Agape Support Group: August 2012

The loss of a baby can be devastating to a family.
How do you pick up the pieces when hopes and dreams have been shattered? Grief is a natural part of child loss. How one approaches the grief process is criticl to regaining a sense of normalcy.

AGAPE is a support group for families who have experienced the loss of child for any reason, from conception to the first month of life.

AGAPE is for the mother, father, family or friends of those who have eperienced a loss.

AGAPE is for those who want, or are in need, or who wish to share and grow through these most painful processes.

AGAPE joins hands & hearts and prepares for the future.

AGAPE means LOVE

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Womack Memorial Garden

Last month, Chaplain Leininger, Chief of the Dept of Ministry and Pastoral Care, announced that a small area at Womack has been approved for a memorial garden dedicated to memers of AGAPE and all who grieve. It is located in a lovely area on the Reilly Road side of Womack, near the dogwood trees and azaleas. There will be a bench and a small memorial in the form of a statue.

We are hoping to get this completed in time for the October 15th annual Walk To Remember. Hopefully, we will be able to incorporate the dedication of the garden during the activities of the day.

The leaf and teardrop symbolize the love and grief that families and loved ones feel when someone dies.

They reflect both the intense suffering of loss and hope for the future. The leaf, though fallen, is green with upturned edges, symbolizing hope. It floats in a pool of moving water, symbolizing there is movement in grief and hope for the future.

Colors range from a very deep purple, which represents intense sadness, to a much lighter and paler shade, symbolizing light and hope for the future. The drop on the leaf may be either a dew drop or a tear drop--meant to be whatever the person looking at the picture wants it to be.

The overall theme is that grief, as in nature, there are cycles and movement. As seasons change, so do feelings. There is water and there are tears, there is winter and there is spring, there is sadness...and there is hope.

AGAPE Goals

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Womack Memorial Garden