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Do you want to read stories of others who have been where you are? Are you looking for bereavement help, and advice? Look no further. We offer over 7,000 articles written by our Open to Hope authors.

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TCF Changes Many Lives

Posted on June 8, 2009 - by Sandy Fox

by Sandy Fox I have watched miracles happen when parents who have lost a child are helped. At a national Compassionate Friends Conference one summer, I spend a lot of time in the bookstore selling my book. It was there I met Bobby and his sister when they bought my book. He was very quiet and withdrawn. She explained: “I had to bring Bobby here. I was afraid for him.” In 2001 one of his teenage children was killed in a car accident. In 2002 the second of his teenage children was killed in a car accident. In 2003 the […]

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Others Share Ways To Help Bereaved

Posted on June 8, 2009 - by Sandy Fox

by Sandy Fox On my web site, www.sandyfoxauthor.com I have listed 10 ways that others can help us through our grief. Here are 10 additional ways I collected from friends to develop a new level of understanding between you and your friends that may help parents as they travel down that long, difficult road to recovery. **Acknowledge my grief; don’t ignore me because you are uncomfortable with the subject of death. It makes me wonder if what happened means nothing to you. **Don’t try to understand the depth of my pain. Just put a loving hand on my shoulder or […]

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The Robin’s Song

Posted on June 8, 2009 - by Genesse Gentry

It’s spring once again. Our part of the world is turning back towards the sun; trees are leafing out; wildflowers are blooming. Robins are again singing to one another. And, I believe, also singing to those who are grieving. Before my daughter Lori died, I was under the misperception that only the English robin had a glorious song. That smaller, red-breasted scalawag of a bird delights all who hear it, and I had felt that we in the United States had been short-changed when they’d misnamed its larger, boring American cousin the same sweet name. All I’d ever heard our […]

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Writing Condolence letters

Posted on June 6, 2009 - by Sandy Fox

by Sandy Fox Whether you are a bereaved parent or just know of someone else who has lost a child, the most challenging letter an individual is ever called upon to write is a letter of condolence, particularly one about a child. The written word can bring much comfort when coping with a loss. We want to convey so much to these bereaved parents, particularly if we are close to them, but how should we do it? A few tips follow. First, acknowledge the loss and how shocked and dismayed you were to hear about the child dying. Then express […]

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‘Don’t Leave Me Here Without You’ – Why Caring For a Spouse is So Difficult

Posted on June 6, 2009 - by Carol O'Dell

By Carol O’Dell — For many of us, caregiving for a spouse is in our future. We like to not think about it, or at least imagine that it’s a long, long time from now. For many, it’s a daily reality. According to the Family Caregiving Alliance, there is a much higher likelihood of receiving care from a spouse than from an adult child. Nearly one-quarter (22%) of caregivers who are themselves 65+ are caring for a spouse. (Personally, I think it’s higher than that). And it’s not all the women who are doing the caregiving.  I know lots of […]

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GRIEF SUPPORT 101: How to Help a Bereaved Friend or Loved One

Posted on June 5, 2009 - by Monica Novak

By Fran Dorf – Thirty years after her son’s death, my friend still smarts when she remembers all the people who pointed out how lucky she was to have two other children. Another friend, whose brother recently died, grumbles that everyone keeps telling her it will get better with time. Another, whom I originally met in a grief support group, for years avoided anyone who hadn’t also lost a child. Having received my share of insensitive, even hurtful, comments after I lost my son, Michael, thirteen years ago, I certainly understand. Why do people so often say and do the […]

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Focusing on Sacredness of Life May Help Those Grieving

Posted on June 5, 2009 - by Harriet Hodgson

By Harriet Hodgson — Religion means different things to different people. When someone dies, it is common to turn to religion and spirituality for support. In 2007, four of my loved ones died in the span of nine months. I turned to my church and my inner self. Week after week, I sat quietly on the couch and thought about my loved ones and my life. If you are grieving now, I urge you to do the same thing. Quiet is essential to recovery. You will not make any progress until you organize your thoughts, center (focus) them, and heed […]

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How to Surrender to Grief

Posted on June 4, 2009 - by Louis LaGrand

By Louis LaGrand — “What you resist, persists.” It’s an old psychological saying that is especially applicable to anyone when mourning the death of a loved one. In other words, trying to repress feelings, “be strong” or pretend you are doing well when you are not, will guarantee that pain will spill out in unexpected ways. You will not only prolong the intensity of your grief process, you can be sure you will add loads of unnecessary suffering to legitimate pain and sadness. Grief is, contrary to popular belief, a normal human response.  It seeks expression when a person faces […]

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Open to Hope Writer Getting Book Published

Posted on June 3, 2009 - by admin

Open to Hope contributing writer Luellen Hoffman’s book, Special Dream, is being published this fall by Crossroads books. The book can be ordered now at www.Amazon.com. Special Dream, subtitled, “Personal Accounts After the Death of a Loved One,” explores the world of special dreams: clear, unforgettably vivid encounters with loved ones who have died. Her unique collection shares the personal stories of those who have experienced them, including the author herself, and reveals the distinct qualities surrounding this phenomenon. Luellen Hoffman is an adjunct professor at George Mason University and the recipient of the Chairman’s Award VNU/Nielsen Business Media for […]

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Grief Journaling: Don’t Let a Blank Page Scare You

Posted on June 3, 2009 - by Harriet Hodgson

By Harriet Hodgson — A blank journal page or computer screen can be intimidating. But this thought did not enter my head after my daughter and father-in-law died the same weekend. Journaling was the only way I could cope. It helped me cope then and continued to help me when my brother died eight weeks later and when my former son-in-law died a few months after that. Four losses in nine months made? journaling more important than ever. Bob Deits discusses journaling in his book, “Life After Loss.” Over time, you will see the importance of daily entries, he notes, […]

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