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Grief and Birthdays: Remembering Loved Ones With Love
Birthdays can stir up both cake and candles—or tears and longing. For those who have lost someone, they remind us not only of what was, but also of what will never be again.
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August’s Ache: Celebrating Life In The Midst Of Loss
August holds both celebration and ache for my family—birthdays, anniversaries, and the reminder of who is missing. Faith assures me Bryan is alive with Christ, yet sorrow remains. In this tender space where joy and grief meet, God’s presence brings hope.
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When You Can’t Speak the Pain, Create It
Creativity can speak when grief leaves you silent. Whether it’s journaling, painting, or music, creative expression helps calm the nervous system, restore a sense of control, and open the door to hope. In the quiet act of making something, healing often begins.
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How One Simple Practice Helped Me Reclaim My Faith in Grief
When grief shakes everything loose, hope can feel out of reach. Through the practice of a “Declaration of Hope,” I’m learning that circumstances may not change—but my focus can. Choosing to declare God’s faithfulness opens the door to healing, even in the storm.
- Blog, Christian World View, Grief and Loss, Learning in Grief, Stories Matter, What Influences Grief
Learning to Hope Again When Grief Reopens Old Wounds
This summer, I’ve been working through a Bible study with a friend: Hope For The Hurting Heart, by Linda Dillow. It’s a gentle, faith-based companion for those walking through grief. With honesty shaped by deep loss, Dillow offers more than advice—she offers presence. Her “Heart Skills” are not spiritual checklists. They’re anchors for when sorrow threatens to pull you under. We haven’t made it far in the book yet, but one chapter—on Hope—stopped me in my tracks. Honestly, it would’ve been worth the entire book just for that one lesson. Because if I’m being honest… The search for hope may be my greatest struggle in life. Especially during times of grief.…
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Suffering With Those Who Suffer: I Didn’t See That One Coming
When tragedy strikes, past grief can resurface in unexpected ways. This reflection explores how grief is triggered by tragedy—and what to do with it.
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Tea For The Heart, A Grieving Mother’s Gathering
Seven years and four months ago, I entered a new world, the world of child loss. I never would have imagined that what followed would be filled with so many unexpected moments. Moments of tears of sorrow and joy. Moments of deep connection over honest conversations. Moments of gratitude for those who understood and could never understand my heartache. April 26th, my “community” hosted a special tea for moms and grandmothers who have experienced the loss of a child of any age or stage of life, along with moms in waiting who struggle with infertility. I used the term “my community” to mean my church family, our care director, and…
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Do I Grieve Like I Have No Hope?
This past year has been full of funerals. Many have buried someone they love, as have I. Often, it was an elderly parent or grandparent. It can seem like a relief when a loved one has been sick for a long time. Or they have lived a full, long life and pass. For others, it was unexpected—those who are younger and buried a spouse or sibling. Then there is the heartbreak of those who buried a child, even adult children (because they are ALWAYS your child). Seeing another parent “join the club no one wants to be a part of,” the bereaved parents club, has been a bit triggering. It…
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A New Year Without You
A New Year is typically a time for resolutions—intentions to do something new. Some resolutions include improving one’s health, getting out of debt, going back to school, or spending more time with loved ones. I often wonder, in the midst of grief, what a New Year’s resolution might look like when sometimes getting out of bed is a challenge, when planning for the future seems impossible because your “future” died with that loved one. So, in 2025, to my fellow grievers, here are some resolutions you might try. Resolve to do helpful things. There is a slogan we used in REBUILD, Finding Hope After Loss, that goes like this: “Everything is normal.…
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Beauty From Ashes: Reviewing My Year
2024 is rapidly coming to an end. It is a year full of changes, challenges, and comfort. So, before moving into 2025, I wanted to stop and remember. To thank God for the times He has met me, for the friends he has put in my life along the way, and for reminders that seven years down the road, there is beauty in the midst of ashes. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others (1 Peter 4:10) A considerable part of my life since Bryan died has been about helping others in the midst of their grief. During the Spring semester, we trained a new…
