The Kubler-Ross's Five Stages Of Grief

Stages of Grief Paper Grief is inseparable from the human condition. When sin entered the world it opened the world to grief. While all of humanity shares the experience of grief; it is a deeply personal and individual experience. There are many ways in which humans process grief. One useful way to process grief is through writing therapy (O'Connor, Nikoletti, Kristjanson, Loh & Willcock, 2003). In the story Lament for a Son, Nicholas Wolterstorff writes about his son who died in a climbing accident. This could be considered a display of writing therapy. The Wolterstorff’s story will be used to analyze various aspects of the grieving process (Wolterstorff, 1987). One can analyze Woterstorff’s reflections through the use of Kubler-Ross’ five
This same process of grieving is shared irrespective of the catalyst. The cause may be from the loss of human or animal life. Kubler-Ross posits that the process is generally the same; however, the order and the length of the steps may vary. The ultimate goal or conclusion of this process is that one comes to terms with the loss (Axelrod, 2017). The Kubler-Ross’ theory has been challenged; however, for this essay the Five Stages of Grief will be used to analyze Wolterstorff’s
Wolterstorff reflects on the fact that Jesus died, was buried and raised from the dead. Nicolas clearly points to the resurrection of Jesus that there is therefore hope in his own son’s resurrection. Again, Wolterstorff iterates that God suffers both in the death of Jesus and the death of his own son. There is an uneasy joy in this common suffering and resurrection. Nicholas indicates that Jesus’ rising should encourage all of us to rise up from our suffering; if God can create he can re-create (Wolterstorff, 1987). In conclusion, this essay reviewed Woterstorff’s experiences as he grieved his son, the meaning and significance of death in light of the Christian narrative and how the hope of the resurrection plays a role in comfort. Grief is a journey that may not conclude during one’s life journey. One can turn to God and the church to ease the suffering (Shelly & Miller, 2006). It would be easy to reflect on this story of grief from an outsiders perspective. In reality, if one is walking this earth they will experience grief. This is not only Nicolas’s story; this is the story of all humanity. It is a story that one can choose to experience alone or together with