Learning to survive a shipwrecked faith. by David G. Hawkins My wife of 50 years, Norma Jean, dies in September. She is cremated in a pressboard container “as soon as practicable after the expiration of 48 hours.” Following the church service is the greet-and-meet reception, the “geriatrics’ cocktail hour.” A cluster of friends must…
Read moreTag: Death and Grief
How to Climb a Mountain – Checklist
Contact employer. Investigate any life insurance. Contact lawyer. Get copies of the will and powers of attorney.• Get advice on probating of will.• Get deeds changed on any joint property. Contact insurance company immediately. Contact bank. Joint accounts, any investments, registered retirement savings plans (RRSP’s), etc. need to be transferred.• Establish an estate account to…
Read moreTaking Off My Rings
Finding a world outside “Kansas.” by Ann Peachman I stared at my hand and knew I needed to remove my rings. My husband was dead, and everything normal in my life was altered. Although they felt as much a part of me as the freckles on my arms, I realized that the familiar look…
Read moreNew Mercies
Can a loving God understand thedepth of a mother’s pain? by Laura A. Baggett His name was James. At sixteen weeks, my pregnancy was going fine, and I did all the right things. But one day when I went in for a routine ultrasound, there was no heartbeat. For the next thirty-six hours, I…
Read moreWhen Nightmares Come True
The pain of losing a baby brings afocus on God, who lost a Son. by Marlo M. Schalesky I woke with a surge of fear. My hands, balled into tight fists, gripped the sheets as my breath came in ragged gasps. The chill of the pre-dawn air wrapped cold fingers around my chest and…
Read moreWhen Death Visits a Home
by Petey Prater Coping with death is one of life’s most difficult tasks. All of us will have a friend or family member who will need our support as they deal with the death of someone they love. Though we feel inadequate and vulnerable, there are several practical and emotional ways to help another…
Read moreWalking With a Dying Friend
by Denise Carlson I’d known Randy Wilson* for twenty years when he was stricken with a brain tumor. Early in the course of his illness, the highlight of this former architect’s day became the mailman’s arrival. Randy and his wife Barb were flooded with encouraging cards and notes. The ringing phone competed with the…
Read moreThe Private Pain of a Motherless Child
A daughter’s struggle to find new life. by Kristy McHaney My mother’s screams startled me out of sleep that November morning in 1978. When I scrambled out of bed and ran to my parents’ room, I found Mother grabbing her head, rocking back and forth, and yelling at my father “Joseph,* help me!” I…
Read moreWalking with a Dying Friend – Practical Tips
Pastor Rick Taylor and counselor Bruce Campbell have both suffered tragic losses in their immediate families. They’ve counseled grieving families as well as individuals with terminal illnesses. Here they offer practical ideas to help a dying friend. Be there. Whether you sit silently at his bedside, pray with him, or take him for a drive…
Read moreThe Least of These
The sadness and satisfaction of unconditional love. by Sheila Wray Gregoire The cardiologist walked into the room, glanced at my chart, and asked, “So you didn’t get an abortion?” As I was 34 weeks pregnant, it seemed an unnecessary question. Shocking news For one agonizing night, we actually considered it. Twenty-two weeks into my…
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