So much horrific pain and darkness comes with child loss. It doesn’t matter how young or how old your child was when they left this earth. It doesn’t matter if it was sudden or if it was long and drawn out.
As pareavors (bereaved parents), we can bristle when others say they know how we feel, because of a different loss. We know what that feels like. But what about when we compare our child’s loss to another parent’s loss? What about when we compare where we are in our grief with where another parent is (or was) in some sort of timeline?
We rarely make those comparisons out loud, but we can have these thoughts, which is what Laura talks about in today’s episode.
Note: Today’s episode is being sponsored by Jeff and Mary Beth Patnaude, in honor of their son, Michael Patnaude.
Links Mentioned in this episode:
Click here for all the info and to register for the Ohio GPS Hope & Healing Retreat, May 24-26.
Listen to podcast episode 174: Our Dreams About Our Children After Child Loss
Sponsor a podcast episode in honor of your child. Go here to choose the week and make your $50 donation.COME JOIN US for our
Weekend of Hope in Wisconsin this August!!! Find out more here.
To find out more about joining Dave and Laura next year (February of 2025) on The Grief Cruise, click here.
Birthdays:
Christopher Schofer was born on April 21 and is forever 25.
Shannon Chevalier was born on April 21 and is forever 27.
Stephen Francis Reeve was born on April 25 and is forever 25.
Bradley Brown was born on April 27 and is forever 17.
Michael Patnaude was born on April 27 and is forever 21.
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.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is HOPE!
To have Laura come and minister 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 judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.
Thank you so much for allowing us to sponsor today and to honor our son, Michael. I am still shattered, but am holding on to HOPE! This podcast has been so helpful to me!
I loved the letter you read (that you wrote to your daughter after her death)on your recent podcast for International Bereaved Mother’s Day; it was everything I feel & would want to say to my son. I’d love to print it out & share it with my support group and share your name and podcast with them. I’m unable to locate the letter, can you share again where it’s located?
Thanks for being such a helpful resource to all of us grieving parents.
Nancy Hebenstreit, St. Louis, MO
Marine mom of Luke, forever 23.
Hi Nancy. Click here to see the blog that has what I wrote. If you would like me to send you a copy that is easy for you to print, let me know at laura@gpshope.org. I am glad you are walking with others on this journey and that we are connected as well (but sorry for the reason…) Hugs!