The Garden of Caring is an online grief/emotional support group.
This is not a professional counseling service, we are building a community of folks who care and wish to encourage one another.
There are many sources of grief ... Loss of child, spouse, parent, sibling, grandchild, grandparent, miscarriage, loss of other family member, friend, suicide, dementia, loss of job, divorce, parent's divorce, relationship situation, health issues, loss of pet, loss of dream, loneliness, being away from home, loss due to COVID-19, lockdowns, or riots and more. It is our hope that we will have many friends here who can encourage others experiencing the same type of grief.
We also recognize the extra burden so many must be carrying who have lost loved ones during the lockdown and have not been able to grieve with family and friends ... and those who have lost much during the riots. To all who are dealing with grief and stress due to the COVID-19, the lockdowns and riots, our hearts go out to each of you.
Walk through the Garden ... just for a moment, leave behind the chaos and cares of life ... this is a peaceful place ... relax, take a deep breath ... look around at the beauty of creation ... sometimes just pausing a moment to do this is what we need to go on ... and you just might meet a new friend or two.
We encourage you to share your story. Sharing what happened can be healing. Sharing can be a big step sometimes, but it's a good one.
To everyone, remember you are not alone. We are glad you're here. We hope you will think about joining our Garden of Caring Community ... there are new friends waiting for you here. We care.
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The Backstory to this website ...
This website is an outgrowth of Pearlie Girlies.
Pearlie Girlies began because most in our group have experienced the devastation of 'losing' a child ... the Holy Spirit had nudged me to create a website to deal with this grief, but as I was working on it, I realized (due to the Holy Spirit and a special friend) this website is to be for everyone who is dealing with grief of any circumstance, as noted above.
Below is the Pearlie Girlies story ...
Pearlie Girlies - sharing our joy, pain and life after our children have gone on before
We are an exclusive group and one I pray you will never have a need for ... however, if circumstances come along that you do, you would be welcomed with open arms.
Why "Pearlie Girlies" ... one day while listening to a radio broadcast I heard something that I had forgotten ... the pearl is the only gemstone formed by adversity and hardship within a living organism. The irritant inside the oyster is coated many times over with a smooth, hard crystalline substance and this can go on for years. Pearls are born from oysters complete with a shimmering iridescence, luster and soft inner glow unlike any other gem on Earth.
As we travel on this journey after such great loss, it is difficult. Our hardship and heartache need to be coated with God's love, grace and mercy over and over for the rest of our lives. It is not an easy journey, yet we do not travel this road alone. We have the blessed hope of seeing our children again in Heaven. The hardship we are dealing with can bring forth a beauty inside of us which we can use to help others, if we allow GOD to work. You may find some of our stories in our Garden of Caring Community. You are welcome to leave your story there, also. It doesn't matter if you're new to grief or how long you have dealt with your grief, we all have a story and we all can use encouraging words.
Our ‘core’ group has been meeting for dinner for about twenty years now. We try for once a month, but rarely make that time table, however we do connect often. My Pearlie Girlies are extremely special to me and I love each one dearly. We cry, we laugh, we talk, we share prayer needs and we encourage one another. We each have handled our grief in somewhat different ways, I’m sure, but there’s no one else in my life who can understand quite as well as my Pearlie Girlies, what it’s like to lose a child.
Jesus also spoke a parable about the Pearl of Great Price in Matthew 13:45, 46 (RSV) ...
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it."
As I researched this parable, I found two schools of thought ... first that the merchant who was searching for pearls, found one that was more valuable than all others, so he sold all he had to buy it. This school of thought suggests that Jesus is the pearl and that we (individually) as the merchant sells all (turning our hearts and lives over to Him) to obtain the favor and presence of Jesus.
The second school of thought suggests that Jesus is actually the merchant and He searches for the most valuable and unique pearl, which is us (individually). When He finds us, He gives His all (His very life) so that we might enter into His presence and look forward to eternal life.
Either way, we are His daughters ... Pearlie Girlies ... as we continue our journey in this life with all the ups and downs, we can grow closer to Jesus, help others along the way, and with His precious tender care, come forth with His inner glow in our hearts and lives.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths ...
Proverbs 3:5-6