Message in a Bottle

Last week I came across this lovely story.

Family members wrote messages to their deceased loved one – a soldier who had died in Afghanistan - and placed them in an empty bottle. They tossed the bottle into the Caribbean and it landed several months in the Gulf of Mexico. Workers cleaning up the oil spill spotted the bottle and revealed its contents. The letters touched the heart of the workers who connected with the family.

When someone dies suddenly, we often hear the bereaved comment I never got to tell him/her…. In addition to deep sadness, the bereaved may feel regret, anger, guilt and a multitude of other emotions. According to W. Worden, one task of grief is to find an enduring connection with the deceased in the midst of moving on with life. Sending a message in a bottle is a way of doing this. Writing letters, visiting the cemetery, having conversations with the deceased can all bring comfort.

What ways have you found to remember your deceased loved one and keep them with you as you go on with life? We welcome your stories.