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Articles:

What is an Appropriate Sympathy Gift?

When a friend or loved one is grieving, it is hard to know what to say or how to show your support. When you want to provide comfort and support and show your concern for a family member, a friend, or an associate, a personalized gift is always an ideal choice. The best gifts are those given and chosen from the heart. It says that you really care and have taken the time to think about the time after the initial grief of losing a loved one … during the alone and lonely times.

Passing Legacy Forward – Food Memories

Oscar and Eleanor lived on a farm in the valley next to the river. As children we spent many wonderful times with this childless couple. They spoiled us with birthday and holiday gifts. I watched Oscar milk cows and fed them grain. Eleanor let me help her make chocolate cake or bake bread in her wood cook stove.

Suicide: The Easy Way Out For Some, Means Tears And Pain For Others

People who commit suicide are very selfish people. They do not inflict their own pain. They inflict pain on their innocent family and friends they leave behind–the ones that are capable of caring and loving unselfishly. Nobody deserves that much pain. We might have all said this at one time or another, ?I?m going to kill myself,? or ?I might as well be dead, no one will care.? We might have all thought it from one time or another. I admit that I have said it and contemplated it.

Then I Dreamed!

“Then [I] dreamed…” (Genesis 28:12). About four months after our son died I wrote a booklet titled GRIEF. Two years later I received a letter from a publisher accepting it and saying they felt it would help many grieving people. What I remember about the afternoon I received the letter was a dream. I never took naps then; I worked part-time and was very active. But that afternoon our precious God put me to sleep and gave me a gift. I want to share this dream, for it convinced me that God does indeed communicate with us through visions.

Holes in the Floor of Heaven

I would like to share with you a beautiful song that is comforting to the soul and powerful enough to heal the grief-stricken. My wife, Bobbie, brought this song to my attention one day in 1998. It was a year before Bobbie was diagnosed with what would later be terminal cancer. Sixteen months later, she passed away. I was torn to pieces. Since then, this song has meant more to me than any other song I?ve heard. It is very special to my heart and soul, because Bobbie introduced it to me. It reflects all my emotion, when I think […]

New Beginnings

Over the past several weeks there has been so much news of endings. End of tournaments, end of life, end of businesses, and end of relationships. All of these endings could cast a pall of depression over us. We wonder why things have to end.

Death Poem

During the two years of my husband’s terminal illness, death was never far from my mind. We had been told he was dying and even a time in which it was supposed to happen. We had no idea of how it would happen. I was loathe to let him out of my sight incase he should suddenly die and not return to me and woke each day fearing that he may have died during the night. Towards the end of his illness I sensed that death was near, waiting in the shadows to steal my love from me and wrote […]

Death and Grief: Acceptable Reasons Given

Many reasons for death are given to those who have lost someone close to them. Some of these reasons, while well intentioned, do not provide any comfort. Most often, people suffering through the loss of a loved one or friend are not ready to have legitimate answers given until later. There are helpful reasons, however, to give to someone when their suffering may seem so senseless.We suffer as a result of living in a fallen world. (Matthew 5:45)

November 16, 2006 Dealing with Traumatic Loss – Rich Tedeschi

HEALING THE GRIEVING HEART Dealing with Traumatic Loss Hosts:? Dr. Gloria Horsley and Dr. Heidi Horsley With guest:? Rich Tedeschi November 16, 2006 G:?Hello.? I?m Dr. Gloria Horsley with my co-host H:?Dr. Heidi Horsley. G:?Each week we welcome you to Healing the Grieving Heart, a show of hope and renewal for those who?ve suffered the loss of a child, a sibling, a grandchild, or a friend and as always the message is others have been there before you and made it, and so can you.? You do not walk alone.? If you?re listening to our Thursday live Internet show, please […]

NOVEMBER 16, 2006 – DEALING WITH TRAUMATIC LOSS: LAWRENCE G. CALHOUN AND RICH TEDESCHI

NOVEMBER 16, 2006 – DEALING WITH TRAUMATIC LOSS:? LAWRENCE G. CALHOUN AND RICH TEDESCHI, Professors of Psychology at the University of North Carolina Charlotte and specialists in trauma and bereavement.? They have written numerous articles and books in this area including:? Trauma and Transformation in 1995, Posttraumatic Growth in 1998, Facilitating Posttraumatic Growth in 1999, Helping Bereaved Parents in 2004, and most recently The Handbook of Posttraumatic Growth.? They teach undergraduate and graduate courses in a variety of clinical areas.? Their professional practice has been focused on individuals and couples coping with highly challenging life circumstances.? In addition, Dr. Tedeschi […]

Open to Hope is an online community offering inspirational stories of loss, hope and recovery. We believe hope is the bridge between loss and recovery.