During an especially difficult time in my life, I walked into a church. “How are you doing?” someone asked me, a little too enthusiastic for the day I was having. Facing some hard issues at the time, I did not pretend all was fine. I replied, “OK.” He asked, “Just OK? Not great? You should be doing ... Continue Reading
Why You Should Resist Taking Care of “Things” for those Grieving
When Christina was a teenager, her mother and several younger siblings died in a car accident. During the first week after her mom died, Christina and her remaining siblings would go through their mom’s closet and smell the familiar perfume on her clothes. Christina recalled, “She was a nurse and ... Continue Reading
A loved one who died can help us live.
Forcing her feet to step out of the car, Susan dried her eyes before walking into the country dance hall. No one there knew that the reason she wanted to dance was also why her tears fell so easily. Her love for dancing started with the house dances from her childhood. Susan beamed, “I was not any ... Continue Reading
When Mother’s Day is Not Happy
Author note: Many years ago I wrote this article and it seems like an important time to post again and reflect on how to support those who are hurting. Give yourself and others the grace needed during these complicated times. Mother’s Day can be a miserable day. Countless women and children mourn ... Continue Reading
What can we learn from melting snow and ugly grass?
Some winters can be long. This has been one of those winters. As with all seasons, there is beauty to be found in winter. However, the cold, ice, snow, and gray days can get long. And the nights can feel longer. Some years, the snow covers the ground for months. So when the snow starts to ... Continue Reading
Bring Your Soul Back to Life
One time when away from my office for four weeks, I failed to have anyone water the plants. When I came back, the plants were brown, shriveled up, and almost dead. I did not know if I could bring them back to their former vibrant selves, but I had to try. Having a tender heart for living things on ... Continue Reading
Best Christmas Gifts for those Grieving
Do you have that one person still on your Christmas gift list for whom you have no idea what to buy? And if you are like me, after you choose something, you include a gift receipt anyway. It is challenging enough to pick out gifts, but what do you give someone who is grieving? How do you celebrate ... Continue Reading
Two Things to Say about Grief
Talking to children and teenagers about death and loss is hard. It can be difficult to know where to begin in offering help. As a starting point, I offer these ideas. Encourage them to remember at least these two things about grief. First, you are not alone. And second, you can carry joy and grief ... Continue Reading
- « Previous Page
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- …
- 10
- Next Page »
