Open to Hope Articles
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 3,000 articles written by our Open to Hope authors.
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Contributing Writer Ruff Publishes Book About Daughter
February 19, 2009
Coralease Cox Ruff, a contributing writer for Open to Hope, has written a new book about her daughter, who died at the age of 21. A bereaved mother and grief educator, Ms. Ruff skillfully combines her daughter’s biography with a grief book to produce Her Light Still Shines, a beautiful tribute to her daughter and an invaluable guide for bereaved parents. This moving story celebrates the life of Candice M. Ruff who profoundly touched many lives in her short 21 years. Her mother lovingly presents the mirrors that form the kaleidoscope of her life by incorporating Candice’s writings and friends’ […]
Trust Yourself When Grieving
February 16, 2009
Dixie writes: I know my family is going through so much and I guess I feel I have to be the strong mother and that I am not supposed to fall apart. But everything has changed since my daughter died. My world is no longer the same. There are days that I just want to able to be left alone and let me touch her stuff and let me cry, but I feel I can’t do that because my family has never really seen me like that, even when my mother died. I had to be strong for my kids […]
How to Support a Friend Who is Grieving a Miscarriage or Infant Death
February 16, 2009
By Chellie Bonebrake – The death of an infant or a miscarriage is so sad. Many times it’s difficult to know what to say, how to say it, and of course you may be wondering what not to say. Often those worries keep people from reaching out to support friends and loved ones who are experiencing this loss. Receiving support and condolences is very important to the grief process. This article is written to assist you in supporting a grieving parent. FIRST OF ALL, WHAT HELPS: 1. I’m sorry. This simple sentence conveys so much. It means you care, you […]
“Motherland”: Six Women United by Loss
February 16, 2009
The movie “Motherland” will have its world premiere next month at the South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas. “Motherland” is a film about six women from diverse backgrounds who come together to take a unique trip: a 17-day intensive pilgrimage to volunteer in rural South Africa. Prior to the journey, the women did not know each other. However they had one thing in common: they had all suffered the death of a child. With grief in their hearts and the willingness to make a difference, this group of women traveled half way around the world to live with […]
Learning to Cope with Unmet Longings
February 16, 2009
By Pamela Prime — Children are the most beautiful gifts and provide the most extraordinary challenges to us. I often say to parents who are in pain that no one can hurt us as parents like our children can. They can hurt us with words and actions, with their choices or lack of choices, and with their criticisms and impatience. And no one can bring the kind of joy that comes from one’s children when they express their love and appreciation of us. Children are amazing teachers for us. I think this is because we love them so much that […]
Friends Keep Pushing to “Get Over” the Loss
February 13, 2009
From Mary: We lost our most precious son Nov 14, 2006. He was 27, a firefighter, preparing for his wedding, had just bought a house on five acres, was so enjoying his life. He lived with us till a year before. We talked to him every day and saw him almost every day. He was my baby and my pride and joy. I miss him so badly, I cannot function. I am so tired of people telling me to move on! My life is over, my future is over, why can’t they understand this? What can I say to people […]
Time Doesn’t Heal, But it Softens the Blow
February 13, 2009
By Sandy Fox When a person talks about an important year in his/her life, or a news show on TV asks what you were doing on a particular date, I always think of my daughter, Marcy. The year 1966, when she was born, is the most important. What was happening in the world then? Vietnam War. President Johnson. The Beatles. Twenty-five cent hamburgers. I associate every year between 1966 and 1994 with Marcy and what she was about then. If the year is before 1966, it is “before Marcy was born.” If I’m told to think of the year 1984, […]
Valentine Poem From a Dad to His Beloved Girl
February 10, 2009
By Alan Pederson — One day in early February of 2007, I was driving near my home in Denver, Colorado, listening to a local talk radio show. One of the hosts of the show was setting up a commercial for a flower company he represented by saying his young daughter was now at an age where he was going to send her flowers for Valentine’s Day. As he talked glowingly and lovingly of his daughter and his excitement about sending her a beautiful bouquet of all different color roses, it got me thinking about my Ashley. I began to imagine […]
Mother Recalls Cherished Valentine From Son
February 9, 2009
By Carol Loehr — It was Valentine’s Day and Keith was five years old. We talked about Valentine’s Day, but Keith forgot the day was special for his mother. I gently reminded him that I didn’t get a Valentine from my special son. Keith just smiled, with those twinkling eyes and said, “Wait just a minute Mom.” He ran up the stairs to his room and within minutes, he was back down. He had made a Valentine’s Day card for me. The card was a simple red heart and it said, “Happy Valentine’s Day, Mom!” Inside the card Keith wrote: […]
