them heal.

Compassionate Friends know it takes a great deal of courage to attend a meeting. If you are able to attend a meeting we welcome you. We want to get to know you and your child. We want to hear your thoughts and feelings and hope it brings you comfort and peace to know you are not alone. We want to learn from you to help us help the other men in our lives: fathers, grandfathers and sons, to give them a safe place of understanding and acceptance that it is OK to grieve. You don't have to be strong all the time. It is OK to be sad, mad, and feel empty and alone in your pain. It is OK to accept help for yourself and you don't have to take care of everyone else. We are so grateful for the men in our group who provide their perspective and mentorship to all of us.



I wish you comfort and healing, and the peace that passes all understanding.

In friendship,