The holiday season is a time to appreciate life’s blessings, gather together with loved ones and reflect on our memories from the past year. The holidays can be a difficult time when we remember loved ones who have died and are no longer around to celebrate with us.
Residents of Elmcroft Senior Living, Reading, took the time to remember those who have past with an Angel Tree Ceremony Wednesday, Dec. 17. The ceremony was led by Judy Plica, the facilitator for GriefShare through the Evangelical Lutheran Church, Exeter Twp.
Since 2007, Plica has been helping children and adults with the healing process after they have lost that important someone, and knows the importance of grieving.
“Grieving is a healthy thing to do,” Plica told Berks-Mont Newspapers. “If you don’t grieve, you never really heal. It can manifest itself in serous illness; emotional, mental and physical.”
Keeping emotions pent up inside is an unhealthy process. Plica presented gifts of mourning and asked residents to “think of the gifts we receive as we mourn.” Boxes represented the gifts and include tears as “a gift to help us express emotion of losing someone we love,” the comfort of God’s love and the ability to heal.
“Take the time to heal…that’s necessary,” Plica said to anyone who has recently lost a loved one. “There are no short cuts.”
A white Christmas tree illuminated the room decorated with lights and angels of those who have passed. Residents and the public were both invited to write a name of a loved one on an angel as a way to remember.
“Healing does not mean forgetting,” Plica said, encouraging other to share memories, think about the good times because those memories become “precious treasures to bring you joy.”
This was the first year Plica attended the Angel Tree Ceremony at Elmcroft, but has been working with residents for the past three years.
Elmcroft Chimes performed holiday songs. The group formed just four months ago under the director of Julie Seiz. Seiz teaches music to interested seniors at the senior living facility.
Plica’s GriefShare sessions resume Feb. 5, 2015 and are held Thursdays 1 to 3 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.
