When Helen Norris leads her GriefShare group, she doesn’t lead from a place of perfection. She leads from experience.
After the unexpected loss of her husband, Helen turned to GriefShare for healing. She discovered hope and a calling. Now, as a group leader, her personal grief journey gives her a deep sensitivity to what others are feeling.
“I know what they’re going through,” she says. “That helps me care deeply.”
Ready to lead
One of the most common fears potential leaders share is that they’re “not ready.” They worry they cannot lead others while they are still grieving, learning, and healing.
But Helen’s story tells a different truth.
“I didn’t go into this saying I wanted to lead,” she explains. “I kept feeling the Holy Spirit nudging me.” It wasn’t a grand plan, it was a simple yes.
As someone who’s sat in the GriefShare circle as a participant, Helen brings a unique kind of empathy. She doesn’t offer advice from a distance—she walks with others through the same valley she once faced herself.
And that makes a difference.
Grief becomes a ministry strength
Some people might see their grief as a disqualifier for leadership. Helen sees it as one of her greatest strengths.
“It’s because of what I’ve been through that I can lead with compassion,” she says. “When someone shares, I get it. I really do. That’s not something you can fake.”
Her own pain has shaped her into the kind of leader who listens well, who notices when someone withdraws, and who knows when to follow up with a quiet word after the session. She’s not the only one.
Many of the most impactful GriefShare leaders are people who have walked through the darkness of grief—and now use that experience to walk with others toward light.
You know more than you think you do
Helen doesn’t pretend to have all the answers. In fact, she often reminds her group that she’s not there to fix their pain—but to walk beside them.
“You can’t tell someone how to grieve,” she says. “You can only hold space for them to process, to speak, and to know they’re not alone.”
That kind of compassionate space is precisely what makes a GriefShare group effective. A safe and consistent space does not rely on training or knowledge alone, but on shared experience.
You’re more ready than you think
If you’ve experienced the pain of losing a loved one, you already carry something powerful: understanding.
You don’t need to have it all together. You don’t need a degree. What you need is the willingness to show up, listen, and let God work through your story.
That’s what Helen does every week. And it’s changing lives. “It’s not always easy,” she says. “But it’s worth it.”
Your grief can become your greatest ministry strength
Wondering if you’re ready to lead? GriefShare’s self-assessment can help you reflect on your own healing and readiness, so you can determine if it’s time to take the next step into leadership.
