August’s Ache: Celebrating Life In The Midst Of Loss
August has arrived. For my family, it brings grief and celebration—the kind that comes when birthdays and anniversaries mix with loss.
We celebrate my wedding anniversary, my daughter Robin’s birthday, and my son Bryan’s birthday. But one of those celebrations now carries an ache. Celebrations feel different when someone is missing.
🌿 Faith and Grief
I believe in a literal Heaven and Hell.
I believe where we spend eternity depends on where we place our faith.
It’s by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone that we can be assured of Heaven.
So, theologically, I believe Bryan is more alive now than ever—because he’s with Jesus.
Still, that truth doesn’t take away the ache I feel each August—the month Bryan was born.
Or each December—the month he died. Turning the calendar page only magnifies the painful reminder:
Bryan isn’t here to celebrate.
Some people think that believing your loved one is in Heaven should make grief easier.
But I’ve learned something different. Deep faith doesn’t cancel out deep sorrow. They often walk side by side.
I don’t grieve because I doubt where Bryan is. I grieve because I miss him here.
🌿 Joy and Sorrow
August is full of joyful milestones in my family’s story: birthdays, anniversaries, sweet beginnings.
But joy doesn’t erase sorrow. And sorrow doesn’t erase joy. They simply coexist.
That’s the space I live in now. Celebration meets absence. Laughter mixes with tears. Faith offers hope— even as my heart aches.
I’m learning something sacred: Joy and sorrow aren’t enemies. They are companions. And in that sacred space where they meet, God meets me too.
🌿 Reflection
Maybe you’re in a season where joy and sorrow mix. A birthday. An anniversary. A memory that brings both a smile and a tear.
- Take a moment to name the joy. Then name the grief. Don’t rush to fix either one. Just hold them both.
- Invite God into that space—not to remove the tension, but to meet you in it.
🌿 Support
📍 In the North Dallas / Collin County area, we offer a ten-week workshop:
Rebuild: Finding Hope After Loss.
🗓️ New groups begin September 8th.
🌍 Not local?
GriefShare is a thirteen-week, faith-based program. It meets online and in person. You’ll walk through loss with others who understand.
jthomas
Julie Thomas has a degree in secondary education from Baylor University. She taught and coached for nine years at the secondary level before serving 30 years for Real Options, a pregnancy clinic in Allen, Texas. Her passion is equipping volunteers to talk with women dealing with an unplanned pregnancies. Julie has been married to Marcus for 30+ years, and they have four children: Rachael, Robin, Sara, and Bryan. In 2017, Julie’s life changed forever when she lost her 16-year-old son. Learning to deal with loss in Julie’s life led her to begin a grief ministry, become a certificate in Mental Health Coaching with an understanding of Grief and Loss. REBUILD, Finding Hope After Loss was written by Willow Creek Church in Chicago.
