Good Mourning

"Through humor, you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive it." -Bill Cosby

Those of us who have been to a funeral or ceremony for a loved one who has passed do not usually associate laughter with one of those occasions.

However, in the almost two months that I have been working at the mortuary, I have heard more genuine tears and laughter here than I have heard anywhere else. 

One of the things I love about being at the mortuary is knowing that, when people laugh while they are making arrangements, my dad or my husband has been able to bring them a new perspective on their suffering and grief- a good mourning- even if it is just for a brief moment.

With the many different families that I have seen come to the mortuary to make arrangements, visit their loved one, or attend a funeral, I have learned that it is important to allow people to grieve in their own way and in their own time. I also have learned that people appreciate it when we are lucky enough to catch those rare, reassuring words of hope or triggers of fond memories.  It will not cure their grief, but it could sooth it for a short time, like liniment on aching muscles.  It is nice when that happens, because we have made someone's possibly difficult day, better. 

It is interesting how someone else's laughter-even if they are strangers- can make my own heart so happy.  That human connection is one of many reasons that I know there is a bigger picture to the little dots and streaks of paint I see in front of me.  It is the reason I know that there is a light after the darkness, a smile after the tears, and a Good Mourning after the Night.