When the World Stops | A Story of Grief

The world stopped leaving Geri Pribyl stuck. Her heart was broken and exposed. The first year after her daughter Whitney’s death left Geri numb. The first Christmas without her obliterated Geri. As she stepped into the second year without her daughter, she knew she needed help. It was at the request of her son that prompted her.

Geri remembered the turning point:

“I knew I needed help. It wasn’t like I didn’t have a good relationship with the Lord. It’s just trauma makes you crazy. I felt like I was losing my brain. Like with dates on the calendar... I thought I was in the same month for two months. I was stuck. I was forgetful. You can’t remember anything. In January of this year I signed up for GriefShare at the West location.”

Week by week, GriefShare showed Geri she wasn’t crazy. What she was feeling and thinking was all part of going through loss and trauma of losing a child. For others in her class, it was losing a spouse or a family member or friend. Even though her brain and body were altered, she began to see and know that it was normal and not forever.

GriefShare is a welcoming support group for people grieving the death of a family member or friend. Each meeting combines guidance from grief experts, along with honest conversations and encouragement from others who understand what you’re going through. There’s no pressure to have the right words or to “move on.” Instead, you’ll find a safe place to share your story (when or if you’re ready), listen when you need to, ask questions, and discover timely tools that can help you navigate life after loss—one step at a time.

For Geri, GriefShare was a weekly meeting at Citylight. Three tables of six people each offered a safe environment for Geri. There was a discussion with an ice breaker, someone would share their story, the weekly video was viewed, and each table would walk through the workbook. GriefShare walks through all topics of different stages of grieving in a safe community. Geri said this about her group,

“You are able to share how you are feeling, pray for one another, go home and do your workbook and come back the next week. It is a loving, nurturing, caring environment. The videos, textbook, prayers... It all just makes sense. You start putting names to feelings you didn’t know existed. It makes it feel like balm on your broken heart. You begin to think it too will pass. It is just part of the grieving process. Having other people you can share with, and understand you, is priceless. It helps them too. You start to grow and bond over the losses. Everyone’s process is different, but similar. And God uses it all for his goodness and glory. Only he can do that.”

How do you know if GriefShare is for you? Geri offered this encouragement and advice,

“Anyone who has experienced a loss or has a broken heart due to a loss, it’s for you. If you are suffering a loss at any age, or denomination, or whatever, it’s for you. GriefShare is a lot of emotional work, but it is helpful. It gets you unstuck. After the course, GriefShare offers online resources with a lifetime of support. There’s information on what to do in each state of grief. There is support, comfort and care for all of the aches. You do have to want to be there. But you should be. I wouldn’t have gotten anything out of it that first year. I was too deep in my grief. It might have helped, but I wasn’t ready. The second year, I was ready.”

As Geri’s daughter’s second anniversary approaches, along with her birthday and all of the holidays, Geri knows with certainty that she is not alone.

“Because of GriefShare, my relationship with the Lord has strengthened. It draws you closer to the cross. There are verses for every application that I go back to. It’s all God’s promises to us. Those promises help us to cling to Him... When you know the Lord will never leave you nor forsake you. He is my shepherd. It reminds me of His promises, and it takes the edge off. Only God knows my pain, my broken heart and no one else can heal me like He can.”

Geri has now been able to connect the hard and dark memories to God’s faithfulness and presence. One memory, that was too hard to think prior to GriefShare, has now become a sweet reminder.

“Every night in the ICU with my daughter, for 10 days, the song “The Goodness of God” played in my head. And every time I hear it now, God is saying to me “I see you. I know you need it.” It is so random, but when I need it the most, I hear it.”

If you have not walked through and healed from past losses, would you now? Allow our church and the community at GriefShare show you and remind you how to be happy again. Geri concluded with this personal invitation,

“You don’t have to do this alone. Take the first step and come to GriefShare. Just come to one. Try it. You have nothing to lose. God is in the details. He is so real. He cares about you. He wants to walk beside you. You don’t have to do it alone. GriefShare can help. You may not think so but try it. Experiencing it can only be done if you go and you try.”

Grief stopped Geri in her tracks and gave her a broken heart. GriefShare became a balm for her spirit and her connection back to life. In a safe room filled with people who truly understood, Geri found a path back—one filled with more hope and love than she ever imagined. Geri’s world moves again. Ultimately, that is who God is, and that is what He offers us every single day.

Sign up for GriefShare Surviving the Holidays November 7th >>> citylightomaha.org/sth