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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Second Holiday Without Your Spouse Harder Than First
December 12, 2021
It’s the holiday season again. People told you last year the first without your spouse would be the most difficult. But here it is, another year past, and the second holiday without your spouse is harder than the first. Is something wrong with you? If you are wondering that you are not alone. For many, the second year is actually more difficult than the first. There are reasons for this and one or more may be the case for you. Your spouse died closer to the end of the year. Sometimes if the loss was still very new, you could […]
Michelle Clare: How Loved Ones Still Speak to Us
December 9, 2021
Do you have questions regarding signs and connections from your deceased loved ones? Join Dr’s Gloria and Heidi Horsley and their guest Michelle Clare, Certified Medium, Angel Intuitive, Spiritual Coach and Energetic Healer for a message of unconditional love and hope which surpasses our earthly life. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/www.opentohope.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Michelle-Clare-How-Loved-Ones-Still-Speak-to-Us.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Widows Wonder: Where Was God When I Needed Him?
November 27, 2021
My friend Margie asked me one day if I was angry with God over my husband Dale’s death. Sad? Yes. Angry? No. It made me think, though. I’ve talked to many people who are angry with God over many things—not just the loss of their spouse. Books have been written about it. Sermons have been delivered. Debates have raged. So, what if you are one of the angry people? How do you deal with this crushing loss without letting your anger destroy your faith? It’s totally okay to be angry with God. He can take it. Even Jesus displayed anger […]
‘Perfect Widow’ Asks: Who Am I Now?
November 27, 2021
Widow Asks: Who Am I Now? Who am I now? Who am I really? It’s a question nearly everyone grapples with at some point in life—when you retire, after you graduate, after a major success or failure, after the death of someone important to you. Nearly all of our lives, we are defined by our relationship to someone else—we are someone’s daughter, sister, wife, mom, widow. You probably have friends you describe that way—your minister’s wife, your friend’s daughter, your boss’ spouse. It’s a way of connecting the dots of your relationships. For years, many of my acquaintances knew me […]
Surviving the Shock of Widowhood
November 27, 2021
The Shock of Widowhood In the course of a day, my husband, Dale, stepdad to my two children, business partner, best friend, and—truly—the most interesting person I have ever known, died. That brought on the shock of widowhood. Have you lost your spouse, your parent, or a beloved friend? What is your story? Please know you’re not walking this road alone. But if you’re in the early stage, you may be pondering how life changed so quickly and how you might move forward from wherever you are. I totally hear you. The World Marched On Within a week of Dale’s […]
The Day My Old Life Ended
November 27, 2021
My Old Life Ended When you finally arrive home on a Friday evening — one kid in tow, the other successfully deposited with the Boy Scouts for the weekend — and your forty-something-year old husband has a funny look on his face, your first thought is unlikely to be: This time next year I’ll be a widow, raising two grieving kids alone. At least, that certainly was not my first thought on the day my old life ended. After fighting the cross-town traffic characteristic of Seattle’s suburbs, I got home one night to find Dennis sitting on the couch in our living […]
Jonathan Pitts: Grief and God
November 11, 2021
Where was God? A question asked by many after a death. Join Dr’s. Heidi and Gloria Horsley and their guest bereaved spouse, pastor and author Jonathan Pitts for a lively discussion of how God supports us through our losses. He is the author of My Wynter Season: Seeing God’s Faithfulness in the Shadow of Grief. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/www.opentohope.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Jonathan-Pitts-Grief-and-God.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Carole Brody Fleet: Embracing The New You
November 1, 2021
Has a loss gotten you down? Join Dr. Gloria and Dr. Heidi and guest Carole Brody Fleet to learn how through her own story she has inspired millions of bereaved people to not only survive but thrive. She has authored a number of books including Women Wear Stilettos and Loss IS A FOUR-LETTER WORD: A Bereavement Boot Camp for the Widowed. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/www.opentohope.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Carole-Brody-Fleet-Embracing-The-New-You.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
After 30 Years, Still Not Over It
October 22, 2021
Many Years Later, Still Not Over It When a bereavement counselor or group facilitator meets us for the first time to support us in our grief, the first question they usually ask is, What happened? I’ve been telling the story of my first wife, Susan, who died over 30 years ago. I survived the raging storm. I found my footing on an unknown shore. But I’m still not “over it”. I eventually found new love and married Yvonne, a woman who respected and honored the tears I was still shedding. By almost any measure, I’ve had a great life. Until […]
