PART 4: Grace for the Hard Days
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Finding faith, peace, and compassion for yourself when celebration and grief collide
Some days are a mix of holy moments and heartbreak — and my Grand Opening for 7 Semicolon Couture was one of those days.
It was supposed to be exciting — my first storefront, a dream finally coming to life in Canton, Texas. Friends and family were on their way, the ribbon was ready, the sign was shining. But the person who had helped me prepare for that day… wasn’t there.
Just months before, I’d lost a dear friend to suicide. He and his partner had given up another celebration to come spend a weekend helping me with the final touches — painting walls, fixing little things, laughing, and dreaming out loud with me about what this boutique could become. I can still hear him saying, “Tress, you’re going to help so many people with this. I’m so proud of you.”
And he meant it — he believed in me, in the mission, in the heart behind it all.
So, when I opened those doors, I expected butterflies. Instead, I was hit by a wave of grief so strong I could barely breathe. He should’ve been there — smiling, teasing me, celebrating the very thing he and his partner had helped me bring to life.
Months later, when I packed up that same store to move out, the emotions came flooding back again — the smell of the paint, the corner where we laughed, the memory of him singing and organizing all my supplies like it was his own little operating room (he’d have laughed at that).
It was bittersweet — the start and end of a dream forever tied to someone who never got to see it continue, but whose spirit is still woven into every part of it.
And in that mix of joy and ache, I realized something sacred: grace doesn’t erase grief — it holds space for both.
🌿 Why Special Events Trigger Grief
Big moments — holidays, openings, birthdays — tend to magnify what’s missing.
The world expects smiles and celebration, but your heart whispers, “They should be here.”
We try to push it down because the day is supposed to be “happy,” but grief doesn’t follow a schedule. It lingers in the smell of the room, the sound of laughter, and the quiet moments when no one else is looking.
When everyone sees success, you might feel the ache of absence. That’s not weakness — it’s love showing up in another form.
🙏 Spiritual Tools That Helped Me Find Grace
💜 Prayer & Presence
That morning, before unlocking the door, I stood alone in my boutique and whispered, “God, thank You for letting me do this — and please hold what I can’t.”
That small prayer didn’t erase the pain, but it grounded me in peace.
💜 Sacred Space
I keep one candle in my workspace — a quiet symbol that his light, and the light of everyone I’ve lost, still burns beside mine. You can create your own sacred reminder — a photo, verse, or token that helps you breathe a little easier.
💜 Compassion for Yourself
You don’t have to hold it all together. Step outside, take a deep breath, cry if you need to. Grace isn’t about pretending — it’s about giving yourself permission to be human.
🛠️ Your Gentle Resource Toolbox
📱 Mindfulness Apps: Grief Refuge or Insight Timer — free meditations and faith-centered reflections for grief.
🤝 Support Groups: GriefShare.org — compassionate, faith-based community support.
📚 Book Recommendation: It’s OK That You’re Not OK by Megan Devine — honest guidance for living through loss.
💗 Final Reflection
That Grand Opening taught me something I’ll carry forever:
We can’t control when grief shows up, but we can choose how we welcome it.
You can honor the ones you’ve lost and still step forward into what you were created to do.
You can cry and still smile.
You can grieve and still grow.
Grace doesn’t demand strength — it simply asks for presence. 💜
If this story resonates with you, read the other reflections in my Holiday Healing series, or explore our Faith & Healing Journals — created to help you pray, process, and breathe through the hard days.