GriefShare: Returning program assists those dealing with loss of loved one

It's an undeniable fact - it hurts to lose a loved one.

A continuing program in Okoboji is hoping to help those struggling find support, strength and peace. GriefShare, a biblically based support group seminar, is returning to the Lakes area this summer.

The 13 week program will be held Mondays, beginning June 9.

Jo Winkowitsch of Milford saw a need for a program like GriefShare in the area after dealing with the loss of her own child.

"In 1997, our daughter Joslin developed cancer, and she died two years and two months later at the age of 20," said Winkowitsch. "At that time, I didn't do well with my grief. I didn't really have a supportive place that I could go to to get help. I went through a rather deep valley of depression, struggling to find my way in my new life which did not include my daughter."

"In 2003, my husband and I started a local group to help bereaved parents." This group is called the Okoboji Bereaved Parent Support Group. The goal of the group is to assist families toward hope and healing following the death of a child by providing support and encouragement.

The group meets at 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at the Good News Community Church.

A few years ago, Winkowitsch also started submitting grief articles in the Dickinson County News to reach out to others dealing with grief. Her columns, titled "Good Grief," have been a source of comfort and help to many readers, some of whom have called her to see if there are other ways they can find help in dealing with their struggles.

"Because of the articles, I got a lot of calls from people who had not lost a child, but who still needed help dealing with grief," said Winkowitsch. "So after some consideration a group of us decided to start GriefShare, which is for anyone who has lost someone and is grieving. We have had two sessions of the program locally and the benefits have been obvious to the participants and facilitators."

Many grieving people find they are only beginning the work of healing when friends or family have returned to their daily life routines. Too often people, including Christians, tend to stuff their grief instead of allowing it to do the God given work for which it is intended. That was the thing that inspired us to find something that would be like an emergency room for people that are grieving."

The program features Biblical, Christ-centered teaching that focuses on grief topics associated with the death of a loved one.

"I love how they put it together." said Winkowitsch. "It's a three part program: the private work you do in the workbook, then the video that's presented, and the small group discussion."

The DVD seminar features some of the nation's most known and respected grief experts and the real-life stories of people. Seminar sessions include "The Journey of Grief," "The Effects of Grief," "When Your Spouse Dies," "Your Family and Grief," "Why?" "Stuck in Grief" and more.

Each seminar is combined with a grief support group discussion time to allow group participants to talk about the content of the seminar and about how they are dealing with the death of their loved one. Confidentiality is very much a part of this program. For the session beginning June 9, there will be a separate discussion and support group for suicide survivors.

A take home workbook allows participants to choose how much time they want to spend on the GriefShare process.

"The workbook has a daily journal, some verses to consider, some daily devotionals, and a section about what is being presented on the video," said Winkowitsch. "At the end of the session, the people are going to have a resource that they can look back on to remember the things that they heard and they shared."

The GriefShare program is open to all who have lost someone due to death.

The bereavement experience may be recent or not so recent. Grievers attending GriefShare will find encouragement, comfort and help in grieving the death of a spouse, child, parent, sibling, other family member or friend. No matter what the cause of their loved one's death, this is an opportunity to be around people who understand. Valuable information will be shared about facing the new normal in life after a death is experienced. This information can renew one's hope for the future.

"One of the things that we hope to provide in this new group is hope for people," said Winkowitsch. "Grieving people need hope - hope that they will find their new way and new life, that they will enjoy life again, and that they will find comfort for their grieving."

GriefShare will be held from 7-9 p.m. Mondays beginning June 9 at the Okoboji Lakes Bible and Missionary Conference grounds. GriefShare is partnering with Intersect, a year round ministry. Cost of registration is $15, which includes the workbook.

Registrations can be made by calling Jo Winkowitsch at 330-7091. Registration is suggested, so adequate preparations can be made.

* For more information on GriefShare. visit the Web site at www.griefshare.org.