81 results for author: Constance Ray

Longing for a different kind of freedom

The Fourth of July is a time when the world around us celebrates—fireworks light up the sky, families gather for barbecues, and children run freely with sparklers in hand. But for a mother who has lost a baby, the noise of celebration can contrast sharply with the quiet ache of grief. If this week feels heavy, you are not alone. While the world looks to freedom in one way, you may find yourself longing for a different kind of freedom—the freedom from sorrow, the freedom from the weight of what-ifs, the freedom from feeling like you have to pretend you’re okay when your heart still aches. But dear mama, there is a deeper freedom available ...

Grief in the Summertime – Finding God’s Presence in the Rhythms of Creation

For most of human history, people lived without clocks. Before the sundial gave way to watches and phones that sync us down to the second, people moved with the rhythm of nature. The rising and setting sun directed their days, and the changing seasons shaped their work and rest. But today, we are bound by schedules, calendars, and endless to-do lists. Time pushes forward, whether we are ready or not. For a grieving mother, summer’s long days can feel especially heavy. When the world around us bursts with life—children laughing at the pool, families heading off on vacation—it can feel as though time is rushing past our sorrow, leaving us ...

What does it mean that God is making all things new?

Have you ever wondered what blessings God is working out through the heartbreak of losing a baby? By His nature, God is redeeming. Ever since sin cursed the earth, we have seen Him making things new—bringing beauty from brokenness. In the aftermath of Adam and Eve’s shattered hearts, as thorns choked Eden’s beauty and the earth groaned under the weight of sorrow, God whispered His promise to mend what was lost. Revelation 21:5 declares, “Behold, I am making all things new.” One day, He will restore the perfection and splendor of His creation, and every tear will be wiped away. But even now, we can see glimpses of His renewal at work in ...

Honoring Him This Father’s Day You See His Grief—And That Matters

I’ve been thinking about Father’s Day and how hard it can be—not just for us, but for the men we love. As Hope Moms, we carry our grief in ways that are often seen—our tears, our words, the way we hold onto memories. But for our husbands, it’s different. Their pain is quieter, often unspoken, but no less deep. Hope Dads often bear the weight of loss in a way the world doesn’t always recognize.  That’s why I want to encourage you to honor him this Father’s Day. He may not say much, he may not even know how to put words to what he’s feeling, but he is a father. And just like we long for our babies to be remembered, so does ...

Honoring Hope Dads This Father’s Day

Sometimes, when we’re grieving, even kind words for those closest to us can be hard to find. But with Father’s Day approaching this Sunday, I want to gently encourage you to remember your husband on this tender day. Parenting a child in heaven is a heavy burden. Not just for us, but for our husbands, too. Hope Dads often carry sorrow in quiet, unseen ways. I pray these resources give you a starting place. Below, you’ll find: A sample Father’s Day letter to help you speak words of love and encouragement to your husband—thanking him for the ways he’s walked this road of loss with you and pointing him to the Lord for strength and ...

Why Do I Run From You?

“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?” —Psalm 139:7 In the raw ache of grief, I’ve asked this more than once: “Why do I run from You, Lord, when You’re the only one who understands me?” It doesn’t make sense on paper. God is my refuge, my comfort, my healer. I know this. I’ve sung it in church, I’ve whispered it in the dark, and yet, when the pain crashed in—when my arms felt empty and my heart shattered—I didn’t fall into His. I pulled away. In those raw and early days of grief, instead of leaning into His presence, I often retreated. I numbed. I avoided. I distracted myself ...

Host a Hope Box Gathering

Hope Boxes are one of the most cherished parts of our ministry. They’re often the very first connection we make with a bereaved mom—a gift that gently invites her into the Hope Mommies community and reminds her that, even in the brokenness, God sees and cares for her. Since 2011, we’ve placed over 30,000 Hope Boxes into the hands of grieving mothers. There are three main ways these boxes reach moms: 1. Ordered through our website, assembled by a volunteer, and shipped directly to a Hope Mom. 2. Provided by our local Chapters, who fundraise, assemble, and deliver boxes to hospitals and provider offices. 3. And through Hope Box ...

God is not outside this grief, He is with you in it.

There is something holy about grief. Not because it feels good or because we understand it—but because God meets us there. We often feel pressure to move past our sorrow. To find the silver lining. To clean up our tears and point to hope before we’ve even had time to weep. But the heart of our God is not one who rushes us past our pain. He is not uncomfortable with our lament. He is not impatient with our sadness. God is not outside your grief. He is not standing at a distance, waiting for you to “get over it.” He is sitting with you in it. Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in ...

Joy in the Storm

Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus The loss of a baby has a way of unsettling us, it’s like a storm we never saw coming. Grief, loss, uncertainty, and fear can feel overwhelming, threatening to pull us under. Yet, I have learned that when I keep my gaze on Jesus, everything shifts—my perspective, my heart, and my hope. Only in Him can I find joy that isn’t tied to my circumstances. The world says happiness comes from ease and comfort, but Scripture tells a different story—one of peace that transcends understanding (Philippians 4:7) and joy that is made complete in Him (John 15:11). When I set the Lord before me, I will not be shaken (Psalm ...

Pregnant Again After Loss – Finding Comfort in the Nearness of Jesus

Pregnancy after loss is a journey filled with emotions that can’t be neatly categorized. It’s joy and sorrow intertwined. Hope and fear colliding. A deep love for the life growing inside you, mixed with the grief of the life that was lost. It’s carrying new life while still carrying the weight of loss. One of the greatest comforts I found in that journey came from John 11, in Jesus’s interaction with Mary and Martha after the death of their brother, Lazarus. He knew He was about to raise Lazarus from the dead, yet He didn’t rush past their pain. He didn’t tell them to stop crying or remind them that something good was coming. Instead, ...