Comfort Choices: Temporary Fixes or Lasting Benefits
Comfort choices. With so many comfort choices before you, what will you choose and why? When I miss my late mother, I might make popcorn the old-fashioned way on the stove. Mom used to make popcorn in the evening, and we would play Scrabble®. I miss Mom and that...
Paperwork and More Paperwork! What’s a Person to Do?
“I thought you were on your way back home,” I said to my younger brother on the phone. We were both out of state for Dad’s funeral. “I was, but I received a call from the bank.” He paused, and continued, “I had a choice: stay longer and stop there to do more paperwork...
Gain Perspective?
Gain perspective? Why would a bereaved person consider that? What good would it do to gain perspective? The Compassionate Friends to Gain Perspective After the loss of my only child, I felt alone. I didn’t think anyone could understand me or my pain until I went to a...
Live with Purpose
Live with Purpose? I didn't think about that when my doctor said, “You have a sinus infection and a viral infection." She continued, "You need to rest. You’ve been through a lot with the surgery, your dad’s unexpected passing, and the whirlwind trip for the church...
Alone and Lonely? What Can You Do with Those Feelings?
Alone and lonely? What can you do? The Wednesday after Easter, my phone rang about 9:00 pm, and I heard my brother say two words, “Dad passed.” Shock overwhelmed me. My last living parent was unexpectedly gone. He had been smiling, joking, and suddenly stopped...
My Dad Will Rise Again
“My dad will rise again,” I whispered in the darkness of the wee hours. I had called the nursing home hours before that to talk with Dad. The staff member said, “He’s not here.” “What do you mean, he’s not there? He has to be there.” She said Dad was still in the...
When You Wake Up Without Strength
When you wake up without strength, what goes through your mind? Eleven days after surgery, I feel worse now than the day of surgery. I looked in the mirror and said, “Oh, my gracious, I can’t stand to look at myself.” A pale woman without makeup and limp hair stared...
Routine? What Routine? It Will No Longer Work.
Routine? What routine? It will no longer work, and you need comfort. The day the doctor told me he recommended surgery, my body trembled. My routine would no longer work. It seemed as if it had been yanked from me, and I needed comfort. Have you ever felt that way? I...
Another School Shooting! What Possible Good Can Come from It?
Another school shooting! What possible good can come from it? What can you say to the grieving families, staff, and students at Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida? What can you say to the grieving couple, Kim and James Snead, who took in Cruz after his adoptive...
