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Word of the Month- Perseverance

• The Catholic Cemeteries Association

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Perseverance takes on profound meaning when we face grief and loss. This month, we dive into this powerful concept that serves as both anchor and guide through life's most challenging moments. 


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Speaker 1:

Thank you so much for joining us. Welcome back to CC Airwaves. I'm Jen Cappsio and I'm Paige Mattillo. We are excited for another edition of CC Airwaves' new segment Word of the Month. If you're not familiar with the Word of the Month, it is a singular word designed to provide comfort, encourage reflection and serve as a reminder of strength during difficult times.

Speaker 2:

We know that life can feel overwhelming and we wanted to provide something small but meaningful that you can carry with you, a word to return to when you need to recenter or find peace, and this month we're discussing the word perseverance, for this month, I drew inspiration from August birth flower, the gladiolus.

Speaker 1:

This flower symbolizes strength, honor, integrity and, of course, perseverance. Its name comes from the Latin word gladius, meaning sword, due to its long blade-like shape, and what makes this even more fitting is that this flower is often associated with remembrance. In ancient Rome, these flowers were tossed into arenas during gladiator games as a sign of respect for the fallen. Gladiators even wore them around their necks for protection during battle. That blend of strength and remembrance felt like the perfect representation of perseverance, especially in the context of grief.

Speaker 2:

The word perseverance has many meanings in the face of grief, but we first want to share a quote that has stuck out to us and fits so well with our theme. But what is grief if not love, persevering Vision from Marvel's WandaVision. Grieving is not fun, it's painful, and there's no sugarcoating that no one wants to grieve and it is heavy aching process that unfortunately happens to all of us at some point, especially in periods of grief. It can feel impossible to see the light in such a time, but we grieve because we love so deeply. And that's exactly what the quote is saying that pain, as unbearable as it may feel, is a reflection of the love we still carry for the ones that have passed away.

Speaker 1:

And, yeah, this quote reframes grief in such a meaningful way. What this quote is saying is that that grief we are feeling is actually just love for that person. That grief is just love transformed. It is a reminder that we love that person and that love remains with us Love persevering. This quote invites us to see grief as a form of ongoing love and not a burden.

Speaker 2:

And I believe we've discussed this before even though grief always starts as something sad, and you know we've always seen it as something negative, I think that this quote can maybe be a turning point for our listeners and help them see it in a more positive way. I completely agree, paige. So what else does perseverance mean in the context of grief? Well, some days are easier, some feel impossible, but just getting through each one and showing up for your life, even if you're hurting, that is perseverance.

Speaker 1:

It's important to say healing doesn't mean forgetting. When you lose someone, moving forward can feel often like a betrayal, but healing is not a sign that you've stopped loving them. It takes incredible strength to let yourself move forward and hold onto their memory.

Speaker 2:

And I think that there's a misconception when someone passes away and you move forward, that you're forgetting them, and this is something that we've talked a lot about. You don't have to forget someone to move forward. You can hold on to them and move forward as well. There's so many activities that we can do that we've discussed in our grief support groups that can allow you to do this. So it's just something to keep in mind for the future. And it does take perseverance to keep someone's memory alive without letting it consume you. So there is a balance, and sometimes you think you've made peace, until a memory, a scent or a moment pulls you right back and those moments can feel like setbacks. But even in those waves, when you choose to keep going, you are persevering.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and I think a lot of people don't acknowledge how much perseverance it takes to grieve. Yes, it takes a lot to be strong and move forward during these difficult periods, but I think having that perseverance is something that we need to acknowledge on how strong you are and it's you're doing amazing when you are in those periods of grief. So that is all we have for today. So thank you so much for joining us for today's segment of Word of the Month on CC Airwaves, and remember to take the word perseverance with you throughout the month. Be sure to check out our last month's segment, where we discussed the word strength. If you missed it, follow our social media and if you have any topics you want us to discuss on the podcast, send us a message at cleesemorg or at any of our social platforms.

Speaker 2:

Thanks, for listening.