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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For Widows: Love is Out There, But Are You?
June 23, 2010
Whether you’re widowed or not, love is a tricky business. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never been married, been messily married, or have gotten involuntarily unmarried (I think that’s a better term than “widowed,” don’t you?). The big question is, do we ever know when it’s the right time to fall in love? I personally think falling in love is like having a baby. There is no right time. You can wait until your career takes off. You can wait until you feel like you’ve finally sown your last oat. You can wait until that hideous color you dyed your […]
‘Sole Parenthood’ Challenges Young Widow and Her Kids
May 12, 2010
There are times when, as a sole parent, I feel as if I’m carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders. When I say “sole” parent, I mean only parent. There is no other parent around to pick up the kids every other weekend. There is no one that can in-case-of-emergency run and grab the kids from school and make sure they are fed while I wrap up whatever it is I happen to be caught up in. There is no one sending me a check every month to cover our joint childcare expenses. There is no one with […]
Ed Gray: Becoming a Widower
April 29, 2010
When Ed Gray’s wife died of Lou Gehrig disease he was faced with becoming a widower, hear how he went on to find hope and meaning. Ed’s bio https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/audio.opentohope.com/2010/10/OTH-Ed-Gray-4-5-10.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
For Some, There is Blessing Even in Tragedy
April 24, 2010
How does someone pick up the pieces after losing a spouse and child in a tragic car accident that involved their whole family? Sheri Boekweg-Nelson of Plain City, Utah, and her two kids survived this horrific nightmare November, 2000. Sheri described the pain, “I broke so many bones — the worst, my shattered left foot; I still feel pain today. Mentally, it is indescribable, watching my children suffer has been the worst part; they were only seven and nine. It was hard to tell them we would have to go on without their dad, BJ, and sister, Brandi. I almost lost […]
Steve Harris; Men and Grief
April 8, 2010
Steve Harris’ wife died of breast cancer, and he shares his story of grief and hope. Steve’s bio. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/audio.opentohope.com/2010/10/OTH-3-29-10-Steve-Harris-no-break.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
In Widowhood, What I Believe
April 2, 2010
Before my husband Phil died, I could have easily created a long list of my personal beliefs. This list would have included ideas about both the tangible and the intangible; broad concepts and specific ideals; God and mortal beings. There would probably even have been a mention of death and eternity…but only in the abstract because my beliefs about death were untested until August 31, 2005. The day I lost my husband was the same day that theory became reality, and faith became more than just a concept to which I paid lip service. Grief is the ultimate test of […]
Man Writes Poetry as Medicine for Grief
March 24, 2010
Ed Gray of Howell, Michigan, is reaching out to others by sharing his story, a bereavement story of both sadness and triumph. He lost his parents and his wife in just over one year’s time. His mother grew tired fighting a 37-year battle with breast cancer and stopped her treatment. His father died about four months later. Ed’s wife fought Lou Gehrig’s disease for nearly three years before she died. Ed described this painful period, “It was an intense time caring for all three; I focused most attention to the one closest to death at the time; first Mom, then Dad, […]
Stuffing Emotions Isn’t a Good Grief Strategy
March 23, 2010
When we’ve lost someone we love, grief is a journey we can’t avoid. But that doesn’t stop many of us (particularly men) from trying. Perhaps we’re afraid that such intense emotions will overwhelm us. Or maybe we hope that if we pretend to be okay, that fantasy will somehow come true. While mourning the loss of my wife, intense waves of sadness would often crash down upon me, threatening to wash me away. A photograph, a song on the radio, a fragrance, a random thought… the triggers were everywhere. I wanted to shelter myself from these emotional tsunamis and I […]
The Healing Power of Forgiveness
March 20, 2010
When we suffer the death of someone we love, we experience mental, emotional and physical distress. In this fragile state, it is likely that we will feel resentment, indignation or anger. Sometimes these feelings may be the result of a perceived offense or difference with someone we know. Even, perhaps, with our deceased loved one. During the final stages of my husband’s illness and after his death, I remember being surprised at the support and kindness of many people. Some, I hardly knew. I was also surprised by the absence of support and/or inappropriate remarks made by family and friends. […]
