Mara mourns alone; her solitude is part of her grief. But not too far behind her, a mourning dove is there with a call that gives her a bit of hope. The mourning dove was common where I grew up in the Midwest, and has remained one of my favorite birds. This painting seemed an appropriate place to include one.

Why immortalize the obscure power of Mourning? Because the process of lament and grief is a lost art, something of which we are often ashamed. We tell ourselves we “should be over it by now” and that “others have it worse”. And in suppressing the reality of our grief, our wounds fester and cannot heal. We need to mourn and to recognize its important role in our health and community.

There are many difficult things happening to us and all around us. We are often weighed down by the sadness of the world, of death, of corruption. Yet we are learning that the only way forward is through. We must mourn; must give space and honor to mourning, and not push it aside. Mourning has the power to cleanse and to bring transformation.

Copyright Abbi Schellhase 2020. All rights reserved.