Found 25 results
Reverend Judith Johnson, PhD is a dynamic visionary and social change agent helping to transform the fear-based culture of death in America. As a non-denominational minister, Judith provides grief counseling and officiates at memorial services. Her passion for facilitating change Continue reading
Gabrielle Michel is an interfaith minister, spiritual counselor, Grief Recovery Specialist and the Founder/President of Graceful Grieving, Inc., nonprofit organization. She’s a compelling, relatable writer and speaker on the topic of infant and pregnancy loss. Though the subject is dark Continue reading
Pastor Dennis Apple speaks with Dr. Gloria Horsley about death and wondering where God is? Dennis Apple is the bereaved dad of Denny, age 18, who died in 1991 after a brief illness. Dennis counsels couples and individuals who are Continue reading
Reverend Judith Johnson, PhD is a dynamic visionary and social change agent helping to transform the fear-based culture of death in America. As a non-denominational minister, Judith provides grief counseling and officiates at memorial services. Her passion for facilitating change … Continue reading
Gabrielle Michel is an interfaith minister, spiritual counselor, Grief Recovery Specialist and the Founder/President of Graceful Grieving, Inc., nonprofit organization. She’s a compelling, relatable writer and speaker on the topic of infant and pregnancy loss. Though the subject is dark … Continue reading
Padraig Greene has been a priest for 35 years working in high schools, retreat work, adult education and parish ministry. He has worked in family ministry in both Ireland and in the Oakland, California Diocese. He is active in developing … Continue reading
To this day, I still do not know why I did it. I was serving as a Roman Catholic Priest then, and fell very ill the night of a wedding rehearsal. The religious sister with whom I worked offered to … Continue reading
Carl Mathis’ book, Life is What You Make It, is available on Amazon.com.
Between tearful sobs, Mary confides the painful story of how her life has become meaningless and of how parenting issues and marital problems have escalated since the suicide death of her teenage son, four years before. Listening to her as … Continue reading
Pastor Dennis Apple speaks with Dr. Gloria Horsley about death and wondering where God is? Dennis Apple is the bereaved dad of Denny, age 18, who died in 1991 after a brief illness. Dennis counsels couples and individuals who are … Continue reading
We call her Hope. Our baby, lost to us in late January 2003, was with us only briefly. Eight weeks to be exact. Not long enough to take her first breath, but long enough to be a reality in my … Continue reading
Tim Moore has been serving as an active-duty Navy Chaplain for the past twelve years. He provides religious ministry to Sailors and Marines and has deployed to Iraq and was in the Persian Gulf during 9/11. His duties on board … Continue reading
Every day, we and those around us experience loss, change, and transitions that we must grieve. Grief is intense emotional suffering caused by loss, and while it is normal, it involves hard work. Does that surprise you – that grief … Continue reading
I am one of the walking wounded. On most days, you can’t see my scars. During the holidays, as families gather, plan and celebrate, my scar begins to show. It begins to deepen in color and intensity, kind of like … Continue reading
Sometimes I wonder if our lives are predestined or if we really have choice. Often it seems the universe conspires to lead us in a particular direction, and no matter how hard we fight it, we are going there whether … Continue reading
co-authored with Heidi Horsley, PsyD, LMSW, MS, executive director of Open to Hope Foundation Footprints in the Sand “So I said to the Lord, You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But … Continue reading
Barbara Roberts’ book, Helping Those Who Hurt: A Handbook for Caring and Crisis, is available at Amazon.com.
Christine Duminiak’s book, God’s Gift Of Love: After-Death Communications identifies 20 common types of after-death communications (ADCs) that the bereave receive from their loved ones. The 123 comforting stories in God’s Gift of Love will help the reader to notice, … Continue reading
Reverend Robert Phillips shares the grief experience through poetry and the bible.
Imagine that you’re preparing for a thirty-day trip to a foreign country and you’re limited to taking only what can be carried in a backpack. Your decisions on what to take or leave behind will determine the quality of your … Continue reading
After my father, Bishop Frank L. Robertson (Brother Frank), retired from the Episcopacy of the United Methodist Church, he was asked to be the founding pastor of a new church on St. Simons Island, Georgia. He eagerly accepted the challenge, … Continue reading
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
On Friday, November 5, 1999, as the sun rose over the ocean at St. Simons Island, Georgia, my mother, LuReese Watson Robertson, quietly yielded her spirit to God’s eternal care. The week before had been a time of prayers and … Continue reading
Spiritual Care to Elderly and Dying Loved Ones is now available. Using over a decade of experience as a spiritual and bereavement counselor, author Kevin Quiles, M.Div. — who is an Open to Hope contributing writer – provides strategies and tools … Continue reading
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
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
One early weeknight, I accompanied military personnel to announce the most dreaded news that any family could receive. Once we arrived at the address, we walked up to the lighted front door and knocked. A few seconds later, the owner … Continue reading
I recently attended calling hours to support a close friend who had suddenly lost her cousin to cancer. When I arrived, I joined the end of the receiving line and proceeded to view the television monitor which displayed a memorial … Continue reading