As I sat on my bed, staring at an old photograph of my spiritual mom, tears welled up in my eyes. It had been a year since she passed away due to Alzheimer’s disease. Watching her memory slip away, her personality change, and her physical health decline was heart-wrenching. It’s a pain I wouldn’t wish on anyone, but through it all I learned some valuable lessons about faith, healing, and the power of love. Most of all, I realized that her legacy was still alive within me.

When she passed away, I felt a deep sense of loss, but I also felt a sense of responsibility to honor her legacy. I wanted to keep the memory of my spiritual mom alive, and I wanted to continue to live out the lessons she’d taught me. As I reflect on her life, I am reminded of the impact she made on the world. She was a woman of destiny who believed in making a difference, and she did just that through her work to empower women in rural communities.

The legacy of my spiritual mom lives on, not just in the memories we have of her, but in the lives she touched and the changes she brought about in the world. As her mentee, I am honored to carry on her living legacy by continuing to make a difference.

One of the things my spiritual mom always emphasized was the importance of having faith in God. She would quote Hebrews 11:1, which says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” She taught me that even when we can’t see what’s ahead, we can trust that God is in control and that He has a plan for our lives.

Another lesson my spiritual mom taught me was the concept of “reveal to heal.” She believed that in order to heal from our hurt and pain, we needed to bring them into the light and talk about them. We couldn’t keep them hidden, bottled up, or buried deep inside.  This lesson was especially relevant as I dealt with the grief of losing her. I had to talk about my feelings—talk about them and process my emotions in order to move forward.

For me, this meant opening up to friends and family members about how I was feeling. It meant journaling about my thoughts and emotions, even when they were difficult to articulate. It also meant seeking out professional help when I needed it.

Through this process, I experienced what’s called “good grief.” This is a term that describes the healthy process of grieving, where we allow ourselves to feel the pain and sadness of our loss, but also find hope and joy in the memories we have of our loved one.

One of the ways I found joy in my memories of my spiritual mother was by creating a memory book. I gathered photos, mementos, and stories about her life, and compiled them into a beautiful book that I can look at whenever I need to feel close to her.

I want to encourage anyone who is grieving the loss of a loved one to remember that you are not alone. God is with you, and He can use your pain for good. Seek out the support and love of those around you, and don’t be afraid to reveal your hurts in order to heal. May you also experience good grief and find joy in your memories.