Currently, I’m reading Winning the War on Worry by Louie Giglio with our small group. Although it’s a concise book (only 100 pages), it’s powerful and has made me stop and think long and hard about some of the things I’ve experienced since Melanie ran ahead to heaven. While examining my heart, it’s brought meContinue reading “Worry and Anxiety: A Consequence of Grief”
Tag Archives: #bereaved
Walking the Never-ending Grief Journey with the Healer of My Heart
No matter how many days, months, or years go by, there will always be a piece of my heart that will remain on this never-ending grief journey. Yet, I’m so grateful there is also the Healer of my heart in the midst of the grief. We walk this journey side-by-side. When Melanie first ran aheadContinue reading “Walking the Never-ending Grief Journey with the Healer of My Heart”
Famous Last Words: It Will Never Happen to Me
We will all suffer loss at some point in our lives. While each situation may differ, the loss has one thing in common – heartache. Loss is loss, and grief is grief, no matter the circumstance surrounding the loss. Before you began walking your grief journey, let me ask you, did you ever think it willContinue reading “Famous Last Words: It Will Never Happen to Me”
A New Year: Time to Look in the Rearview Mirror
Have you heard this saying before? For those who are grieving, it takes on a whole new meaning. As a parent who has lost a child, nothing is more important than who has been left behind. Granted, since Melanie ran ahead to heaven, looking back has been challenging. But, on the flip side of theContinue reading “A New Year: Time to Look in the Rearview Mirror”
Give Yourself a Little Credit
Here we are, a couple of days after Christmas and moving toward a new year. As we wake up we can look back and say, “Whew, we made it! We made it through another holiday when we didn’t think we could. We survived.” For some, it may have been barely. Granted, it may not haveContinue reading “Give Yourself a Little Credit”
Christmas Joy and Sorrow
The closer the days move toward Christmas the stronger my grieving heart begins to roar. I’ve been able to keep it subdued and quiet as the weeks have approached. Not intentionally, but it’s been there, bubbling just below the surface. This year I’ve been able to joyfully celebrate the reason for this season – theContinue reading “Christmas Joy and Sorrow”
Wounded Souls Hurt More at Christmas
The impact of grief appears in many different ways. Yet it’s the state of our heart that suffers most. No matter how long we’ve been walking this grief journey, it seems that wounded souls hurt more at Christmas. When a heart is hurting, even the twinkling lights, pretty colors, and beautiful songs don’t seem toContinue reading “Wounded Souls Hurt More at Christmas”
An Uncomplicated Christmas
Here we are in December, the month deemed the Most Wonderful Time of the Year. We know this isn’t true for everyone, especially those who are missing loved ones. This month tends to bring a host of feelings other than wonder and joy. For some this will be your first year without your loved oneContinue reading “An Uncomplicated Christmas”
One Holiday Down, One To Go
Although it may not seem like the most jolly way to begin the holidays, how many will admit this thought crossed your mind this past week? It’s pretty common among grievers to say if not out loud, at least to themselves, “Whew, we made it!” And that doesn’t mean we made it through Black FridayContinue reading “One Holiday Down, One To Go”
The Empty Chair
As we approach Thanksgiving many of us will look upon the empty chair at the table. The hole deep within our heart will now be staring openly at us. Holidays are hard. If you are early on in your grief journey you may wonder how you’re going to get through the day. The empty chairContinue reading “The Empty Chair”
Invite Grief and Gratitude to the Table
Here we are just a couple of short weeks away from celebrating Thanksgiving. If you’re grieving you may be feeling anything but thankful. Holidays are hard. As we get together with family you may feel pressured to smile and act like everything is fine when your heart is actually broken. My friends, this year let’sContinue reading “Invite Grief and Gratitude to the Table”
Let’s Talk Self-Care: The Struggle is Real
No matter how hard I try it seems as if I still struggle with prioritizing myself and my needs. Let’s talk self-care for a moment. The struggle is real my friends. Some days I wonder if self-care is really achievable. Perhaps this is more of an issue for women. What do you think? I amContinue reading “Let’s Talk Self-Care: The Struggle is Real”
Finding Goodness After Loss
As a parent who has lost a child I never thought I’d find any goodness in life after the loss of my only daughter. When Melanie ran ahead to heaven I saw my world in only shades of gray and wondered if I’d ever really see the sunshine again. Although my coat of grief isn’tContinue reading “Finding Goodness After Loss”
Did I Do Enough
Since you’ve been walking along this grief journey I imagine at some point you asked yourself, did I do enough? Did you do all you could to help your loved one move from their disease to recovery? Did you do enough to offer support during their trials and tribulations? Did you do enough to guideContinue reading “Did I Do Enough”
Navigating Life After Loss
There was a time soon after Melanie ran ahead to heaven when I realized I had no choice but to push pause on my grieving. Unfortunately, the reality is when a person dies there is a myriad of important details which need to be handled. Funerals to be planned, people to be notified, insurance companiesContinue reading “Navigating Life After Loss”
With Great Loss Comes a Major Change of Perspective
Have you found that since the loss of your loved one the things that were once so important to you no longer are? I’ve come to learn that with great loss comes a major change of perspective. While talking with a friend over lunch last week we spoke about how our priorities and thoughts hadContinue reading “With Great Loss Comes a Major Change of Perspective”
Grief: The Price We Pay for Love
When researching grief there are hundreds of quotes to draw from, yet I believe there is none that so aptly describes it as this: This quote is from none other than Queen Elizabeth II who passed away last week at the age of 96. As a beloved leader for over 70 years, she certainly hadContinue reading “Grief: The Price We Pay for Love”
How Can We Survive the “Most Wonderful Time of the Year”
Hello my friends! Well, we just said goodbye to Labor Day and depending on where you live in the world, this is oftentimes the end of Summer as we begin to make our way into Fall. And whether we like it or not, it’s here again – time to plan for the holidays. How canContinue reading “How Can We Survive the “Most Wonderful Time of the Year””
International Overdose Awareness Day
Today is International Overdose Awareness Day. Each year on this day I create a special post specifically dedicated to honor the memory of all those who were lost to overdose and the parents who are grieving them. My daughter, Melanie lost her life to the disease of addiction. Before that I never knew such aContinue reading “International Overdose Awareness Day”
Healing My Heart: Step by Small Step
A few years ago, I found myself walking a path no one ever dreams of taking– the grief journey due to child loss. Although death is part of the circle of life, child loss, which is an out of order death is particularly heart-breaking. When my daughter, Melanie ran ahead to heaven unexpectedly my heartContinue reading “Healing My Heart: Step by Small Step”