When a Parent is Gone

A note from The Inner Teacher:

The bond between parent and child is one of the deepest threads we know. When that bond is broken by death, whether expected or sudden, it can feel as though the ground itself has been pulled away. This lesson is for those mourning the loss of a mother or father.

A seeker came with a trembling voice:

Seeker: “My parent has died. No matter how old I am, I feel like a child again, lost and unprotected. How do I go on without them?”

The Inner Teacher replied:

“A tree may lose its guiding sunbeam,

yet the trunk still rises,

nourished by roots unseen.

Your parents’ body has returned to the earth,

but their love has entered your marrow.

It speaks in your voice,

it steadies your step,

it lives in the kindness you give.

Grief is the price of love,

yet love itself does not die.

Each breath you take carries their thread forward.

Let your sorrow flow,

but do not mistake tears for weakness.

They are the river cleansing the heart.

When you feel alone,

sit quietly and listen.

In the silence, you may hear echoes of their laughter,

or feel the warmth of their embrace

dwelling still within you.”

The seeker wept, but also felt a warmth in the chest — a quiet reminder that the parents’ love was not lost, but woven into the fabric of their being.

🌱 Reflection for You

In what ways does your parents’ love still shape you today?

How might you honor their memory through your own living?

⚠️ If your grief feels unbearable, reach for help. You are not alone. Support from a friend, counselor, or grief group can help carry the weight until your strength returns.