Seminar offers aid for the grieving

When a spouse dies or when any loved one dies, and a person gets caught up in “the fog of grief,” just do the next thing.

That’s one of the “helpful tips” shared by Norma Ross in her “Loss of Spouse Seminar” she’ll be facilitating from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday at Clovis’ Central Baptist Church.

“I’m a facilitator for Grief Share,” Ross said. “Grief Share is an international organization that helps people deal with grief.”

Ross credits Kathy Hammill for starting the Grief Share sessions at Central Baptist.

Ross retired in 2007 from teaching business at Clovis High School. Whether it was teaching at the high school or elsewhere, Ross had been teaching since 1965.

Ross has been a Grief Share facilitator since 2011.

She has personal experience with grieving for a spouse as her husband, Dick Ross, passed away in 2018.

Dick Ross had been a pastor at Clovis’ Highland Baptist Church and chaplain for the city of Clovis police and fire departments and Plains Regional Medical Center.

“At our seminar we have helpful suggestions on how to handle the grief,” Ross said. “Steps to take. For instance, what to do with your loved one’s things.”

Ross said the well-known “five stages of grief” aren’t part of the session.

“This is a Christ-centered support group. We refer to a lot of Scriptures,” Ross said. “Participants get a workbook, we have a brunch, there’s no charge.”

She said during the seminar, participants go into three groups: Those who have lost spouses, those who have lost children, and those who have lost those they care very much about.

“We point them to a lot of resources,” Ross said.

“Grief Share has help online, too. There’s online help for grieving children.”

She said Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. there is a Grief Share group for anyone who is grieving.

“We also do a seminar about surviving the holidays,” Ross said. “Holidays typically present different issues in grieving.”

Ross said overall the Grief Share seminar teaches how to handle overwhelming emotions in the death of a loved one, how to have the strength to go on, and what to expect in the days to come.

“This is all very healing,” Ross said.

Michael Kirby is the senior pastor of Central Baptist Church. He believes the Grief Share seminar is helpful.

“Our Grief Share ministry is a vital part of our responsibility to the community,” Kirby said.

Kirby believes a powerful part of the program is those who facilitate the program that have been through grief themselves and can “walk” with participants through this difficult part of their life.

“Who better to know what you’re going through than someone who’s experienced something similar?” Kirby said.

Kirby also extended an invitation to the community.

“This isn’t just for our church members,” Kirby said. “This is open to everyone in the community.”