The end-of-the-year holidays can be brutal for those who have lost a child, especially those first few years. It can feel like a continual slap-in-the-face reminder of who is not here with us.
Even if we have other children or grandchildren, a loving spouse, a great job or are part of a fulfilling ministry, it feels almost impossible to want to be part of the festivities. It just isn’t in us.
Join Laura for the next few weeks leading into Christmas, as she gives hope, infuses peace, reminds us how powerful God’s love is, and even tackles the subject of joy.
The subject for this episode is hope, as she shares how Christmas is the perfect time of year to allow God to stir this up in us, even within the deep grief and loss of our children.
Birthdays
Jesus Ortega was born on December 2nd and is forever 20.
Angie Mata was born on December 4th and is forever 36.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children’s birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Links referred to in this podcast episode:
Hope for the Future: An Advent Journey for Bereaved Parents
And please remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is HOPE!
To have Laura come and speak or sing at your event, contact us at office@gpshope.org.
Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose.
It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgement in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.
I want to partner with GPS Hope financially to help give support to grieving parents.
To read part one, before continuing with part two, 
I am petitioning the King for what I think I need, or even something I desperately want. He answers according to the big picture of eternity that I cannot see, based on information I don’t know. Sometimes my request is granted, and sometimes it is not, which can make me hurt, angry, and believing He isn’t a good King (or a loving Father). But I still need to continue going to Him with my requests and knock on the door to see if it opens for me.
I think the bottom line is that we try to make sense of God with our finite brains and limitations, but that is just plain impossible. We want God to answer to us, which is just as futile as a teenager arguing with his parents, wanting them to answer to him. How can they? How can they explain that they see what their teenager cannot see, and knows what their teenager doesn’t know, in a way that makes that teen satisfied with the answer? And how can God possibly explain to us through His lens of eternity?
point I will get totally lost and not understand what he is trying to explain to me. (Interpretation: I get really frustrated, because it still doesn’t make any sense to me…)
size limit, both for the overhead compartment and under your seat. Most airlines allow two carry-ons but check your specific flight to make sure. (Ladies, the bag that goes under my seat is where I also stash my purse, because it is considered a third carry-on which is definitely not allowed.)
if I have a large suitcase that I am checking through with a full-size bottle of shampoo, etc. Why? Because I got stuck in a Boston airport overnight with nothing to freshen myself, including things like a travel toothbrush and toothpaste or deodorant. I won’t let that happen again! (Make sure your toiletry kit is in front or on top of your carry-on, so you can easily get to it for putting it in the bin going through security.)
You might be surprised at how much room you still have, when packing this way. You can either fill the space with adding more “just in case” items or use the space to bring home more souvenirs than you had planned!
