Grief Doesn’t Mean You Can’t Feel Joy Too

Larry Moore • December 3, 2025

One of the most confusing parts of grieving—especially during the holidays—is the way emotions seem to collide. You can be laughing one minute and crying the next. A sweet memory can bring warmth and heartbreak at the same time. You may even catch yourself enjoying a moment, only to feel guilty afterward.


If you’ve ever felt this way, you’re not alone.
And you’re not doing anything wrong.

Grief is not a single emotion—it’s a whole landscape of feelings. And sometimes joy grows right beside sorrow, even when it surprises you.


1. Grief and Joy Can Coexist


A common misunderstanding is that grief has to look a certain way. Many people feel pressure to be sad all the time, especially during the first year after a loss. But grief isn’t a straight line, and it isn’t all darkness.


You can:

  • Miss someone deeply
  • And still enjoy time with family
  • Still laugh at a joke
  • Still notice the beauty in a sunset
  • Still feel grateful for a quiet moment


Joy doesn’t cancel out grief.
Grief doesn’t cancel out joy.
They simply share space.


2. Moments of Joy Are Not Betrayal


A lot of people tell me, “I felt guilty for enjoying myself. It felt wrong.”


But those moments of joy are not a sign that you’ve forgotten someone or that your love is fading. They’re signs that your heart is trying to heal in its own way. They’re signs of being human.


The person you lost wouldn’t want your world to go dark forever. They loved you. They would want your life to still hold meaning, laughter, and warmth.


Joy honors them—it doesn’t betray them.


3. Joy Can Be a Gentle Break from Grief


Grief is exhausting. It can drain you mentally, physically, and emotionally. A simple moment of joy—a smile, a story, a shared memory—can give your heart a brief place to rest.


That doesn’t mean the grief disappears.

It simply means your heart found a little breathing room.


Those small breaks are part of how you keep going.


4. Memories Can Bring Both Tears and Smiles


Memories have a way of pulling emotions to the surface. Sometimes they hurt; other times they bring warmth. And often, they bring both.


You may find yourself:

  • Smiling at a funny story they used to tell
  • Laughing about a holiday tradition they loved
  • Cherishing a moment you shared long ago


These feelings don’t need to be sorted or judged. They just need to be felt.


The mix of sadness and joy means their life mattered deeply.


5. Joy Is Part of Healing, Not Moving On


“Moving on” doesn’t mean leaving someone behind—it means learning how to carry their memory in a way that allows your own life to keep growing.


Healing doesn’t erase grief.
It simply lets your heart make room for new moments—without letting go of the old ones.


Joy becomes part of that healing. It reminds you that your story isn’t over.


A Final Thought


If you find yourself feeling joy this holiday season—or any season—please allow yourself to feel it without guilt. Joy doesn’t erase the love you have for the person you lost. In many ways, it honors them. It means their impact still echoes through your life.


Grief is not all darkness. Even in the most difficult seasons, light still finds a way in.


At Moore Funeral Home, we walk with families who are navigating this complex mix of emotions every day. If you’re grieving and trying to make sense of it all, we’re here to support you with compassion and understanding.


May you find moments of comfort, moments of peace, and yes—even moments of joy—along your journey.

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This year marks a milestone for Moore Funeral Home — 80 years of serving families in our community. As we reflect on our history, it’s impossible not to think of the people who shaped this place into what it is today. For me, that story begins with my dad, Larry Moore. In celebration of our 80th year, we placed a bronze plaque outside of our chapel naming it the Larry Moore Memorial Chapel in his honor and memory. This is more than a name — it’s a tribute to his vision, his hard work, and his deep commitment to the families of our community. In 2011, when a tornado destroyed our original chapel, Dad saw an opportunity not just to rebuild, but to build better. At a time when many funeral homes were downsizing to cut costs, he chose to do the opposite — creating a spacious, beautiful chapel designed to bring comfort and dignity to every service held here. He wanted families to have a special place to honor their loved ones, and he made sure they did. Dad also had a knack for noticing details that made a difference. At the old funeral home, built years earlier by his brother Ronnie Moore, he often joked (though he meant it) that the chapel was on the “wrong side” of the building. When services began, the family and casket had to be escorted through the lobby, past guests waiting there. He promised that if he ever rebuilt, things would be different. When the new chapel was constructed after the tornado, it was exactly the way he envisioned it — on the other end of the building, with a thoughtful layout that allowed families to enter the chapel privately and without distraction. The Larry Moore Memorial Chapel is a space built with love, foresight, and respect — qualities that defined my dad’s life and his work.  We will dedicate the chapel during our One Moore Ride Cruise-In on Saturday, October 18, 2025. I hope you’ll join us as we celebrate Dad’s legacy, this special milestone in our history, and the community we are so proud to serve. For me, this chapel will always be a reminder of Dad’s belief that families deserve the best we can give them — and I’m honored to have his name on the place where so many lives are remembered.

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