Open to Hope Articles
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Hope For Heavy Hearts During Holidays
November 29, 2009
The holidays are here. Normally, they are a time for family fun and celebration but when someone you loved has died, the season may be painful and lonely. When grieving ,we can feel completely overwhelmed with sadness. We miss the loved person and we long for them. “How can I make it through these days?” we ask. “How will I survive?” Here are some ways that have helped me to survive my many losses, particularly the death of my daughter, Katie. Maybe they can help you, too. Your Body ~ Rest; you have experienced monumental loss. You are exhausted. Go to bed […]
Celebrating My Deceased Daughter’s Birthday
November 26, 2009
Today would have been my elder daughter’s birthday. She was born on Thanksgiving Day decades ago. The hospital staff was preparing a turkey dinner for the new mothers, and I was very aware of the tantalizing smells while I was in labor. I wanted to eat that dinner, but could not. How am I going to honor my daughter’s life? First, I am going to focus on thankfulness for having her in my life. She became a composite engineer, had five additional engineering certificates, earned her MBA, and was supervising thee production lines for a Minnesota manufacturing company when she died. […]
Harriet Hodgson, Grief Markers
November 26, 2009
Harriet is the author of over 27 books, she is a bereaved parent and a grandparent raising grandchildren. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/audio.opentohope.com/2011/01/Harriet-Hodgson-112609.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Child’s Insight Offers Meaning — and a Laugh — on Thanksgiving
November 26, 2009
The smell of turkey and stuffing was in the air, there was noise from kid’s playing and dishes being prepared in the kitchen. It was our first Thanksgiving since my son Lucas’s death in July. The previous Thanksgiving, we had all been together, and had even taken a special family picture to put on our Christmas cards. Lucas’s absence made the day dreary despite the holiday atmosphere. Dinner was on the table, and it was time for a prayer. I felt I couldn’t express thanks this particular day, as my heart was so heavy. As I looked at the other […]
Thanksgiving is for the Bereaved
November 25, 2009
I have a hard time believing it is the season of holidays again. While this year should be easier since it will be our fifth Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s without our son Daniel, I still feel myself putting on an extra shield of courage. In the cool afternoon air, I am reminded of my first Thanksgiving since Daniel’s death. On that day, I wrote a poem; it wasn’t very good, but it did express what I had learned from reflecting on the origins of this national American holiday. For the first time, I thought that the initial Thanksgiving among […]
Surviving the Holidays After Losing an Only Child
November 19, 2009
After losing an only child, surviving each day is so very painful and difficult for single parents, and holidays make it even more excruciating. It may seem that there is no one with whom you can truly share the joy of the holiday. Everyone else seems to have families who are intact and have a reason to celebrate. The dark cloud of loneliness seems to pervade everything we do, everywhere we go, and even our inner self. We might want to rip the pages off the holiday calendar, go to bed and sleep away the days and nights that involve any […]
Helping Bereaved Parents Cope
November 18, 2009
by Sandy Fox There are many things that can be done to help bereaved parents cope. You may have a friend who is just starting out on his or her grief journey, and it is hard enough for them to just get out of bed in the morning. They don’t need any platitudes from you (see last blog). They need comfort; they need you to see that they make it through the day. With your help, they will. Here are some of the things you can do for them. **Send a sympathy card or note to the parents, saying how […]
Symbol of Hope Among the Ruins: The Painted Heart
November 17, 2009
Clearing out our deceased daughter’s house took more than a year. My husband and I could only work for a half-hour before we were overcome with grief. Our daughter died from the injuries she received in a car crash. Nine months later, her former husband was killed in another car crash, and we were raising her twins. Packing up an entire house is a monumental task. After talking with our grandchildren, the family decided to give the contents of the house to Rushford, Minn., flood relief. We packed the kitchen first, then moved on to the family room, living room, […]
Poem: I Wonder
November 16, 2009
When did sadness stop covering everything? I don’t know. It must have first been for moments, then maybe hours, days eventually. Then for a long time no longer ever-present, but just below the surface waiting for a thought to trigger it. Now, the ingredients of my life are suffused with contentment and joy, but even so, sadness can surface unexpectedly as the dark shape of loss stirs the cauldron and tears are added to the soup of life, salty still, but not as bitter or overpowering, adding an important flavor to the whole of me. From Catching the Light – […]
