Snags look like they do not belong because…well, they do not belong. They are the contingency. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote that God reveals Himself to us through Sacred Scripture and through creation. Paul wrote “Ever since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made.” … More On Snags and the Spiritual Life
We humans have this universal desire to find answers and explanations. We want things to be logical, make sense, and feel fair. That rarely happens with grief. We want to reason away the pain and make it make sense. We do it a lot in grief, and in our responses to others’ grief. … More Sometimes There Are no Answers
Several years ago, when we had only been married about two and half years, I was really struggling with idea of a new year – another new year with no living baby, but three little saints. With each gathering, I couldn’t help but think of the little ones who were missing. … More A New Year’s Kiss
We have so many expectations that we aren’t aware of. In my grief I had the expectation that the first year would be the hardest, and afterwards it would get better. I had always heard that the holidays were hard, so I thought once I moved through them, it would be easier. … More Why January Is Hard: Grief After the Holidays
Despite the weight of grief, God meets me faithfully in every season of my life, even the painful ones. Through Scripture, prayer, and the gentle practices that keep me grounded, God continues to remind me that grief is a journey. … More Living With Grief
As we wade through Advent, maybe it is easy to doubt. Maybe you are struggling with the external happiness of a world that is home to death and darkness. It can be easy to forget that the birth of Christ was also the beginning of His death; that Mary and Joseph would soon flee across the desert with an infant who was being hunted. … More What Child is This?
The commas in our life produce pauses, but they can also unite a juxtaposition. In my first years of grief after losing my mom, the comma left me feeling restless. When will this pain be over? When can I get back to normal? But the comma gave me hope knowing my pain was not wasted, and God would help me in my grief. … More Grief Commas
Advent and Christmas may look different this year. This isn’t a poor reflection on you. … More Honoring our Deceased Loved Ones During the Holiday Season
Facing the holidays after the loss of a loved one can feel challenging for so many reasons. As we prepare to head into the Christmas season, it can be helpful to know that you’re not alone if you find this time a difficult one. … More Hope for the Holidays
I know that Loretta was on my mother’s mind because she began to talk about her with me. She talked about Loretta’s easygoing nature and ready smile. Even as the Leukemia got worse, Loretta was cheerful; my mother said that her smile and her faith in God never faltered. … More A Portrait of Loretta