Things our son knew…
Parents of loss, as children return to school, liquid remains of dreams unfulfilled, run down cheeks into hearts forever stilled. Look up and receive the gifts given only through grief. They are there. MamaC Thoughts shared from August 19, 2015: Yesterday marked ten months since I last spoke with our son Connor. Most things in…
What do you see?
Good Mourning! 🔆 I was reminded today that it’s not “How you look, but how you see.” Loss affects us all in different ways. After child loss, my eyes see life through the eyes of grief. It’s not rose colored glasses, but Christ filled lenses. Happiness is worldly, joy is Godly. Happiness is temporary, joy…
Birthday light.
A true story: Connor was loved deeply. What he taught in life was beautiful. What he taught in death was powerful. He was an immeasurable gift that no one expected to lose. His death was the single most difficult experience in many lives. His loss was an event with no ending. Friends and family have…
What’s your plan?
Good Mourning! 🔆 Did you wake up thinking of your plans for today or this weekend? I was forever planning…every moment. When we experience loss, plans change, we change. The control we thought was ours, disappears. We fall to our knees, dust off our bible and plead with God to help us make sense…
Carrying Comfort
This past week has been hard in grief. Remembering how much our son loved the camp that our younger son is attending, wells up feelings that stay away most weeks. Combatting tears, I visited his gravesite. This may not sound comforting to most, but to me it brings peace. As I brought out the…
The essence of Mourning
Mourning is when we take the grief we have on the inside and express it outside of ourselves. Making the choice to not just grieve but authentically mourn provides us the courage to live through the pain of loss and be transformed by it. Dr. Alan Wolfelt Six years ago today we were arriving with our son Connor at the…
First love, fierce love.
One week before our son left for college, we had a discussion in his room. As long as I live, the magnitude of this conversation, will be remembered. He had taken a risk in our home, that could have easily resulted in a fire. We discussed extensively, how choices in life affect everyone in our…
Connor John ~
Today marks 4.5 years since our son left this earth. Some days, it is still hard to breathe. Today, was one of those days. My heart will forever miss his beautiful smile that exploded everywhere he went. His hilarious jokes and laughter. The endless joy he brought to life. Our children are truly a gift…
10 gifts for a grieving parent.
It is in the quiet crucible of suffering, that your prayers and friendship are urgently kept. Pray for and with them. Be there, to simply listen. Mention their child’s name. Find a need and kindly fill it. Love them without judgement. Share a fond memory of their child. Holidays are hard, send them a card.…
Different not less
I asked our youngest daughter about a friend she obviously adored. The question: What do you love about your friend? Her answer: She is kind to me, always smiling, and LOVES to dance! But Mom… sometimes I have trouble understanding what she is saying!? Realizing something important, I inquired – Do you understand that she…
The blessing of surrender…
Losing a child changes you. It changes everything. It made us realize we were never in control. It brings humility in one fell swoop and throws you down hard. When hearts are broken, God gives us grace to rebuild. The scar tissue of loss, combined with faith, brings strength that can move mountains. Nothing is more powerful than surrendering your life to the hands of God.
Moving Day
When my pregnant, swollen belly was contracting just minutes before our son was born, I cried out that I certainly could NOT do this…I cried out in the same manner the day our son left. People are our gift for a short time on earth. Find peace in knowing that they were YOUR gift. By…