January 22 2024

Grief can deplete us of our energy, so how do we run on empty? In the Koch Funeral Home arrangement room there is a small birds nest with tiny little eggs. We place it there to remind us that families who walk through the doors of the funeral home are like those eggs and we serve as the nest. Our role is to hold the eggs gently and support the families as they grieve. And the families are fragile like the eggs with the loss creating conditions inside to be transformed. Of course, families would rather have their loved ones back than be transformed, but in the transformation, there can be changes for which they are grateful. So, “How do we run on empty?” When we’re feeling depleted, we can remember that grievers are like fragile eggs and be gentle with ourselves. It takes lots of energy to grow a bird inside an egg and it takes lots of energy to be transformed within after a death.  We can run on empty by being gentle and kind with ourselves.