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‘Arms of God’: Bereaved Mom Questions, Affirms Faith

Posted on January 29, 2011 - by Cindy Shufflebarger

Having just experienced the miracle birth of my daughter, followed by the devastating blow of her death, I found myself unable to pray. Prayer had sustained me during the difficult pregnancy wrought with uncertainties. Early in the pregnancy, we discovered that our baby had a fatal chromosomal defect known as trisomy 18. Reeling at the devastating news, I clung to God like never before. “Lord, please let me hold my baby alive,” I pleaded. “Please give me peace and strength to endure the journey ahead.” Prayer after prayer I lifted to the Father. And day after day He lifted me. […]

Losing My Mentor: Remembering Romulus Linney

Posted on January 29, 2011 - by Anne Hamilton

I lost a great friend and mentor this month. Romulus Linney, the playwright and novelist, died in New York of lung cancer. In a twist of fate, Rom’s daughter, the actress Laura Linney, won a Golden Globe the day after her father’s death, for her starring role in THE BIG C, a story about a woman with cancer. Rom was my professor at Columbia University School of the Arts, and then my colleague at the New School’s Actors Studio Drama School. He led the playwrighting programs at both universities. I learned from him first as a student, and then as […]

Feeling Loved After Loss on Valentine’s Day

Posted on January 28, 2011 - by admin

By Suzy Yehl Marta, Founder of Rainbows For All Children Valentine’s Day is synonymous with love, romance, roses and more. Often called a Hallmark holiday, Valentine’s Day can be a difficult time when grieving a loss or life altering change. On my first Valentine’s Day after my divorce, I was innocently walking through Hallmark I found myself angry that this holiday even existed. I hurriedly spent more than $50 on Valentine’s cards for my children, parents and close friends. I thought, “Who needs a spouse anyway?! I have many others in my life I could share my sentiments and pamper.” […]

NOW

Posted on January 27, 2011 - by admin

Even though the calendar reads mid-January the days are getting longer. Someone said that at this time of year the daylight increases by 3 minutes each twenty-four hours; that comforts me, even though it was 10 degrees this morning. That soft evening light that stretches over the river and trees by my house gives me a quiet settling as if I was taking that first deep breath of a meditation. Grief is strange, as you know. One minute you want to hold on to the past dwelling on every little minutia of your lost loved one, and then as the […]

Stranger More Comforting to Bereaved Than Friends

Posted on January 26, 2011 - by Diana Doyle

Do you ever find comfort from a stranger? While in Australia over Christmas, I met a young woman, an outsider to my world, who knew nothing of my losses. I don’t usually tell new people I meet how I’ve lost so many family members; it blows their minds. But I’m glad I did with her! In our little cottage in Australia, I have a photo wall of dead people. That may seem strange to some, but to anyone who is traveling this road through grief, it’s not so odd. I love my wall. It has photos of family members that have […]

Turn Grief into Joy? Cliches Don’t Work for the Bereaved

Posted on January 25, 2011 - by Fran Dorf

As a bereaved mother who mourned and still mourns the loss of her three-year-old son, Michael, I cringed when I heard former governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin, make reference to the families of the victims of the terrible shooting in Tucson. She said, off-handedly, “May God turn their mourning into joy.” In my view, such sentiments, which seem so commonly held in this country, show a complete misunderstanding for both mourning AND joy, and maybe even for God too. Let’s leave politics aside for the moment, along with my personal feelings about Sarah Palin. I’m sure Ms. Palin meant those words […]

sadly missed

Posted on January 24, 2011 - by admin

my mum suddenly passed away recently in such a tragic way.im finding it very difficult to deal with the pain is too much.im still so shocked and cant take it in,never felt this sad in my life,i feel numb and so lost.my mum was my rock and shes been taken from me in a bad way.how do i deal with it,shes just 52.

Farewell to a ‘Transitioning’ Friend

Posted on January 24, 2011 - by Kathryn Williams Raths

If you have or you are currently sitting bedside of a loved one in hospice, you are probably struggling with accepting the thought and reality of letting your beloved go. It is a psychological battle that starts by praying for a miracle of life and ends by praying for a miracle of death: “Please, God, end the suffering. ” It is the most traumatic experience I have lived through. It didn’t seem like I would at the time but I survived this roller coaster of emotions while supporting my dad through his hospice process. As I write this article, I […]

New Year Offers Chance at New Beginning

Posted on January 23, 2011 - by Susan Berger

“Christmas Eve was the hardest.” I am so grateful for my friends.” “I made it through.” “Thank goodness, the holidays are over.” These were some of the expressions I heard from my bereaved clients as we resumed our sessions after the new year began. Some described continuing the traditions of holiday parties with friends and family. A few escaped to places as diverse as Vermont and the Caribbean. Sseveral stayed home and spent “quiet time” alone or with immediate family. Regardless of when their loss occurred, however, the winter holidays are especially hard. Our society creates such high expectations for […]

losing a friend in a one car wreck with drunk driv

Posted on January 22, 2011 - by admin

73 days ago, november 9th, 2010, i lost a girl who meant so much to me. rachel lutrell. she was always there, always could make me smile, always knew what to do to make anyoine smile or make anything fun. yeah, we had our fights, but she meant the world to me. she died in a one car wreck. her and 3 other people were in the car. she was 14. the other girl was 16, one guy was 19, and the driver was 18, now 19. she was the only one who didnt make it through. the driver had […]