Stand Firm: 2024 Retreat
Losing a child is something most consider unimaginable, yet it’s our reality every morning when we open our eyes. This suffering and grief can tempt us to not trust God. It can be hard to believe His character is still good. We can wonder if He is keeping His promises to see and care for us. We may even doubt that He wants to and will protect us. We have a lot of questions. Questions that may never be answered this side of Heaven; and I pray that the Holy Spirit gives us the power to believe what God says about Himself, because the devil loves to use the things we’ve ...
I Wish You Knew: What Really Helps
Often in our grief, those closest to us do not know how to comfort and encourage us. Sometimes they stay away or don’t say anything at all because they are afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing. In this series, we hope to better equip those around us to come alongside a grieving mother—to enter their hurt and offer hope and encouragement, or simply grieve with them.
“Let me know if you need anything, I’d love to help.”
It’s the phrase I heard most often after I lost my first two daughters. A well meaning statement, but a difficult one to know how to ...
Grieving With A Grateful Heart
All of the pumpkin spice lattes in the world couldn't warm me that first November. It wasn't just the air that was cold, it was my heart. When my son went Home just two months earlier it was as if a part of me had died with him. And there I was, surrounded by family and what seemed like hundreds of platters of food, and fear instilled in me as we gathered around the table.
Before dinner, it was customary to say grace followed by each member of the family saying one thing they were thankful for. But this year—this year, I was struggling under the weight of my grief ...
In the Word: Wonderful Counselor
Welcome to Hope Mommies’ In the Word devotionals. Over the next several weeks, we will be looking at different names of God found in Scripture, and how these different aspects of who He is offer us hope in the midst of our grief. As we study together, we encourage you to use the comments as a place to dialogue with us about what you are learning and share your answers to the questions below. We pray that you hearts will be encouraged as you study these names of God along with us!
“And His name shall be called Wonderful Counselo...
I Wish You Knew: Remember With Me
Often in our grief, those closest to us do not know how to comfort and encourage us. Sometimes they stay away or don’t say anything at all because they are afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing. In this series, we hope to better equip those around us to come alongside a grieving mother—to enter their hurt and offer hope and encouragement, or simply grieve with them.
It has been four years since the day we were told that our precious Simeon had gone to be with the Lord. Eight months later we experienced that same devastating sorrow as we said goodbye to another ...
The Road to Gratitude
It was late on a Friday evening in January. I was sitting in a chapel with dozens of high school students at a winter retreat, thankful for the dim lighting that hid the tears that were streaming down my face. Just a few hours earlier I had been told that my baby’s heart was no longer beating.
The worship team began playing, and soon the room was filled with the sound of voices lifted up in praise. I robotically formed the words of each song on my lips, but I was numb to what was taking place around me. Inside, I was crying out to the Lord, mourning the death of the ...
Margaret’s Story
This is my least favorite season of the year. I know what you are thinking based on my rather pale complexion. You think I mean the hot, sunny summer season, right? While it may be true that I avoid the sun and heat like the plague, the season I am referring to is this yearly season of grief that coincides with summer's first day. You see, my sweet, much-loved twin sons Matthew and Caleb were born on the first day of summer.
The first day of summer is the longest day of the year for me, not because of the summer solstice, but because it is the beginning of my living ...
I Wish You Knew: Don’t Stay Away
Often in our grief, those closest to us do not know how to comfort and encourage us. Sometimes they stay away or don’t say anything at all because they are afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing. In this series, we hope to better equip those around us to come alongside a grieving mother—to enter their hurt and offer hope and encouragement, or simply grieve with them.
As a bereaved mother, I often times had no clue what I wanted or needed from my friends and family. As I reflect on the past few years I can now recognize things that people did that were ...
Is He Worthy?
"He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and buckler."
Psalm 91:4
The Psalmist declares with conviction that God is a safe place to not only find refuge, but to experience protection. In the NLT, this last phrase is translated, "His faithful promises are your armor of protection.” God’s faithfulness is His reliability, and His trustworthiness. When someone is reliable, you trust what they say they will do. Because God is faithful, we can trust that His promises are true.
After I walked through the ...
