Healthy Grief
Healthy Grief Have people only been able to progress through the stages of grief since 1969 when Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross put a name to the model of processing grief or have people been doing it since the beginning of time? As this paper progresses I will introduce you to a Bible story of a man who was made to suffer incredible losses in his life and how he progressed through what we know today as The 5 Stages of Grief.
Job, a faithful follower of God suffered the loss of his wealth to marauding bandits. In addition he suffered catastrophic demise of prosperity his seven sons and three daughters when the house in which they were feasting was made to collapse killing all of Job’s children. Job 4:18-20.The losses occurred all at once on a particular day. Losses of this magnitude would be difficult for any one individual to live through. Shortly after Job’s losses he is physically afflicted with horrible boils all over his body. According to Dr. Kubler-Ross’ 5 Stages of Grief model, it would be expected for Job should be in shock over these events and enter into some form of denial. Job in the biblical narrative is a contrast to the model because he not only doesn’t display denial he never really expresses shock at the catastrophic losses.
Perhaps Job was in shock but the biblical writer focuses on Job’s resolve by telling his wife, “Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept trouble?”(Job 2:10) The attacks on Job by Satan destroy the things in life considered signs of well being: First he lost his wealth (vv14-17), second his children perished (vv18-19). Third he lost his good health (2:18). Most mortals might curse God if any one of the three occurred but Job did not do so when all three occurred in short succession.
Stage 2 of the grief model is anger, where one usually manifest’s some type of anger at oneself or towards others and often towards God. This is a defense mechanism used in order to keep a person detached from the situation. Job 1:20-22,
Job, a faithful follower of God suffered the loss of his wealth to marauding bandits. In addition he suffered catastrophic demise of prosperity his seven sons and three daughters when the house in which they were feasting was made to collapse killing all of Job’s children. Job 4:18-20.The losses occurred all at once on a particular day. Losses of this magnitude would be difficult for any one individual to live through. Shortly after Job’s losses he is physically afflicted with horrible boils all over his body. According to Dr. Kubler-Ross’ 5 Stages of Grief model, it would be expected for Job should be in shock over these events and enter into some form of denial. Job in the biblical narrative is a contrast to the model because he not only doesn’t display denial he never really expresses shock at the catastrophic losses.
Perhaps Job was in shock but the biblical writer focuses on Job’s resolve by telling his wife, “Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept trouble?”(Job 2:10) The attacks on Job by Satan destroy the things in life considered signs of well being: First he lost his wealth (vv14-17), second his children perished (vv18-19). Third he lost his good health (2:18). Most mortals might curse God if any one of the three occurred but Job did not do so when all three occurred in short succession.
Stage 2 of the grief model is anger, where one usually manifest’s some type of anger at oneself or towards others and often towards God. This is a defense mechanism used in order to keep a person detached from the situation. Job 1:20-22,
References: Anonymous (2007-2009) Recover from grief. Accessed July 8, 2012 from http://www.recover-from-grief.com/kubler-ross-stages-of-grief.html Kubler-Ross, E. 1969, On Death and Dying; what the dying has to tell us SCRIBNER: New York, NY The Holy Bible, New International Version; NIV Thinline Bible, Busy Mom’s Edition Zondervan: Grand Rapids, MI