‘I’m a school chaplain in a secondary school

My Bible: reasons to believe in the power of the Bible

‘I’m a school chaplain in a secondary school and a huge part of my role is providing bereavement support for children who have experienced bereavement or grief. Nationally, one child in every class will have experienced some sort of bereavement. 

‘Covid has brought this home. Students have experienced loss for the first time, and some have had to say goodbye to a loved one on a phone or an iPad, so the stories are even sadder than they would have been. 

‘The verse that helps me is Hosea 2.15, which says, “And there I will give her her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.” The Valley of Achor is talked about elsewhere in the Bible as a place of desolation and despair, attached to really dark memories. But here it is completely transformed to a door of hope. 

‘That’s what I find so exciting about the Bible, that it encompasses all of life, the good and the bad. This verse really helps because it reminds me not to dismiss these really dark moments that the students are going through, but to recognise their pain, not to pretend that it doesn’t exist. 

‘Grief is a really important part of our own story. Grieving is part of all of our lives, but it is not the end of the story. 

‘One of the most difficult things for students is all the emotions relating to grief. They might feel guilt, anger, or frustration as well as sadness. I try to communicate that they will feel a whole spectrum of emotions. It’s great to know that, by providing this chaplaincy presence, it gives a listening ear, some hope and healing to those who need it most.’

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