I see you. The one who is grieving this Christmas. You are missing someone today, someone you love. Someone who is gone from your sight. And it hurts. But still you sing. You buy the presents. You smile. You make the cookies. You praise God because He is worthy. And because it is Christmas. And …
"Yet there is a way of remembering sorrow, which brings no blessing, no enrichment which does not soften the heart, nor add beauty to the life. There is an unsubmissive remembering which brings no joy, which keeps the heart bitter, which shuts out the sunshine, which broods over losses and trials. Only evil can result …
Continue reading Unsubmissive Remembering
Over the course of that day, the day of the crash, Hans drives at least four times over the spot from which he will leave us for Heaven. It was to that very spot, at the end of our driveway, that Hans would cajole me into taking him as a little boy so he could …
Continue reading The Place of Departure
My book, Never Ceasing: God's Faithfulness in Grief, is now available for purchase. Buy Now I began writing in early 2016 just after Hans left us for Heaven and started publishing this blog in September of that year. Just about five years later (almost to the day) my book is now ready to share in …
Continue reading My Book is Finished
By Charles Haddon SpurgeonScripture: 1 Samuel 20:27 From: Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Volume 25 "Love well those who are spared to you, and do them all the good you can, for their places will not hold them for ever. Cheer the aged, console the desponding, help the poor, for they will soon be beyond your reach, …
Continue reading The Empty Seat
Memories linger Drift around and settle down In an empty chair Photo: Josef Nolywaika Precious Memories - Lyrics by J.B.F. Wright Precious memories, unseen angels, Sent from somewhere to my soul; How they linger, ever near me, And the sacred past unfold. Chorus: Precious memories, how they linger, How they ever flood my soul; In …
Continue reading Holiday Haiku
My dear brother, My heart goes out to you in sympathy in this dark hour, and I feel my helplessness to comfort you. The loss you have sustained is far greater than any human creature can make up--your suffering is too acute for any fellow-mortal to alleviate. I may endeavor to pour into your sorely-wounded …
Continue reading Letter to a Stricken Soul -A.W. Pink
What if Jesus Christ is God, as He claimed, and you have no substantial reason to believe your child knew anything about Him or the Way of salvation? What if your child died while involved in sin? What if she emphatically rejected Jesus as her Savior? What if you fear your departed child is now …
Continue reading Trusting God With Our Departed Child’s Eternity
I have begun putting together a resource page consisting mostly of books I have found to be helpful in my own loss experience. Here's the link to the new page: youcantrusthim.com/resources
John MacDuff, from "Family Prayers" 1885 The desire of our eyes has been taken away by a stroke! The shadows of death have unexpectedly fallen around us! Oh forbid that we should rebel under the rod, and refuse to be comforted. Let us glorify You "in the fires!" Let us feel that if we are Your children, there …
Continue reading Prayer for a Time of Bereavement
Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. Psalm 119:67 BLESSINGS OF BEREAVEMENT by J. R. Miller, 1896 At first we would be disposed to say that no blessings can come out of bereavements. But the grace of God has such wondrous power, that even from the saddest desolating of …
Continue reading Blessings of Bereavement
by Susannah Spurgeon,On the death of her husband, C. H. Spurgeon, (Excerpts) Part Three - Parting Company I can see two pilgrims treading this highway of life together, hand in hand—heart linked to heart. True, they have had rivers to ford, and mountains to cross, and fierce enemies to fight, and many dangers to go …
Continue reading Far Better: From ‘A Song of Sighs’ by Susannah Spurgeon (3/3)
by Susannah Spurgeon, on the death of her husband, C. H. Spurgeon, (Excerpts) Part Two: Mercy Outruns Misery How shall I sing the Lord's song in a strange land? For I am brought into a strange, weary land of loneliness and sorrow. I am a captive to grief, and the light of my life has been …
Continue reading The Lord’s Song: From ‘A Song of Sighs’ by Susannah Spurgeon (2/3)
by Susannah Spurgeon, on the death of her husband, C. H. Spurgeon, (Excerpts) Part One - Introduction: A sweet symphony of praise I wrote this ten years ago, on my return from Mentone, that beautiful village on the sea-coast; when with one hand the Lord had smitten me well-near to death, while with the other hand He …
Continue reading God Glorified in Sorrow: From ‘A Song of Sighs’ by Susannah Spurgeon (1/3)
Initially, the pain of child loss is so severe, that it is easy to wonder if it is survivable. Many women say they know, if it happened to them, they could not survive it. But, I want to tell them: Yes, you can. If I can, you can. We have no choice in the matter. …
Continue reading Surviving Child Loss: Now What?
You Can Trust Him 