Elements of a funeral
There is a growing belief among different generations that a funeral is a waste of time in their busy lives. Why put themselves through the pain that a funeral can cause if you can just avoid it? But when we look deeper, we can see the importance of a meaningful farewell big or small, a chance for everyone to say goodbye.
Grief is the natural reaction when we loose someone we love and care for. We cannot avoid it, no matter how hard we try. When someone attempts to avoid their grief it tends to make them hide their pain and emotions. This can cause them to have emotional well-being issues further down the track.
The best way to deal with grief is to embrace it, to expose ourselves to the pain and emotions that death can bring to us. A meaningful farewell is the point in time where we bring together all the elements that allow us to say goodbye in a positive way.
A meaningful farewell for a loved one will help in the following ways.
Reality
Funerals help us to begin to truly acknowledge the reality that someone has died.
Recall
Funerals encourage us to remember the person who has died and share our memories with others.
Support
Funerals bring together people who care about each other in an atmosphere of love and support.
Expression
Funerals allow us to express our inner thoughts and feelings about life and death.
Meaning
Funerals mark the significance of the life that was lived. They help us to find meaning and purpose in our continued lives.
Transition
Ultimately, funerals help us to start the transition from a life with, to a life without our loved one.