Mary understands. She raised her Son. She saw him in the ordinary. She saw him in the extraordinary. Then He was gone. She is the only human who exemplifies total and pure love, trust, and faith in God. Yet, she did not get a pass on suffering. She couldn’t stop it. She could only endure it and turn to God. … More I Thought I Had More Time: What Mary Shows us About Loving and Letting Go
When you are a parent, especially a parent of young children, you feel like your grief needs to be put on hold for them. You dry their tears, comfort them, and then secretly cry in the shower. You want someone to comfort you but nothing seems to take away the pain. … More Grief and Parenting: How to Hold Your Sorrow While Still Holding Everyone Else
Jesus does not stand at the finish line of your healing, waiting for you to figure it out. He meets you in the middle of the ache, in the fatigue, in the desire for it all to stop hurting. Rest is not something you earn by doing grief “right.” It is something you receive, little by little along the way. … More When You Just Want Relief From The Pain
For many grieving hearts, Valentine’s Day isn’t just about missing someone. It’s about feeling left out of a world that seems to have moved on without you. … More Valentine’s Day When You’re Grieving
As part of the paradox of grief, the way we choose to move through grief can harden our hearts or it can soften them; it can make us more receptive to God and to neighbor, or it can make us put up walls, keeping others out. In isolation, we often choose things that lead us into more distress or trouble. … More Verses for the Brokenhearted
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
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