Our lives revolve around our children. They become one of our main reasons to live. When our child dies, the pain is so intense that it feels like we can’t continue to live (even if we have other children, maybe a loving spouse, a job we used to enjoy getting up for every day or a ministry that was extremely fulfilling).
We need to figure out how to want to live again.
Most of us don’t even think that is possible, but it is.
There are things we can do to help ourselves:
- get the strength needed to keep going
- learn how to get beyond just surviving
- find something bigger than our loss to live for
- live a life of meaning and purpose again
- Have joy back in our lives
Joy is part of the Kingdom of God. Most of us have been robbed of that joy when our child died. As we wind down on the series of Finding Joy Again, we look at how we can get that joy back. Not a euphoric happiness, but an undercurrent that opens the door for all of the needs listed above.
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Birthdays:
Christopher Hotch was born on August 10 and is forever 31.
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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 Laura,
I believe the attribute of God I was given is Peace. When we said goodbye to our son Rodney in the ER I was led to pray specifically for peace for my husband & myself. The Memorial Service was extraordinary, with so so many comments on it being a “different “ kind of service. There were 80 people attending even tho it was just the beginning of Coronavirus. I’ve heard one person say they are searching the Bible! So thankful our Pastor included a salvation message.
Peace is a great attribute to hold on to! Thanks for sharing with me!
Dear Laura,
What is missing is so much bigger than what is! Today… And for the past 8.5 months.
The way you explain this in podcast 68 is a relief. It is truth for us grieving parents, and not something others can fathom.
My prayer is to trust that someday, what is missing walks beside what is.
Thanks for the Godly hope.
Valerie, I will agree with you on that!
I really enjoyed this podcast. I’ve listened to it four times already and I’m going to listen to it again. You spoke of unconditional surrender. I have been trying to surrender everything to God but I’m having a really hard time doing that. But I do keep trying. Sometimes when I’m talking to God I find myself getting angry or just really hurt again and telling God if you’re so almighty and powerful like the Bible says and like I’ve heard my entire life then why didn’t you do something to help my son? And then I’m right back to trying to give it all to or surrender it all to him. I keep trying. I don’t know if I will ever reach that point.
It always amazes me when someone tells me they listen to one of the episode multiple times. I am so thankful God speaks through me in such a way. It can definitely be a cycle we find ourselves in. I know you have heard me say this, but so much of it is our perspective. I wonder if when you ask God why He didn’t do something to help your son, His answer is, “I did. I made a way for him to be permanently free from all pain and sickness, putting him in a place that is too wonderful for words. I also made a way so that you will join him some day and never be separated again.” I KNOW that isn’t what you mean by that question. But I am learning more and more that life here is so very temporary. There is a deeper reality that is not what we are living out here, but beyond us in the spiritual realm. Jesus, for the joy ahead of him, endured the cross. The more I look at the joy that is ahead of me, the more I can endure what is going on here. That is what I keep focusing on more and more. And it seems to help.