Reverend Robert Phillips: Speaking the Unspeakable
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Reverend Robert Phillips shares the grief experience through poetry and the bible.
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Questioning Faith
Widow’s Separation From Husband is ‘Temporary’
This life is so temporary. We don’t seem to get that most times. Over the last months, it has become so clear to me that we are not meant for this earth forever. We are eternal beings with our hearts, … Continue reading
Wife’s Sudden Death Sends Man on Faith Journey
I’ve been living without my wife for seven months now. I’ve had to adjust to a great many things, but the most trying has been my struggle with my faith over that time. I’ve been angry with God, which has … Continue reading
Mother Tells Story of Child’s Death, Her Own Faith
I was coasting through life, pretty comfortably, when suddenly I experienced something no mother should have to go through. I came out on the other side only due to God’s amazing grace. I would not be here today physically or … Continue reading
What is the Meaning of Hope?
What is the meaning of hope, and how can it help us through the days and nights of our despair? For many, hope is a quality that imbues us with grace in the face of adversity. It is an internal … Continue reading
Mother Maintains Contact with Deceased Son
To all of my fellow parents of deceased children — mothers and fathers – I offer greetings. I too have suffered this unthinkable loss and know the grief that accompanies it. My son, Danny, died on July 1, 2008, from an … Continue reading
Death of Grandchild is a Double Loss
April 11 was my second-born grandson, Conner’s, birthday. He would have been 16 this year. Oh, the fun age. The 16th birthday, to me, is when you no longer feel like you are a child but not quite an adult. … Continue reading
In Widowhood, What I Believe
Before my husband Phil died, I could have easily created a long list of my personal beliefs. This list would have included ideas about both the tangible and the intangible; broad concepts and specific ideals; God and mortal beings. There … Continue reading
Bond to Deceased Child Can Go On
From the moment you become a parent, there are two questions that become first and foremost in your mind: Where is my child? Is he/she okay? Even when you are dealing with an infant who seldom leaves your side, you still … Continue reading
Death of ‘Neon Man’ Inspires Friend to Help Others
In 2004, I got a call that my best friend died. Mark Jamison was a neon artist from Roanoke, Virginia, who was electrocuted after he was blown into a power line while hanging a neon sign. He was only 35. A month after he … Continue reading
Leaving a Place, Experiencing a Loss
Grief is multifaceted, and I’ve realised over the years that our society does not acknowledge many of its aspects. Along with profound grief the death of a loved one brings us, we all experience many other types of losses as … Continue reading
As You Grieve, Look for Sacred Moments
After my physician husband completed his tour of duty in Vietnam, the Air Force sent him to a base in Selma, Alabama. He was the commander of the medical group. My husband and I, and our two young daughters, lived … Continue reading
Poem: A Prayer of Hope
Today, I will take baby steps And, hold my head high With a prayer of hope for a smile. Today, I will give myself a hug And, accept that I am a human With a prayer of hope for forgiveness. … Continue reading
God Doesn’t ‘Zap’ Those Who Express Emotion
In my twelve years as spiritual counselor, I have seen men and women choke back their feelings while simultaneously defending the Almighty who supposedly allowed the devastating events to take place. Unfortunately, both smothering of emotions and advocating for the divine … Continue reading
How Rose Reached Across Time to Comfort Me
In high school, I worked as a kitchen aide in a nearby rest home. The home was a beautiful Victorian, formerly owned by a prominent business man. Throughout renovations to accommodate the elderly, the façade pretty much remained the same: … Continue reading
Grandmother Shares Story of Double Loss
January 25th will be my third grandchild’s birthday. There won’t be any cake or ice cream or a party. She isn’t here with us. Instead we will put balloons on her gravesite. She would have been 14. Her name was Jacy Kay. … Continue reading
Poem: New Widow Speaks to God
My husband is dead! My husband isn’t here anymore! I don’t have a partner anymore! I reach over to his side of the bed and it’s cold and empty. Look around…..I’m looking….the coffee cup is still sitting on the shelf. … Continue reading
What is the Role of Anger in Grief?
What can be said about the meaning of anger; and what role does anger play in our eventual recovery from grief? We know that, as humans, we are capable of experiencing a full range of feelings, and that each of … Continue reading
Bringing Light into a Dark Place: Joining Inmates in Overcoming Hopelessness
I have been in and out of jail for well over a year. I’m not there because I’ve broken a law or violated probation. I visit the barb wired facility to bring hope into a very dark place. It’s part … Continue reading
Votives for Remembrance
The holidays are a particularly difficult time for many families who are yearning for their loved ones, no matter how long they have been gone. My grandmother, Georgiana, out-lived my grandfather, Arsene, by 25 years. Not a day went by … Continue reading
Accepting Loss as a Fact of Life
When I was sixteen, my best friend was killed in a car accident. My boyfriend was driving the car. They were going to the movies on a summer afternoon two weeks after their high school graduation. I felt that my … Continue reading
God Will Answer My Prayers
In 1968 my brother, Danny who was 19 years old was killed in Vietnam. At the time, I was 15 years old. His helicopter was shot down and according to eye witnesses exploded in mid-air and then landed on the … Continue reading
Poem: Shine
Shine There is a light that shines inside all Some days it is so warm and so bright Other days it is cold and just a flicker Leaving us afraid and bitter. When troubles have come our way And we … Continue reading
Compassionate Self-Forgiveness (Part 2)
In this post, I’ll use my experience with Ringo (see Part I) to demonstrate compassionate self-forgiveness, a powerful tool in service to inner healing. There are four steps to this process. Step 1. I give voice to my feelings of … Continue reading
Is There Life After Death?
When someone we love dies, it leaves us with the unanswered question: “ Where are they?” There is a huge gaping void that they once filled. Where is my mother – her laugh, the unusual and inventive chef who filled the house … Continue reading