Today we would have been celebrating a new 8 year old in our home- Billy would be turning 8! There’s always some sadness with not getting to plan his party and reflect each year on how he’s grown. But I can honestly say that reflecting on my own journey of grief, I have experienced true healing- a healing that even brings an inexpressible joy. I’ve heard it said, “You’re doing better now because so much time has passed. God made time, and time heals. It’s not prayer. What doe

Jesus – The Counselor An Exposition of Luke 24:13-32 By: Martie Spurgeon Having lost our daughter to SIDS several years ago I have had countless opportunities to talk with other families who have also experienced the same loss. God has allowed my heartache to be a springboard that has allowed me to counsel other Mother’s who are walking through the deep grief that follows loosing a child. After our daughter died from SIDS in 1997 I felt like my life had shattered right befor

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble.” Psalm 46 What comfort this verse can bring to the grieving parent! God is a refuge – a hiding place, a safe place. How we long for that after our world has been turned upside down! How we desire a safe place to hide. I remember after our daughter died the fear that filled my heart. Fear fills the heart of every parent who has suffered the unexpected loss of a baby. This reality becomes crystal cl

We had loaded the family into the van and were heading up for a hike at a nearby mountain here in North Carolina. Our youngest daughter had been so excited about hiking and had chattered about it all day long as we prepared for the time when Daddy would get home from work and we would go on our adventure. The hiking destination is about thirty minutes from our house and the trip there was filled with talking and laughing and a general buzz of noise. We made the turn to head

We talked about the benefits of planning and looking ahead in the New Year that lies before us. The benefits are there for everyone; but the grieving parent can find that taking time to plan for the days and months that lay ahead is actually a huge step in the grieving process. We saw in the last article that planning benefits us because we are able to see that life really does go on even after the death of our child. We also took some time to talk about the benefit of seei

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11 Perhaps this is my favorite verse in scripture. I can not say that for certain because I have so many ‘favorites’. What I do know is that there is no other verse or passage in the Bible that I have turned to more and claimed more during a time of trial than this particular verse. Isn’t it comforting to know that God does not th