-
Sent
I am on the board of a small nonprofit group. Each year we host a health and wellness fair at the local community center. This year’s event was held this past Saturday. A lady (I’ll call her B) arrived just as the last of the attending agencies was packing up. She was distressed that she…
-
At Least
I’ve written before about the things not to say to someone who is grieving. I don’t mean to be harsh or admonishing. I get it – it’s hard to know what to say, especially when you are caught off guard by someone’s grief. I’ve been in that uncomfortable situation when I didn’t know the person…
-
In Good Company
Many of my blog posts have been inspired by something I’ve read, often a devotional or something written by another bereaved parent. Occasionally, I find myself disagreeing with or having a hard time accepting someone else’s idea or opinion. One example comes from a reading in “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young. Her devotional for October…
-
Past or Present
Almost exactly two years ago I wrote a post titled “It’s The Little Things.” I talked about how little things (random words, items in my closet, owls hooting) can trigger memories of Rachel. It’s been seven years since she went to Heaven, and while the memories may still bring a tear to my eye, they…
-
Jealous
One of the devotionals I read is from Proverbs 31 Ministries. There’s so much about this organization I love – their morning posts, their in-depth Bible studies, their books and podcasts, and their in-person seminars. They offer a writing program for Christian women through their Compel training branch. I went through their training program for…
-
Remembering
Today is Memorial Day in the U.S. A lot of people confuse Memorial Day and Veterans’ Day. Veterans’ Day, an official U.S. holiday each November 11th, celebrates and honors all who have served or are serving in our Armed Forces. Memorial Day, held on the last Monday in May, is set aside specifically to honor…
-
Plans
When this publishes, we will have just returned from celebrating our niece’s college graduation. She is a smart, beautiful young lady with a bright future ahead of her. She majored in Sports Management at University of Tennessee Knoxville and worked as a manager for the girls’ basketball team while getting her undergrad degree. She will…
-
The Ring
Eight years ago on Mother’s Day, we celebrated our younger daughter’s engagement. Her fiancé had proposed a few weeks earlier with a beautiful wooden ring that he made. But, she had asked me several years prior if, when she got married, she could have her grandmother’s wedding set to be engaged with. Rachel was an…
-
Invisible
When this post goes live on Monday, May 6th, we will be in between two significant Sundays for grieving mothers. The second Sunday in May is Mother’s Day in the US. It’s been celebrated annually since 1908 and became an official holiday in 1914. Almost 100 years later, a mother in Australia started International Bereaved…
-
That Person
Many bereaved parents express dismay and concern that they are not the same person they used to be before child loss. After the initial tidal waves of grief subside, they often find that they don’t recognize themselves. Yes, grief can take a toll on our physical bodies. But, they feel uncomfortable in their own skin,…
A Light for My Path
Carrying the torch for bereaved parents.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105
Why I’m Here
It feels impossible that I have lived for more than eight years now (ed. 2025) without one of my children in my life. Yet, here I am. And, here I will be for however many more years I have in this world.
I’ve learned a lot in these ensuing years. Some lessons I didn’t want to learn and some I wouldn’t have learned any other way than through losing Rachel. I would give anything to have remained ignorant. I have learned that losing a child changes you fundamentally, just as becoming a parent does. I have learned that those changes can be hard on relationships. That members of the same family will grieve differently, and we have to give each other grace. That deep and lasting grief can be frightening or uncomfortable to others. That some of those others will pull away. That many more others will stand beside you even when your changed self is hard to be around, awkward, talking too much, silent, laughing inappropriately, or crying uncontrollably.
What doesn’t change is God’s grace and mercy. He is here in the midst of the deepest grief. His Spirit groans for us when we don’t know what to pray. And, in my case, He led me to a wonderful group of other hurting hearts who shared their loss experiences, their faith struggles, and their recognition that though we grieve, we grieve with hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13).
I’ve decided that just maybe I’ve attained enough life lessons to be of some help to other grieving parents. To that end, I launched this blog site and a companion Facebook page. They are open to all, but the target audience is parents who have lost a child and those who love and want to support them. My posts reflect my Christian beliefs and will follow Biblical principles. I welcome questions, comments, humor, soul-baring, vulnerability, doubt, strength, and support.
Laura 3/28/2022
We are all just walking each other home.
Ram Dass
A Light for My Path 