Monday, September 14, 2009

"One's who chose to live again!"


“The grief within me has its own heartbeat. It has its own life, its own song. Part of me wants to resist the rhythms of my grief. Yet, as I surrender to the song, I learn to listen deep within my soul.”
-Alan Wolfelt, Ph. D.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,"- Isaiah 55:8

Our journey in this life cannot always be understood.
Realizing “we are not in control” can actually offer comfort in our grief.
Accept that this life can be confusing, complicated and at times overwhelming.
Surrender to your grief and determine to seek out truth.
The process will expose purpose for the pain endured –
and reveal a child of God transformed and anchored by hope.
One who chooses to live again!”
- Julie Peck


Simply conveyed above, the purpose of our program is to help families choose to live again. This very powerful decision, made first by parents, offers hope and healing to their children and future generations. Parents who do the “work” that grief requires; in turn open the door for their grieving children to do the same.
We have seen many families accept the loss of their loved ones while ignoring their pain. They move ahead with plans to endure the rest of their lives; this side of Heaven. The result is a joyless life that causes others in the family to lose heart. To tolerate grief only sows seeds of bitterness in the heart, which produces a harvest pain in the lives of those we truly love.
Our mission is to offer hope and healing to the broken hearted; to come along side and share the weight of those who, through no fault of their own, have been given a heavy burden to carry. In the bigger picture of our vision, we see a whole community benefiting directly and indirectly by the work done at Jack’s House. The obvious affects will be seen in the healing of bereaved families. Parents will receive education, support and encouragement to take the next steps of grief. Marriages will be strengthen and kept safe from the statistics of divorce. Siblings will have a place to come and safely process their grief. Supporting family members can find helpful information to support their grieving family members. We even see the volunteers, who serve the families on a weekly basis, being ministered to through the hope that is offered by our program. Jack’s house will serve those in need; who will return to serve others as they have been served. Our focus is to help bind one family’s heart at a time. One heart at a time will multiply into many, which will begin to bind “a community of hearts” to work together as one. Imagine communities becoming stronger rather than weaker with each tragedy.

What will make “Jacks House” so unique?
  • Jack’s House is one of the few grief centers in the country that will offer support to the whole family
  • Jack’s House is founded on Christian values and will offer services to all regardless of their belief system
  • Jack’s House will help children feel comfortable by using art, creative therapies and games to help them express feelings and learn new ways to cope
  • Jack’s House offers women’s, men’s and couples bible studies. We also plan to offer summer retreat’s for the whole family
  • Jack’s House support groups are led by peer leaders who share their own real life experiences with loss.

We have a dream! A God sized dream that could have only come through our own pain and frustrations.

We Have A God Sized Dream!

Our dream is to provide a place and a plan for families to navigate their way through grief.
Our dream is for Mom’s and Dad’s to stay married.
Our dream is for siblings to feel included as someone who is grieving too.
Our dream is for all who grieve the loss of a loved one to find a new sense of purpose for their forever changed lives.
Our dream is for families to see that God cares about them.
Our dream is for families to see God’s grace and love in the midst of their pain.
Our dream is for families to heal, to return to a new normal life, and find that they will smile again.
Our dream is for families to see that life here on earth is not something to be endured. Life will be enjoyed again. Should be lived again; to the fullest.
Our dream is for families to anchor their lives with hope in their harbor of grief. Our dream is for families to live out this life with joy; to trust in the promise of our future reunion.
Our dream is to help families understand that our loved one in heaven is joyful… and wants us to be filled with joy as well.
Our dream is to help families grieve and mourn. To process the pain and do the hard work of grief.
Our dream is to help bind the brokenhearted.
Our dream is to bind the heart of a father, mother, brother and sister to beat again as one. One person at a time, one family at a time one community at a time.

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