Honoring a Spouse Through GriefShare Leadership

Mike Flenz never imagined that leading a GriefShare group would become part of his life’s purpose. Now, with each session he facilitates, he honors the memory of his late wife, Anita, a woman whose love for others helped shape Mike’s leadership style.

“Mike, what better way to honor Anita and her legacy of loving God than to now become a facilitator in GriefShare?”

That simple but profound question from a friend changed everything.

A nudge toward purpose

After Anita passed, Mike found himself in a place of profound loss. He joined a GriefShare group even before she died, knowing he’d need support. Over the course of two 13-week cycles, healing slowly began to take root.

Then one day, he received an email inviting him to consider helping as a GriefShare leader. Mike didn’t feel ready—or qualified.

“I’m an introvert by nature,” he explains. “Anita had this amazing ability to reach people, to make everyone feel loved.”

Still uncertain, Mike met with a close friend for breakfast and shared about the invitation. That’s when the friend looked him in the eye and spoke words that would stay with him forever:

“Mike, what better way to honor Anita and her legacy of loving God than to now become a facilitator?”

“I dropped my fork,” Mike recalls. “This final nudge from God encouraged me to say yes.”

When grief feels like the end

Grief often makes people feel like their story has ended, as though they tied their purpose to the person they lost. Mike knows that feeling well. Mike understands that feeling well.

“After Anita died, I didn’t know what to do next,” he says. “You wake up every day thinking, Now what?”

Through GriefShare, Mike discovered that his story wasn’t over. Instead, God would use him for His glory. Mike’s pain, paired with a willing heart, opened the door to something unexpected: purpose.

“This whole program has changed my life. It’s given me direction in retirement. It’s given me something meaningful.”

Legacy brings healing and impact

Mike doesn’t lead GriefShare to check a box or fill a volunteer need. He leads because every time he shows up, he keeps Anita’s love for people alive.

“So full of compassion and joy,” he says. “I think about her all the time when I’m with the group. I ask myself, How would she have encouraged this person? How would she have shown love here?”

He also leads because he knows what it’s like to sit in the participant seat.

“I’m not a counselor. I’m just a guy who’s been through it,” Mike says. “I can listen. I can care. I can share what helped me.”

Watch Mike share his story of how much leading GriefShare has blessed him.

What legacy could you carry forward?

Maybe you’ve lost a spouse, a parent, a child, or a dear friend. Perhaps you’re still grieving. And like Mike, you wonder if there’s still purpose ahead.

If someone you loved shaped your life with kindness, compassion, or faith, what better way to honor them than to carry their legacy forward?

Perfection isn’t required. You don’t have to have all the answers. All you need is a heart that’s willing to serve, and a story that reminds others they’re not alone.

What legacy could you carry forward? Honor a loved one by starting your own GriefShare group. Start your GriefShare group today.