In our final installment honoring Children’s Grief Awareness month, guest writer Lisa Appelo shares her wisdom from shepherding her own children through grief after the unexpected death of her husband. When I was newly pregnant, I bought all the books – What to Expect When You’re Expecting, the La Leche League handbook and more. IContinue reading “Lisa Appelo: Shepherding Children through Grief”
Tag Archives: Grief
Sara Coppola: A Lesson in Embracing Grief
I was honored to connect with writer Sara Coppola through Hope*Writers, a community of working writers. On this Veterans’ Day, Sara joins us to reflect on grief as a military wife and on turning toward your sorrow as a pathway to flourishing. The year 2011 was a time of major loss for my husband Paul.Continue reading “Sara Coppola: A Lesson in Embracing Grief”
Me Without You
I love you like this because I don’t know any other way to love,except in this form in which I am not nor are you, so close that your hand upon my chest is mine, so close that your eyes close with my dreams. Pablo Neruda, One Hundred Love Sonnets: XVII 19 years ago today, Rob askedContinue reading “Me Without You”
A Story I Cannot See
I’ve always been amazed at how quickly children change and grow. Nine months in the womb transforms a bunch of cells into a pudgy, giggling baby. Barely a year later, this helpless little angel throws her first tantrum, takes her first steps. The old parenting adage holds true that the days seem long but theContinue reading “A Story I Cannot See”
Martha Black: Encountering Death as a 6-Year-Old
Today’s guest post is part of our month-long series honoring National Children’s Grief Awareness Month. Growing up in small-town Arkansas, I was always a part of a tight-knit community. If someone wasn’t family, they still felt as if they were. My parents were even the leaders of the youth group at our small church. SuchContinue reading “Martha Black: Encountering Death as a 6-Year-Old”
National Children’s Grief Awareness Month
Nothing challenges parents more than shepherding a child through grief. Translating the realities of death and grief into terms a child can grasp tests all of our powers of communication, all of our relational skills, all of our capacity for empathy and emotional maturity. And yet, one of the greatest honors of my life hasContinue reading “National Children’s Grief Awareness Month”
Grief and Fire Management
A few summers ago, lightning sparked a wildfire on a hill overlooking our lake vacation spot in Washington. Our family watched from the hotel balcony as wildfire drama played out before our eyes. Black smoke billowed, and firefighters worked hard to control the growing blaze. A large plane dropped plumes of orange fire retardant. SmallerContinue reading “Grief and Fire Management”
Poetry Friday: “Encounter”
When I worked in children’s ministry, I facilitated a unique, Montessori-style children’s worship experience called Young Children in Worship. At the core of the worship experience was a dedicated space for wondering. After encountering the Scriptures for the day, children were invited to ask their questions of the text. They were invited to wonder. WonderingContinue reading “Poetry Friday: “Encounter””
What Shall I Give Unto the Lord?
For years, Rob sang a particular psalm to our kids at bedtime. He’d sit on the floor in their darkened bedrooms and sing to settle them as they headed off to sleep. I’d stand at the doorway as the tune washed over me at the day’s close. “What shall I give unto the Lord, forContinue reading “What Shall I Give Unto the Lord?”
A Different Kind of Birth
My fourth pregnancy poked along to the very end. I often tell my youngest, “You were just so comfy inside you didn’t want to come out!” On a sunny spring day, after labor had stopped and started all day, Rob finally convinced me to call my midwife for encouragement and an update. “Just relax,” sheContinue reading “A Different Kind of Birth”