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 worked evenings so she had a robe that she always… Read More
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 older than five… Read More
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 for a mother-child relationship that is not as it… Read More
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 melt in March, the… Read More
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 the… Read More
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 the season… Read More
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 together. You are not alone…. Read More
Today is the fifth anniversary of when my father-in-law, Don Schweingruber, died. I think of him often and know he’d have a lot of wisdom to share with us all during these chaotic times. We shared many conversations about life and death. I treasure those moments. As I reflect on his life, I wanted to share an earlier podcast I… Read More
