Grieving Parents Sharing Hope: Recent Episodes
Laura Diehl
The death of one’s child is a grief like no other. As a bereaved parent, part of your very being has been cut off from you, and you must figure out how to live with that part of you missing. You will never be the same, but you can have hope that your life can still have meaning and purpose again, as you learn to live in a way that honors the life of your child instead of being stuck in the deep grief of his or her death.
The Grieving Parents Sharing Hope podcast is an outreach of the national organization GPS Hope, which provides support and resources for bereaved parents, especially those who are struggling with their Christian faith after the death of their child. This show discusses many topics that only those who have lost a child can understand, and is hosted by award-winning author, speaker, singer and (most importantly) bereaved parent, Laura Diehl.
In this compassionate episode of Grieving Parents Sharing Hope, Laura Diehl speaks directly to grieving parents who are silently battling guilt after the loss of their child especially when they wonder, Was this my fault? or even, Is God punishing me?
Drawing from personal emails, Scripture, and real-life stories, Laura offers insight into:
- Why suffering is not a sign of God’s punishment
- How guilt can wrongly silence your right to grieve
- A powerful reminder that Jesus has already taken all our guilt and shame
- Practical ways to begin releasing guilt and walking in freedom
Whether you’re struggling with what your child did or didn't do or simply feeling crushed by the weight of what ifs, this episode is a lifeline of truth and grace.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Find out more about the 2026 Grief Cruise and/or the Renew and Remember Retreat *here.*
Click here to request 10 Tips to Overcome Guilt.
Listen to the episode The Difference Between Regret and Guilt with guest Nancy Weil.
Birthdays:Kari-Lee Venning (Birrell) was born on June 19 and left us at age 25.
Cassie Martinez was born on June 20 and left us at age 19.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 301: Is God Punishing Me? appeared first on GPS Hope.
In today's episode you will be hearing from Laura's husband, Dave, along with a long-time friend, Matt Poelman, who lost his son, Eric, while serving in the military in Iraq.
Some of the things discussed were:
- The emotions Matt felt
- How he and his wife, Sally, dealt with the death of their son differently
- How he feels about Father's Day
- How losing his son has impacted his faith in God
Matt also shares what it is like, twenty years later, offering hope to those who are just starting this journey, closing in a prayer especially for the listeners who are fathers.
Matt Poelman has been a Christ-follower since his youth. He was the 5th of 6 children whose family moved from the Netherlands to the state of Michigan. Matt was born and raised in Michigan and the Chicago area.
When volunteering at a mission aviation facility in North Carolina, Matt met his wife, Sally, and they were married in 1980. They became a Gold Star family in 2005 when their son, Eric, lost his life in the Army while deployed in Iraq.
Matt has a twenty-six year aviation career in maintaining a variety of aircraft, and another twenty-one years as an instructor in avaiation maintenance. He has just retired from full-time teaching but continues with aviation for the FAA, testing graduate students to issue aircraft mechanic certificates. Matt & Sally are enjoying their 5 grand-daughters and 2 grand-sons.
(Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)
Links Mentioned in this episode:Find out more about the 2026 Grief Cruise and/or the Renew and Remember Retreat *here.*
Click here to look at both the monthly and the yearly Reflections of Hope books.
Birthdays:Tyler Harkness was born on June 8 and left us at age 26.
Allie Custer was born on June 12 and left us at age 29.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 300: Two Dads Talk about Child Loss and Father's Day (with Matt Poelman) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Can we still trust God when we feel like He led us into such a dark place, allowing our child to be taken from us?
In today's episode, Laura takes a look at this question through the familiar verse of Psalm 23:2.
(Laura shared her thoughts on Psalm 23:1 in the previous two episodes 297 and 298.)
Note: Today's podcast episode, along with the other June episodes, are being
sponsored by Ho Teck Min from Singapore, in memory of his daughter, Emma.
Links Mentioned in this episode:To find out more about the next GPS Hope retreat in New York this October click here.
Click here to look at both the monthly and the yearly Reflections of Hope books.
Birthdays:Ocean Yohannes Emru Campbell was born on June 7 and left us at age 23.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 299: Can I Trust God Leading Me? appeared first on GPS Hope.
Last week Laura started looking at Psalm 23:1-2 through the eyes of child loss. She only got through the first few words, The Lord is my Shepherd
In this week's episode, she finishes out the verse which says, I shall not want. Listen in as Laura talks about how that may mean something different than what we have thought in the past.
Links Mentioned in this episode:To hear the podcast Laura referred to, with Kim Avery as a guest click here.
To find out more about the next GPS Hope retreat in New York this October click here.
Click here to look at both the monthly and the yearly Reflections of Hope books.
Birthdays:Jessi Wilfong was born on May 26 and left us at age 20.
Jessi Castile was born on May 26 and left us at age 21.
Andrew LaPlante was born on May 27 and left us at age 24.
Nathan Jeremiah Lee was born on May 28 and left us at age 20.
Kyle Enanoria was born on May 30 and left us at age 11.
Mark (Markie) Sweitzer was born on May 30 and left us at age 29.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 298: Psalm 23:1 Through the Eyes of Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
When we make Jesus Lord of our lives, too often we don't fully understand what that means. We sometimes take it to mean that God will not let anything really bad happen to us. Then when our child dies, it can be hard to trust Him or to see Jesus as the good shepherd.
In today's episode, Laura looks at the familiar scripture of Psalm 23:1 in a way that brings greater understanding to these seemingly contradictory things.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Find out more about the cruise or retreat here.
Birthdays:Jason Turner was born on May 20 and left us at age 36.
Jason LaFave was born on May 21 and left us at age 35.
Isaiah Santell was born on May 22 and left us at age 16.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 297: The Lord is My Shepherd appeared first on GPS Hope.
Today's guest has a very traumatic story. Before ending his own life, Jacke's son, Randy, attempted to kill his wife, his two young children and his father-in-law.
It is a riveting story (within the horrible tragedy) that ends with hope and encouragement.
However, Laura fully understands there may be some triggers, as Jacke shares some of the details, so if you want to skip parts of it, you can do so, based on the information below on where the various parts of Jacke's story are recorded.
Randy's childhood: 3:00
Randy's adult years: 6:46
The night it all happened: 12:20
Randy ends his life: 18:40
First visit to the hospital to see Randy's family: 24:59
Heading back home with Randy's family: 32:10
The current situation: 36:44
How Jacke's life has been blessed: 39:27
The divorce: 41:55
Answering various questions with some nuggets of encouragement: 45:06
Jacke prays for the listeners: 57:32
Jacke Rose is no stranger to personal trials. In January of 2016, she faced an overwhelming obstacle, the death of her 30-year-old son, Randy, to suicide, a tragedy that left her, as well as his grieving wife and two young sons, devastated. Jacke is the author of the book, Resurfacing, a twelve-week hope-filled guide designed to share with other grieving moms and the Just Be Journal for grieving moms. Having blended her life challenges and passions, she has created a life she truly loves, using her talents to encourage others to find balance and purpose amid life’s darkest moments. Jacke currently lives in Bend, Oregon.
(Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)
Links Mentioned in this episode:Connect with Jacke on her website at grievingmoms.com
Go to the GPS Hope website here: gpshope.org
Birthdays:Leah Van Emmerik was born on May 13 and left us at age 39.
Jordan Slusher was born on May 17 and left us at age 21.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 296: Getting Past the Trauma of Child Loss (with Jacke Rose) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Most people think that hope is wishful thinking, as in, I hope they win this game. However, that kind of hope is not what will get us out of the suffocating darkness of grief after the death of our child.
In today's episode, Laura revisits true hope the hope that God gives. This is a hope we can rely on in the darkness as He brings us back into the light, to be able to live a life of meaning and purpose once again, until being reunited with our child.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Click here to see/order the award winning Reflections of Hope: Daily Readings for Bereaved Parents (both the complete year hardback book and the monthly books).
Go to the GPS Hope free members libray here.
Birthdays:Adam Walker was born on May 6 and left us at age 28.
Michael Slater was born on May 8 and left us at age 26.
Sarah Wilber was born on May 10 and left us at age 34.
Isaac Wills was born on May 10 and left us at age 17.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 295: What is Hope? appeared first on GPS Hope.
Today is the continuation of a conversation Laura had with Greg and Cathy Bufkin. In last week's discussion and this week, the talk goes beyond the topic of suicide, so no matter how your child left this earth, you will be encouraged by what is shared.
Greg and Cathy Buffkin lost their son, Ryan, to suicide in 2015. On their journey that began out of unspeakable trauma and brokenness, God has brought them through to a place of restoration, hope and joy with a passion to help other grieving families on their journeys. They are co-founders of The Empty Chair Endeavor, which is designed to support and equip survivors of child loss in rediscovering life, hope, and joy after unspeakable tragedy. Additionally, their mission involves educating the public about the life altering impact the death of a child has upon survivors, both parents and siblings, and equipping them to better support and minister to them. Greg and Cathy live in South Carolina.
(Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)
Links Mentioned in this episode:Connect with Greg and Cathy Buffkin at www.emptychairendeavor.com.
Find out more about the 2026 Grief Cruise and/or the Renew and Remember Retreat here.
Birthdays:Christi Gayheart was born on April 29 and left us at age 49.
Eric Merciers was born on May 1 and left us at age 38.
Aaron Opoku was born on May 1 and left us at age 27.
Milo Kostrna bloomed on earth to blossom in heaven on May 3.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 294: Child Loss by Suicide Part 2 (with Greg and Cathy Buffkin) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Today Laura is diving into the topic of suicide with guests Greg and Cathy Buffkin. However, their conversation goes beyond that, giving help and hope to anyone who has lost a child.
Greg and Cathy Buffkin lost their son, Ryan, to suicide in 2015. On their journey that began out of unspeakable trauma and brokenness, God has brought them through to a place of restoration, hope and joy with a passion to help other grieving families on their journeys. They are co-founders of The Empty Chair Endeavor, which is designed to support and equip survivors of child loss in rediscovering life, hope, and joy after unspeakable tragedy. Additionally, their mission involves educating the public about the life altering impact the death of a child has upon survivors, both parents and siblings, and equipping them to better support and minister to them. Greg and Cathy live in South Carolina.
(Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)
Links Mentioned in this episode:Connect with Greg and Cathy Buffkin at www.emptychairendeavor.com.
Click here to order Laura’s books at 20% off from April 22-25. (Note, this does not include the Reflections of Hope books on Amazon. The Hard Cover option link is already discounted.) Remember to use the code bookday for any other book iny our store.
Find out more about the 2026 Grief Cruise and/or the Renew and Remember Retreat here.
Birthdays:Stephen Francis Reeve was born on April 25 and is forever 25.
Michael Patnaude was born on April 27 and is forever 21.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 293: Child Loss by Suicide (with Greg and Cathy Buffkin) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Today's episode is being sponsored by recent followers of GPS Hope, in honor of Becca's birthday (Laura and Dave's daughter who passed). Laura was asked to share some stories about Becca as part of the sponsorship, so she asked Dave to join her for this.
As listeners of the Grieving Parents Sharing Hope podcast, you may not know a whole lot about GPS Hope, which is the ministry behind the podcast. We are here to help you navigate through the suffocating darkness of child loss, and wanted to share with you the God-story of how it all got started, how God has used it over the past ten years, and the various resources GPS Hope offers that you might not be aware of.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Take me to www.gpshope.org.
Click here to see the video that is played in todays episode.
Click here to see photos and read more about Becca or here to read more about Laura and Dave with photos.
If you want to know more about the Wall of Remembrance, click here.
Sign up for the Weekly Word of Hope.
Sponsor an episode the week of your choice here.
Click here to make a donation to GPS Hope or to become a monthly supporter.
Find out more about the 2026 Grief Cruise and/or the Renew and Remember Retreat here.
Birthdays:Becca Diehl Howard was born on April 13 and left us at age 29.
Jodie Fuller was born on April 14 and left us at age 37.
Briana Martinez was born on April 17 and left us at age 17.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 292: Helping You Navigate Through the Darkness of Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
As parents who have lost a child from this earth, we know what it is like to be in a place that is so dark it does not seem like Jesus is there for us.
In today's episode Laura reminds us that there are several people in the Bible who also went through a dark time that felt like God was not there with them, including Jesus Himself.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Find out more about the 2026 Grief Cruise and/or the Renew and Remember Retreat here.
Birthdays:David J. Spinnanger was born on April 9 and left us at age 19.
Colby Lewis was born on April 12 and left us at age 20.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 291: When We Don’t Think God is There appeared first on GPS Hope.
As believers in Christ, we are familiar with who Jesus is and what He did for us. We hear a lot about who God (our Father) is as well. But how much do we know about the third part of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit?
Why do we need the Holy Spirit, and how can He help us in our grief? This is what Laura talks about in today's episode.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Order the April Edition of Reflections of Hope: Daily Readings for Bereaved Parents here.
Click here to see/order the award winning Reflections of Hope: Daily Readings for Bereaved Parents (complete year hardback book).
Birthdays:Jonda Steinkamp was born on April 5 and left this earth at 4 ½ months.
Amie Bichard was born on April 5 and left this earth at age 45.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 290: The Gift of the Holy Spirit in Our Grief appeared first on GPS Hope.
There have been plenty of times when God does not make sense, but none as much as when our child dies and leaves this earth ahead of us.
Join Laura today, as she talks about this, with some scriptures that might bring some clarity to our thought process on this topic.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Order the April Edition of Reflections of Hope: Daily Readings for Bereaved Parents here.
Click here to see/order the award winning Reflections of Hope: Daily Readings for Bereaved Parents (complete year hardback book).
Birthdays:There are no birthdays to share this week.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 289: When God Doesn’t Make Sense appeared first on GPS Hope.
A few weeks ago, Laura's friend, Nancy Weil, sent out an email to the presenters on the 2025 Grief Cruise, asking what they thought about the difference between regret and guilt. One of Nancy's grief support groups were discussing this, so she decided to see what the presenters’ thoughts were on this.
Laura decided this made a good topic for a podcast episode, so she packed her podcast microphone and took it with her on the cruise, so that she and Nancy could talk about it, letting Laura's listeners in on their discussion.
Nancy Weil is the founder of The Grief Academy and a leading authority on the relationship between humor and grief. Nancy is known for her energetic, entertaining and content rich programs. She has certifications as a Grief Management Specialist, Grief Service Provider, a Funeral Celebrant, and Laughter Leader. Her award-winning Hope After Heartache grief support group meets on Zoom, in order to reach people across the country.
(Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)
Links Mentioned in this episode:Nancy Wiel website: The Grief Academy
Click here to catch the special to get When Tragedy Strikes for half-price. Find out more about the book here.
Birthdays:Jeremiah Wofford was born on March 9 and left us at age 44.
Rohit Matthew was born on March16 and left us at age 23.
Danielle Jerome was born on March 16 and left us at age 32.
Daniel Wilson was born on March 21 and left us at age 30.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 288: The Difference Between Guilt and Regret (with Nancy Weil) appeared first on GPS Hope.
When our child dies, we are thrown into a suffocating darkness that we can believe will be with us for the rest of our time here on earth.
Join Laura today as she shares how we can rebuild our lives by comparing it to rebuilding a house, room by room. It won't look the same, but we can come out of the darkness and learn how to live a life of meaning and purpose again.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Listen to the podcast episode Health and Self-Care After Child Loss.
Listen to the podcast episode about our identity after child loss here.
Click here to catch the special to get When Tragedy Strikes for half-price. Find out more about the book here.
Birthdays:Steven Kowalewski was born on March 11 and left us at age 28.
Quintin T. Flowers was born on March 12 and left us at age 54.
Kirsten Brown was born on March 12 and left us at age 25.
Matthew Branca was born on March 15 and left us at age 23.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 287: Digging Ourselves Out of the Darkness After Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
Many of us thought we were building our lives on the Rock, until our child died, and we found ourselves in the sinking sand. Last week Laura shared from the hymn The Solid Rock as a springboard to talk about that.
This week, Laura continues the conversation, using a second hymn to share how she believes we can get out of the sinking sand and back onto the Rock.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Go to gpshope.org to check out the website for resources, and to get to know Becca, Laura and Dave better.
Check out Reflections of Hope: Daily Readings for Bereaved Parents here. (There is also a link on the page to find the monthly Reflections of Hope books.)
Birthdays:Patrick Palazzo was born on March 2 and left us at age 24.
Aaron Wright was born on March 3 and left us at age 32.
Courtney Harris was born on March 4 and left us at age 34.
Jonathan Van Verdegem was born on March 6 and left us at age 19.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 286: How Can I Trust God Again? appeared first on GPS Hope.
Many of us believed we were building our lives on the solid Rock, but after our child died, we found ourselves floundering on sinking sand. Hear what Laura shares about this topic in today's episode. You may even hear her break out in song a couple of times.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Go to gpshope.org to check out the website for resources, and to get to know Becca, Laura and Dave better.
Click here to see the list of FeedSpot’s Top 30 Hope Podcasts on the web.
Birthdays:Dharahan Walker was born on February 23 and left us at age 31.
Nolan Sanders was born on February 24 and left us at age 28.
Paul Huprich was born on February 24 and left us at age 19.
Ian Rodriguez was born on February 26 and left us at age 33.
Dylan Paul Yancey Clarke was born on February 26 and left us at age 17.
Miesha Grimes was born on March 1and left us at age 24
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 285: Do You Feel Like You’re on Sinking Sand? appeared first on GPS Hope.
Heaven. That is often on the mind of those of us who have lost a child. So, let's talk about it.
In today's episode, you will hear something written by a grieving dad that leads into a discussion about heaven with three points Laura makes. She ends the episode with some imagination from a few of you about heaven and what our children might be doing there while waiting for us to join them.
Today’s episode is sponsored by parents who wish to remain anonymous, in honor of their daughter, Cassandra.
Links Mentioned in this episode:To share how you imagine your child in heaven, click here and put in the comment section.
Click here to start receiving Laura’s Weekly Word of Hope. (You can unsubscribe at any time.)
Find out more about the My Grief Journey book here. For the My Grief Journey for Kids click here.
Sign up for the Weekly Word of Hope.
Click here to sponsor a podcast episode in honor of your child.
Birthdays:Sean Kraus was born on February 19 and left us at age 24.
Jason Zimdars was born on February 20 and left us at age 35.
Mark Patrick King II was born on February 22 and left us at age 29.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 284: Thinking About Heaven After Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
Many people use the beginning of each year to set new goals or see it as a time for a fresh start. As parents who have lost a child (especially in those first few years) those are not things we are interested in at all. In fact, we don't want to go into a new year without our child and it can weigh us down.
But, what if God could speak something into your place of darkness that could bring you the hope, comfort and strength you need? Listen in, as Laura shares some of those personal words she has received over the years, and encourages other shattered parents that they can do the same.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Click here to start receiving Laura’s Weekly Word of Hope. (You can unsubscribe at any time.)
Click here to find out more about Reflections of Hope: A Daily Reading for Bereaved Parents
Birthdays:Gavin Reynolds was born on January 19 and is forever 17.
Richie Rudkin was born on January 27 and is forever 27.
Celeste France was born on January 29 and is forever 17.
Ava Shaw was born on February 4 and is forever 20.
Brenton Smith was born on February 10 and is forever 24.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 283: Does God Have a Word for You? appeared first on GPS Hope.
Today you will be hearing Laura interview Glen Lord, who has been on this grief journey of child loss since 1999, when his five-year-old son, Noah, died. Glen's heart of compassion comes through, along with nuggets that can be tucked away and pulled out when needed while on this unwanted journey.
Glen Lord was on the fast track to accomplishing his goal of being a CEO of a fortune 500 company. The death of his son, Noah, in 1999 put brakes on the life he had so carefully planned. As Glen sought a new path, he realized that there was a need for genuine, accurate grief information. This realization, plus his extensive business experience, fueled the founding of The Grief Toolbox and creation of the Walking Through Grief® program, both offer a community of grief resources around the world and a marketplace of grief and memorial products. Glen is past president of the national board of directors of The Compassionate Friends. He is a sought after keynote, inspirational presenter and workshop leader.
(Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.) Links Mentioned in this episode:Connect with Glen Lord: thegrieftoolbox.com or www.facebook.com/grieftoolbox/
Click the following links to hear the previous podcast episodes with Glen:
Episode 19: Finding Hope
Episode 20: Finding Your Direction Again
Birthdays:Noah J Barela budded on earth to bloom in heaven on January 14.
Ezra Djamen was born on January 15 and is forever 4 months old.
Joshua Caldwell was born on January 16 and is forever 28.
Adrian Augustine was born on January 17 and is forever 18.
Jeanette Marie was born on January 19 and is forever 36.
Tommy Wills was born on January 19 and is forever 23.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 282: Grief Is a Journey (with Glen Lord) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Hearing how other parents have gotten through the suffocating darkness of child loss can bring a spark of hope, especially when you know they have had some of the same confusing thoughts and struggles.
Today's episode is an unusual and special one, as Dave and Laura are being interviewed by Greg Buffkin to give bereaved parents hope, for his podcast Hope After Child Loss.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Greg Buffkin’s website: www.emptychairendeavor.com
Click the following links to hear the podcast episode:
Tips for Bereaved Parents Heading into the New Year
A New Year Does Not Mean You are Leaving Your Child Behind!
Hope and Help for the New Year after Child Loss
Click here to find out more about Reflections of Hope: A Daily Reading for Bereaved Parents
Want to know more about the Rebuilding Your Life After Child Loss self-study guidance courses? Click here.
Birthdays:Aria Arrona was born on December 31 and is forever 15.
Madison Clark was born on January 2 and is forever 20.
Luke Hebenstreit was born on January 4 and is forever 23.
Ryan Hines was born on January 7 and is forever 27.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 281: A Glimpse of Hope After Child Loss (with Greg Buffkin) appeared first on GPS Hope.
During the Christmas season, we are surrounded by the sights and sounds of being joyful. For many of us who have lost a child, we just want this time of year to be over. We don't see joy being part of our lives ever again.
In this episode, Laura shares from week three in her book Hope for the Future: An Advent Journey for Bereaved Parents which tackles the topic of joy during the Christmas season.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Click here for more info on joining me live, or about the advent book Hope for the Future.
To hear a podcast episode about the fear if our child is in heaven, click here.
Go to the free GPS Hope member library.
Give an end-of-year financial gift to GPS Hope here.
Find out more about the book Come Grieve Through Our Eyes.
Birthdays:David Paul French was born on December 16 and is forever 52.
Luke Getchell was born on December 19 and is forever 14.
Adelaide Rowell was born on December 20 and is forever 19.
Carissa Perkins was born on December 21 and is forever 29.
John Ferreira Jr. was born on December 24 and is forever 32.
Isaiah Key was born on December 25 and is forever 13.
Diane Holt was born on December 25 and is forever 62.
Nicole Daniel was born on December 26 and is forever 27.
Martin Jesus Alva Jr. was born on December 26 and is forever 34.
Ryan Durkin was born on December 27 and is forever 19.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 280: I Lost My Joy When My Child Died appeared first on GPS Hope.
God will often use things in nature, or things going on around us, to speak to our hearts, showing us something we need to see, or helping us understand a truth we need to grasp.
In today's episode, Laura shares some of the things God showed her while walking mountain trails, that have to do with grieving the earthly loss of our children.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Click here for more info on joining me live, or about the advent book Hope for the Future.
Find out more about Reflections of Hope – December Edition here.
You can sponsor an episode for your child here.
Birthdays:Gabriel Burgos was born on December 9, who budded on earth to bloom in heaven.
Maria Elena Navarrete was born on December 12 and is forever 55.
Tyler Sitter was born on December 12 and is forever 32.
Tanner Allen-Harris was born on December 13 and is forever 20.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 279: Climbing the Mountain of Grief appeared first on GPS Hope.
This was an unplanned episode, but Laura wanted to share some things before the week was over.
With this being the week of Thanksgiving (here in the US) Laura started wondering if there is a difference between being thankful and being grateful. After listening to what she has to share, Laura would love to hear your thoughts. You can write them in the comment section under the podcast audio bar here, which is directly on the GPS Hope website.
Links Mentioned in this episode:“Black Friday” special: Click here to sponsor an episode in memory of your child for a $25 donation (instead of $50) through Sunday night, Dec. 1.
Click here for more info on Hope for the Future: An Advent Book for Bereaved Parents.
Find out more about Laura’s songs, and listen to samples of them here.
Birthdays:Brendan Weidner was born on November 28 and is forever 14.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 278: Is There a Difference Between Thankful and Grateful? appeared first on GPS Hope.
The holidays can be absolutely brutal to those of us who have lost a child, especially those first few years. Even as we get further down the road, we never know how this time of year is going to affect us.
In today's episode, Laura talks to two different pareavors on how they have navigated the holidays, both in the early years, and as they are now further down this path of being a bereaved parent and missing their child during the end-of-year holiday season.
Sara Faith Nelson taught elementary and middle school grades for 15 years. Now she enjoys pursuing her love of writing. The primary focus of her writing has always leaned toward themes of hope, faith, and trust in the goodness of God. Since the death of her daughter and only child, she writes about her grief journey and surviving a devastating loss. She continues to write about trusting in God's goodness and grace while grappling with the hard questions. Sara and her husband, Dennis, live in Arizona.
Kim Peacock is the author of Victorious Heart, which details her handling of grief over the loss of her 17-year-old daughter. It also provides insightful advice for those seeking to support and help those who grieve. She has raised six children, residing with her husband, Larry in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. Kim is the CFO of Peacock Engineering, a cemetery construction company that specializes in cemetery improvement and expansion. Through her blog, Wild Victorious Heart, and her book and speaking, Kim acts as a grief mentor to others in need. She enjoys spending time with her several grandchildren, gardening and playing with the animals on her mini farm.
(Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)
Links Mentioned in this episode:Click here for more info on Hope for the Future: An Advent Book for Bereaved Parents.
Connect with Kim with this link: www.wildvictoriousheart.com
Birthdays (November 17-30):Lara Ann was born on November 17 and is forever 15.
Timothy Krawiec was born on November 17 and is forever 27.
Cord Ramsey Davis was born on November 18 and is forever 24.
Christian Story was born on November 18 and is forever 11.
Benjamin Krawiec was born on November 21 and is forever 32.
Logan Singer was born on November 21 and is forever 17.
Jacob LeTourneau was born on November 22 and is forever 21.
Melissa Sulikowski Hill was born on November 23 and is forever 38.
Cyrus Amado Salazar Jr. was born on November 26 and is forever 17.
Liam “Trip” Nugent was born on November 29 and is forever 21.
Raelyne Ten Bruggencate was born on November 29 and is forever 1.
Ginny Rettig was born on November 30 and is forever 21.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 277: Navigating the Holidays After Child Loss (with Kim Peacock and Sara Nelson) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Sometimes we can feel like God must not care, or He would not have let our child die and allow us to be in so much pain. There are many people in the Bible who also felt like God had abandoned them. In this episode, Laura shares a few of these, based on a song she likes to listen to occasionally, to remind her that God really does see our struggles and He cares.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Watch the song The God Who Sees here.
To watch the entire movie The Way (where the song is from) click here.
Click here for more info on Hope for the Future: An Advent Book for Bereaved Parents.
Birthdays:Chaney Partrich was born on November 4 and is forever 20 years old.
Beau-Dean Gordon was born on November 10 and is forever 23 years old.
Nathan Theriault was born on November 11 and is forever 2 years old.
Hanna Abigail Dinh was born on November 12 and is forever 21 months and 7 days.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 276: You Are Seen appeared first on GPS Hope.
In today's short episode, Laura pulls out her response to an email she received quite a while back, thinking it might be helpful to others who are struggling with questions about things like God's goodness.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Click here to find out more about Laura’s book When Tragedy Strikes: Rebuilding Your Life With Hope and Healing After the Death of Your Child.
Watch Laura’s talk with Wayne Jacobson titled “Anger and Grief” here.
Take a look at the Savanah’s Adventures website.
Click here to take a look at preordering Savanah’s Big Surprise to help out Laura and her granddaughter with their children’s book series.
Birthdays:Pike Petersen was born on October 17 and is forever 14.
Adrian Schartner was born on October 20 and is forever 22.
Matthew Anthony Sulikowski was born on October 22 and is forever 37.
Myles Wofford was born on October 27 and is forever 3 weeks.
Dawson Morris was born on October 29 and is forever 19.
James was born on October 30 and is forever 17 months.
Cassius John Franswah was born on October 30 and is forever 26.
Ikaika Ewer was born on November 1 and is forever 6.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 275: The Enemy’s Objective appeared first on GPS Hope.
Today you are going to hear from a new friend and fellow pareavor, Kim Avery. Kim has so many things to share from a heart that is kind and caring, while encouraging us to learn how to walk from the place of grace that God has for us for the moment we are in.
Twenty years ago, Kim moved from being a professional counselor to working as a certified life and business coach. She loved every minute of it and thought she would do it for the rest of her life. However, four years ago, God called her to radically reorder her life, priorities, and the ways she serves in the world.
Now, as the author of the best-selling book The Prayer Powered Entrepreneur, host of The Pace of Grace podcast, and spiritual director for coaches, leaders, and entrepreneurs, she helps Christ-followers flourish in every area of their lives so they can serve others from a full cup.
Kim lives in beautiful Winter Haven, FL, with her husband Ron and their Australian Labradoodle, Samwise (who secretly thinks he's a Rottweiler.)
(Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)
Links Mentioned in this episode:Check out Kim Avery’s website: www.PaceOfGrace.com
Click here to sponsor a podcast episode in honor of your child.
Join us in February of 2025 on The Grief Cruise. Find out more here.
Birthdays:Aaliyah Henderson was born on October 1 and is forever 4.
Samuel Seet was born on October 4 and is forever 28.
Rikki Grace was born on October 9 and is forever 25.
Jeffrey Dunkleman was born on October 10 and is forever 53.
Mitchell Ang was born on October 12 and is forever 17.
David Stolz was born on October 12 and is forever 33.
Alicia Martin was born on October 17 and is forever 36.
Carissa Ellen Hunsaker was born on October 19 and is forever 1.
Samuel Buss was born on October 19 and is forever 21.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 274: Grace and Grief After Child Loss (with Kim Avery) appeared first on GPS Hope.
When our child dies, it can feel like God betrayed us. We prayed for our kids, we took them to church, etc. In other words, we did what we were supposed to do, so why didn't God keep His end of things?
In today's episode, Laura talks about looking beyond what we know here and now, encouraging the listeners to also take into consideration God's view of eternity.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Join us in February of 2025 on The Grief Cruise. Find out more here.
Birthdays:Justin Seehafer was born on September 16 and is forever 28.
Rodney Lorenz was born on September 18 and is forever 49.
Rachel Terrazas was born on September 19 and is forever 22.
Nicole Zanoni Romualdo was born on September 21 and is forever 16 months.
Myles Bradley Shaffer was born on September 24 and is forever 44.
Valerie Ines Cepeda was born on September 26 and is forever 19.
Jacob Rhoades was born on September 28 and is forever 21.
Shea Thomas Patno was born on September 29 and is forever 15.
Stephanie Webber was born on September 29 and is forever 29.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 273: I Feel Like God Betrayed Me appeared first on GPS Hope.
In those first few months (or even first two or three years) many pareavors (bereaved parents) have a hard time believing they will get to the point where they are not in the place of suffocating grief they have found themselves thrown into.
There are thousands of pareavors who are several years down the road, who thought the same thing. But once they find themselves out of that dark pit, is it healthy to purposely put yourself back into a place of painful darkness, remembering the depth of who and what you have lost, like listening to podcasts, or attending a retreat, or something like going on The Grief Cruise?
As Laura's friend, Sara Nelson, recently experienced this when she attended the GPS Hope Weekend of Hope, Laura realized it would be good to have her on the podcast to talk about this.
Sara Faith Nelson, has been on this journey for ten years. She taught elementary and middle school grades for 15 years. Now she enjoys pursuing her love of writing. The primary focus of Sara's writing has always leaned toward themes of hope, faith, and trust in the goodness of God. Since the death of her daughter and only child, Jeanette, she writes about her grief journey and surviving a devastating loss. She continues to write about trusting in God's goodness and grace while grappling with the hard questions. Sara and her husband, Dennis, live in Arizona.
(Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)
Links Mentioned in this episode:Click here to find out more about Laura’s book When Tragedy Strikes: Rebuilding Your Life With Hope and Healing After the Death of Your Child.
To look at the Hold On Pain Eases: There is HOPE shirts, click here.
Join us in February of 2025 on The Grief Cruise. Find out more here.
Birthdays:Stephanie Wright was born on September 1 and is forever 26.
Bryanna Dugan was born on September 5 and is forever 22.
Alyshia DeFranco was born on September 6 and is forever 24.
Brady Keith Herbert was born on September 7 and is forever 30.
Jacob Sorouri was born on September 8 and is forever 32.
Emma Ho was born on September 9 and is forever 10.
Paul Murphy was born on September 9 and is forever 21.
Zachary Tyler was born on September 11 and is forever 18.
Petrina Charlean Bostic was born on September 12 and is forever 23.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 272: Getting Pulled Back into Our Grief appeared first on GPS Hope.
We are very aware of the four seasons of the year, but have you thought about how our grief can have seasons as well?
In this episode, Laura shares her thoughts about all four seasons, and how they correspond to the grief we deal with, in the loss of our child.
Note: Laura also shares that for a season , she will be releasing a podcast every other week instead of weekly.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Click here to recieve a personal Weekly Word of Hope from Laura.
Take a look at the hoodies, sweatshirts, long-sleeved T-shirts and sweat jackets here.
Join us in February of 2025 on The Grief Cruise. Find out more here.
Birthdays:Kristina Michelle Lee was born on August 26 and is forever 26.
Daniel Budd was born on August 29 and is forever 4.
Victoria Botto was born on August 30 and is forever 20.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 271: Going Through Different Seasons of Grief appeared first on GPS Hope.
Do we know the difference between our soul and our spirit and how each of them affects us? As a bereaved parent, do we have a broken soul, a broken spirit, or both? Does it really matter?
Listen in as Laura shares some insights that she believes the Lord has given her recently about this.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Click here to recieve a personal Weekly Word of Hope from Laura.
Join us in February of 2025 on The Grief Cruise. Find out more here.
Birthdays:Destine Wood was born on August 21 and is forever 40.
Kevin Zick was born on August 21 and is forever 33.
Frank Cisewski was born on August 22 and is forever 34.
Evan Sabine was born on August 23 and is forever 15.
Bailey Arwine was born on August 23 and is forever 22.
Katie Mullen was born on August 24 and is forever 19.
Jordyn Hansen was born on August 24 and is forever 21.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 270: Feeling Broken After Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
Most of the time, when we use the word hope it is wishful thinking, as in I hope our team pulls out a win today. But when the word hope is used in scripture, God has a different meaning.
Listen in, as Laura talks about this, and how important it is to be a prisoner of hope, as we find in Zechariah 9:12.
A special thank you to Chris and ReNea Trebelhorn, for sponsoring today's episode in honor of their son, Aaron.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Join us in February of 2025 on The Grief Cruise. Find out more here.
Click here to sponsor an episode in honor of your child.
Birthdays:Hizkia Aritonang born on August 14 and is forever 20.
Callan Letcher was born on August 15 and is forever 17.
Aaron Trebelhorn was born on August 16 and is forever 21.
Jeremy Bornemeier was born on August 16 and is forever 32.
Jadyn Philipps was born on August 17 and is forever 18.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 269: Becoming a Prisoner of Hope appeared first on GPS Hope.
As parents who have lost a child, we all know people who have said things that are inappropriate or just plain hurtful. In this episode, you are going to hear from two very special ladies in a conversation with Laura, about things people say that are just not true, in their attempt to make us feel better.
Sara Faith Nelson, has been on this journey for ten years. She taught elementary and middle school grades for 15 years. Now she enjoys pursuing her love of writing. The primary focus of Sara's writing has always leaned toward themes of hope, faith, and trust in the goodness of God. Since the death of her daughter and only child, Jeanette, she writes about her grief journey and surviving a devastating loss. She continues to write about trusting in God's goodness and grace while grappling with the hard questions. Sara and her husband, Dennis, live in Arizona.
BJ Jensen has been on this journey for almost 30 years and is the mom of baby Jodi and adult son Jay, who left this world too soon. BJ and her husband, Dr. Doug Jensen are best known for directing the Love in Motion signing choir for 30 years. They founded the non-profit called Healing Hallelujah Ministries to offer hope, help, and healing to hurting hearts. Doug and BJ's creative efforts include writing books and stories, songs and sketches and are highly sought speakers at events and conferences for bereaved parents. All of their ministries have come to fruition since the loss of 2 children.
(Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)
Links Mentioned in this episode:Join us in February of 2025 on The Grief Cruise. Find out more here.
Birthdays:Neena Renee Rey was born on August 5 and is forever 2.
Gabriel Andrew Moreno was born on August 5 and is forever 28.
Jacob Gary was born on August 6 and is forever 21.
Travis M. Blair was born on August 9 and is forever 30.
Christopher Hotch was born on August 10 and is forever 31.
Jacob Holiday was born on August 10 and is forever 26.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 268: Things People Say That are Not Helpful after Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
It seems many of us struggle to hear from God after the death of our child. We wonder why He has abandoned us when we need Him more than we ever have before.
This was not Laura's original topic for this episode, but God directed her to change it unexpectedly, a few hours before she was planning on recording.
Links Mentioned in this episode:To get My Grief Journey for only $5 (through July) click here. (Be sure to check out My Grief Journey for Kids also.)
Listen to previous podcast with Wayne Jacobson: I Am So Angry at God
Birthdays:Daniel Krawiec was born on July 28 and is forever 32.
Easton Holden was born on July 28 and is forever 5.
Joey Ray was born on July 28 and is forever 26.
Dayne Sturm was born on July 29 and is forever 21.
Whitney Leanne Garkow Seehusen was born on July 30 and is forever 31.
Lauren Miller Dobbins was born on July 30 and is forever 33.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 267: God, Why Can’t I Hear You? appeared first on GPS Hope.
Have you ever stopped to think that your tears could possibly be a gift from God? That is something Laura explores in today’s talk, along with a few other observations that may be helpful to those who are grieving the loss of their child.
Links Mentioned in this episode:To get My Grief Journey for only $5 (through July) click here. (Be sure to check out My Grief Journey for Kids also.)
Click here to find out more about Reflections of Hope.
Join Laura and Dave on The Grief Cruise this coming February. Get all the details here.
Birthdays:Cayden Josephine Turner was born on July 26 and is forever 18.
Sage Cook-Remigio was born on July 27 and is forever 8 weeks and 2 days old.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 266: So Many Tears appeared first on GPS Hope.
When we are in that dark pit of grief after child loss, we are in a very vulnerable place, making us an easy target for the enemy to get a foothold. It might be through things we were taught about God that make us angry at Him. It could be through our desperate need for peace, causing us to go down a path we would not have gone down before.
Today's guest dealt with both of these things. Listen in, as Laura talks to Joycelyn about the dark place she found herself in, even as a pastor, after her son's death by suicide.
In 2017, Joycelynn experienced the suicide loss of her oldest son. As she shut down emotionally and spiritually, God allowed her to run with her anger and pain until He said the running was over.
Joycelynn is a Christian faith-based holistic registered nurse, wellness & grief coach, pastor and writer who empowers others to live whole in the kingdom of God. Her goal is to create a compassionate space where others will find solace, support, and practical strategies to navigate their grief journey of traumatic child loss.
(Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)
Links Mentioned in this episode:Joycelynn’s website: LivingWholeWithGrief.com
Contact Joycelynn at: joycelynn@livingwholewithgrief.com
Join us for a Weekend of Hope in Wisconsin this August! Find out more here.
To get My Grief Journey for only $5 (through July) click here. (Be sure to check out My Grief Journey for Kids also.)
Birthdays:Madeline Youngdahl was born on July 16 and is forever 14.
Jack Crean was born on July 16 and is forever 18.
Jimmy LaPlante was born on July 19 and is forever 39.
Paul Ortiz Jr. was born on July 19 and is forever 26.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 265: God, I Can’t Forgive You for This appeared first on GPS Hope.
After taking a month off for her sister's illness and unexpected passing, Laura is back. In this episode, she discusses how faith and fear have the same root, and how the choice we make to lean into one or the other will have an affect on our journey of child loss.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Join us for a Weekend of Hope in Wisconsin this August! Find out more here.
To look at or purchase the hardcover full year Reflections of Hope book directly from the publisher (for a cheaper price than Amazon) click here.
To purchase specific monthly editions of Reflections of Hope click here.
Birthdays:Allie Custer was born on June 12 and is forever 29.
Avery Gingerich was born on June 14 and bloomed on earth to blossom in heaven.
Emily Raquel Ponce Gallegos was born on June 15 and is forever 9 months.
Kari-Lee Venning (Birrell) was born on June 19 and is forever 25.
Alex Doyon was born on June 23 and is forever 30.
Hunter Josiah Whitney was born on June 25 and is forever 18.
Courtney Kolb was born on June 26 and is forever 23.
Lukas Christofferson was born on June 28 and is forever 19.
Dominic Cardenas was born on June 28 and is forever 24.
Elianne Andam was born on June 28 and is forever 15.
Robert “Bobby” Allen was born on July 2 and is forever 24.
Charlie Rhodes was born on July 10 and is forever 9.
Rachel Corn was born on July 10 and is forever 22.
Eric Breslau was born on July 11 and is forever 25.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 264: Our Journey of Faith Versus Fear and Doubt appeared first on GPS Hope.
When we first lose our child from this earth, memories bring stabbing pain, because we realize that is all we have now. We can't make new memories. We feel like we will never be able to enjoy life again, even if we have other children, a wonderful spouse, or job or ministry we loved.
How can we possibly smile, or ever be happy again after our child dies? Just the thought of it can make us feel guilty. In today's episode, Laura shares something that will help a bereaved parent think of their child with joy.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Don’t forget to check out the NEW June and July Editions of Reflections of Hope, especially if you have Kindle Unlimited.
Join us for a Weekend of Hope in Wisconsin this August! Find out more here.
Click here to become a financial partner and keep GPS Hope going strong.
To share the acronym of your child’s name, click here and scroll down to the comments.
To find out more about joining Dave and Laura next year (February of 2025) on The Grief Cruise, click here.
Birthdays:James Manning was born on June 3 and is forever 2.
Mateo Montoya was born on June 5 and is forever 6 ½ months.
Kayla Ramos was born on June 7 and is forever 25.
Ocean Yohannes Emru Campbell was born on June 7 and is forever 23.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 263: Thinking of My Child with Joy appeared first on GPS Hope.
In today's episode, Laura shares how she begged God to end her life after the death of her daughter. Eventually Laura decided that she did not want to live out the rest of her life as the shell of a person just waiting to die.
As Laura shares her progression of going from wanting to die, to now living a life of meaning and purpose again, she does it in a way that brings hope to other pareavors, as we all wait to be with our child again.
Thank you to Craig and Michelle Enanoria, for sponsoring today’s episode in honor of their son, Kyle.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Find out more about joining us for a Weekend of Hope in Wisconsin this August!
Sponsor a podcast episode here.
Click here to become a financial partner and keep GPS Hope going strong.
Don’t forget to check out the NEW June Edition of Reflections of Hope, especially if you have Kindle Unlimited.
Check out Laura’s books.
To find out more about joining Dave and Laura next year (February of 2025) on The Grief Cruise, click here.
Birthdays:Jessi Wilfong was born on May 26 and is forever 20.
Ian Martin was born on May 26 and is forever 43.
Andrew LaPlante was born on May 27 and is forever 24.
Jacob Campbell was born on May 27 and is forever 32.
Nathan Lee was born on May 28 and is forever 20.
Alayna Lisboa was born on May 29 and is forever 7 weeks.
Kyle Enanoria was born on May 30 and is forever 11.
Mark (Markie) Sweitzer was born on May 30 and is forever 29.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 262: Waiting to Be with My Child Again appeared first on GPS Hope.
Waiting can be one of the hardest and most exhausting things to do. As parents who have lost a child from this earth, two things we seem to be waiting on the most are for it to stop hurting so much, and obviously waiting to be with our child again.
This week Laura talks about waiting for it to stop hurting so much. Next week she will discuss waiting to be with our child again.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Please remember to give this podcast a review, letting other pareavors know why they should listen!
The following were not mentioned, but here are some things to check out.
Don’t forget to check out the May and June Editions of Reflections of Hope, especially if you have Kindle Unlimited.
Join us for a Weekend of Hope in Wisconsin this August! Find out more here.
To find out more about joining Dave and Laura next year (February of 2025) on The Grief Cruise, click here.
Birthdays:Jason Turner was born on May 20 and is forever 36.
Zack Sexton was born on May 20 and is forever 36.
Isaiah Santell was born on May 22 and is forever 16.
Kyle Terry was born on May 24 and is forever 28.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 261: When Will It Stop Hurting So Much? appeared first on GPS Hope.
After our child leaves this earth, most of us want to take Romans 8:28 out of our Bibles, especially when people throw that verse at us in a way that is supposed to make it all better. ( Remember, God promises to work everything out for good )
Laura has been in that place of suffocating darkness, and begged God to take her from this earth when her daughter, Becca, died. In today’s episode, you will hear what Laura has to share about this topic, after years of tears behind her.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Don’t forget to check out the May and June Editions of Reflections of Hope, especially if you have Kindle Unlimited.
Sign up here to receive Laura’s Weekly Word of Hope
Weekend of Hope in Wisconsin this August!!! Find out more here.
To find out more about joining Dave and Laura next year (February of 2025) on The Grief Cruise, click here.
Click here to see Reflections of Hope: Daily Readings for Bereaved Parents and Laura’s other books.
Birthdays:Isaac Wills was born on May 10 and is forever 17.
Leah Van Emmerik was born on May 13 and is forever 39.
Jordan Slusher was born on May 17 and is forever 21.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 260: I Can’t See Anything Even Remotely Good appeared first on GPS Hope.
If you know Laura, you know that she feels things deeply and tears come easily to her. Somehow, she manages to hold those tears back when recording the podcast episodes but not this time.
A miracle is something only God can do, which is what we wanted (and even expected) for our children, either in a healing or in protection. When that doesn't happen, our disappointment and even anger with God can make us feel like He betrayed us.
Listen in today to what Laura shares deeply from her heart about God and his miracles in our lives.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Sign up here to receive Laura’s Weekly Word of Hope
Weekend of Hope in Wisconsin this August!!! Find out more here.
To find out more about joining Dave and Laura next year (February of 2025) on The Grief Cruise, click here.
Click here to see Reflections of Hope: Daily Readings for Bereaved Parents and Laura’s other books.
Birthdays:Denzel Goredema was born on May 5 and is forever 28.
Adam Walker was born on May 6 and is forever 28.
Michael Slater was born on May 8 and is forever 26.
Sarah Wilber was born on May 10 and is forever 34.
Justis Bjergo was born on May 10 and is forever 26.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 259: Our Promised Miracle appeared first on GPS Hope.
Mother's Day can be one of the most difficult days of the year for a mom after child loss. In this episode, Laur will be talking about both Mother's Day, and a special day the week before, which is International Bereaved Mother's Day, which is the first Sunday in May.
Laura is very real and honest about her thoughts and feelings about all of this, in a way that isn't normally like her. But Mother's Day is one of the hardest days we have to face each year, and there is no reason to not admit it or try to sugar coat it.
She closes by praying over each mom who is listening. We need extra strength, and God is the only one who can give that to us.
Note: The main content of this episode is pulled from the archives of episode 106.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Blog about International Bereaved Mother’s Day
A Letter to My Child on Bereaved Mother’s Day
GPS Hope Facebook Page
Information about joining GPS Hope on a cruise.
Birthdays:Christi Gayheart was born on April 29 and is forever 49.
Eric Merciers was born on May 1 and is forever 38.
Milo Kostrna bloomed on earth to blossom in heaven on May 3.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 258: Mother’s Day After Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
So much horrific pain and darkness comes with child loss. It doesn't matter how young or how old your child was when they left this earth. It doesn't matter if it was sudden or if it was long and drawn out.
As pareavors (bereaved parents), we can bristle when others say they know how we feel, because of a different loss. We know what that feels like. But what about when we compare our child's loss to another parent's loss? What about when we compare where we are in our grief with where another parent is (or was) in some sort of timeline?
We rarely make those comparisons out loud, but we can have these thoughts, which is what Laura talks about in today's episode.
Note: Today's episode is being sponsored by Jeff and Mary Beth Patnaude, in honor of their son, Michael Patnaude.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Click here for all the info and to register for the Ohio GPS Hope & Healing Retreat, May 24-26.
Listen to podcast episode 174: Our Dreams About Our Children After Child Loss
Sponsor a podcast episode in honor of your child. Go here to choose the week and make your $50 donation.COME JOIN US for our
Weekend of Hope in Wisconsin this August!!! Find out more here.
To find out more about joining Dave and Laura next year (February of 2025) on The Grief Cruise, click here.
Birthdays:Christopher Schofer was born on April 21 and is forever 25.
Shannon Chevalier was born on April 21 and is forever 27.
Stephen Francis Reeve was born on April 25 and is forever 25.
Bradley Brown was born on April 27 and is forever 17.
Michael Patnaude was born on April 27 and is forever 21.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 257: Do Not Allow the Pressure of Comparing appeared first on GPS Hope.
After the loss of a child, there are scriptures that used to get us excited that don't make any sense now. They seem untrue and maybe even cruel.
In today's episode, Laura talks about one of those verses, Jeremiah 29:11, where God tells us He has good plans for us, to give us hope and a future.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Click here for all the info and to register for the Ohio GPS Hope & Healing Retreat, May 24-26.
COME JOIN US for our Weekend of Hope in Wisconsin this August!!! Find out more here.
To find out more about joining Dave and Laura next year (February of 2025) on The Grief Cruise, click here.
Start receiving Laura’s Weekly Word of Hope by signing up here.
Sponsor a podcast episode in honor of your child. Go here to choose the week and make your $50 donation.
Birthdays:Brandon Matos was born on April 14 and is forever 23.
Mylei Birdinground was born on April 16 and is forever 15.
Briana Martinez was born on April 17 and is forever 17.
Cayman Ben Jardell was born on April 19 and is forever 17.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 256: God’s Future Plans for You appeared first on GPS Hope.
Today's topic is one Laura gets asked about in emails, which is addressing the issue of losing friends we thought would be there for us in our time of grief.
Laura and her guest, June Collins, talk about this from June’s experience of losing her 2-year-old son 12 years ago. Their conversation has a lot of nuggets that go beyond what or who we may lose, but also what and who we can gain.
Note: Today's podcast episode is sponsored by Dave and Laura Diehl, in honor of their daughter, Becca.
June K. Collins is a Master NLP Practitioner and Coach. In 2012, she lost her son, Kaleb, and found herself hitting rock bottom and not understanding how to rebuild her life without Kaleb in it. During this time, she found a passion with the mind and how individuals react to trauma. Through her own experience and education, she now helps other women rebuild and find purpose in their life and is the author of the book Momma, You Don’t Heal.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Connect with June Collins on her website: theserenitydreamer.com
Click here for all the info and to register for the Ohio GPS Hope & Healing Retreat, May 24-26.
COME JOIN US for our Weekend of Hope in Wisconsin this August!!! Find out more here.
To find out more about joining Dave and Laura next year (February of 2025) on The Grief Cruise, click here.
Sponsor a podcast episode in honor of your child. Go here to choose the week and make your $50 donation.
Birthdays:Greg London was born on April 8 and is forever 34.
Becca Diehl Howard was born on April 13 and is forever 29.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 255: Where Did My Friends Go? appeared first on GPS Hope.
If I am struggling with anger and confusion and my faith is rocky right now, shouldn't I pass on taking the elements of communion?
In today's episode, Laura digs into 1 Corinthians 11, talking about the purpose of communion and what makes us unworthy . Based on scripture, Laura believes that we are not disqualified. Not only that, but occasionally taking the elements is greatly needed and can be even more meaningful to us now, after the death of our child.
She also talks about how many pareavors just cannot drag themselves to church, and why it is not against any of God's rules to serve yourself communion, having a very personal and private time with the Lord while taking the bread and the wine/juice in your home or wherever you are.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Sign up to start receiving Laura’s Weekly Word of Hope here.
Click here to listen to the full The God Journey podcast episode that the clip was taken from.
To find out how to join Dave and Laura next year (February of 2025) on The Grief Cruise, click here.
COME JOIN US for our big GPS Hope 10-year-event (Weekend of Hope) in Wisconsin this August!!! Find out more here.
Birthdays:Jonda Steinkamp was born on April 2 and is forever 4 ½ months old.
Amie Bichard was born on April 5 and is forever 45.
Danielle Smith was born on April 6 and is forever 36.
Travis Atkinson was born on April 6 and is forever 42.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 254: Taking Communion After the Turmoil of Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
Easter Sunday can come with many different emotions for those of us who have lost a child.
On one hand, we are thankful and want to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, who made it possible for us to be reunited with our children, never to be separated again. On the other hand, many of us struggle with going to a church service for this purpose, for various reasons which can be absolutely valid.
In today's episode, Laura talks about all of this, along with reminding us of the hope we all have within us. God's resurrection power isn't just for when we die, but for those of us who are still here, learning how to live with a part of us missing.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Click here to listen to Laura and Pastor Lynn Breeden talk about why you don’t need to be tormented with the fear that your child might not be in heaven.
Find out more or register for the Virtual Writer’s retreat.
Check out our Hold On Pain Eases there is HOPE shirts here!
To find out how to join Dave and Laura next year (February of 2025) on The Grief Cruise, click here.
COME JOIN US for our big GPS Hope 10-year-event (Weekend of Hope) in Wisconsin this August!!! Find out more here.
Birthdays:Jermaine Mitchell was born on March 26 and is forever 31.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 253: The Hope of Resurrection Power appeared first on GPS Hope.
When we have a child who is no longer with us here on earth, we can feel like we have no more future at least not a good one.
In today's episode, Laura looks at Philippians 3:12-14 and other scriptures, sharing that even if our future here is not what we thought it would be, we do not have to live out the rest of our time here with a heaviness that outweighs the joy of the future we still have with our child.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Check out our Hold On Pain Eases there is HOPE shirts here!
To find out how to join Dave and Laura next year (February of 2025) on The Grief Cruise, click here.
COME JOIN US for our big GPS Hope 10-year-event (Weekend of Hope) in Wisconsin this August!!! Find out more here.
Birthdays:Taraoluwa Chizoba was born on March 17 and is forever 7.
Adan William F. Tejada was born on March 17 and is forever 17.
Daniel Wilson was born on March 21 and is forever 30.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 252: Our Future Prize appeared first on GPS Hope.
When we lose a child from this earth, we want to be done here and go be with them. Even if our head knows we have reasons to stay, our heart struggles to accept it. The pain and darkness can be all-consuming, and we cannot believe life will ever be worth living without our child.
Podcast host, Laura Diehl, knows what that is like. In this episode, she will share some specific ways to help other parents, who find themselves on this same unwanted journey of child loss, change their perspective that life will never be good again. Your life can have meaning and purpose again, and this is not in spite of your child's death, but because of his or her life.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Please remember to give this podcast a rating and a review.
Click here for the song I Surrender All sung by Stephen McWhirter.
To find out how to join Dave and Laura next year (February of 2025) on The Grief Cruise, click here.
COME JOIN US for our big GPS Hope 10-year-event (Weekend of Hope) in Wisconsin this August!!! Find out more here.
Birthdays:Steven Kowalewski was born on March 11 and is forever 28.
Quintin T. Flowers was born on March 12 and is forever 54.
Matthew Branca was born on March 15 and is forever 23.
Rohit Matthew was born on March 16 and is forever 23.
Adam Block was born on March 16 and is forever 34.
Zachary Sutton was born on March 16 and is forever 32.
Danielle Jerome was born on March 16 and is forever 32.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 251: Can Life Ever be Good Again? appeared first on GPS Hope.
Have you felt frustration that you are not going through the five stages of grief that you have heard about? In this episode, Laura shares why that is not only okay, but even to expected.
Note: Thank you to Basia and Sebastian for sponsoring today's episode in memory of their son, Gabriel.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Click here to sponsor a podcast episode in honor of your child.
Watch the YouTube video from Mitch here.
Please remember to give this podcast a rating and a review.
Join Laura for her birthday, one year from this week (February of 2025) on The Grief Cruise! Click here for the info.
COME JOIN US for our big GPS Hope 10-year-event (Weekend of Hope) in Wisconsin this August!!! Find out more here.
Birthdays:Patrick Palazzo was born on March 2 and is forever 24.
Aaron Wright was born on March 3 and is forever 32.
Jonathan Van Verdegem was born on March 6 and is forever 19.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 250: There Is No Such Thing As the Five Stages of Grief with Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
There are a lot of listeners who know Laura's daughter, Becca, died from heart issues. There are fewer listeners who know the cause of the heart issues, and not very many who know the full story, because Laura doesn't share it very often.
In this episode, Laura shares from her heart what happened, and the 26 year journey it put them on, wrapping it up with why she can still say God is good and He is faithful.
Note: Thank you to Bubba and Renee Berry for sponsoring todays episode in memory of their son, Ian.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Click here to sponsor a podcast episode in honor of your child.
Join Laura for her birthday, one year from this week (February of 2025) on The Grief Cruise! Click here for the info.
COME JOIN US for our big GPS Hope 10-year-event (Weekend of Hope) in Wisconsin this August!!! Find out more here.
Birthdays:Ian Rodriguez was born on February 26 and is forever 33.
Dylan Paul Yancey Clarke was born on February 26 and is forever 17.
Miesha Grimes was born on March 1 and is forever 24.
Patrick Palazzo was born on March 2 and is forever 24.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 249: It All Started When She Was Only Three… appeared first on GPS Hope.
When Laura's daughter died, she remembers feeling so very shattered that she did not think it was possible to find all the pieces, much less have God put them all back together. But as she continued this unwanted journey, she began to see and understand that brokenness can become something beautiful.
In this episode, Laura's hope and prayer is that each listener will be able to have their own hope that it is possible to not only see beauty around them again, but to see beauty in themselves, within their brokenness.
Note: Thank you to Tommy and Angie Sanders, for sponsoring today’s podcast episode in honor of their son, Nolan.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Click here to sponsor a podcast episode in honor of your child.
Become a montly partner in supporting this podcast here.
COME JOIN US for our big GPS Hope 10-year-event (Weekend of Hope) in Wisconsin this August!!! Find out more here.
Click here to find out more about GPS Hope Share & Care groups or becoming an affiliate group.
Birthdays:Sean Kraus was born on February 19 and is forever 24.
Jason Zimdars was born on February 20 and is forever 35.
Nolan Sanders was born on February 24 and is forever 28.
Paul Huprich was born on February 24 and is forever 19.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 248: We Can Be Both Broken and Beautiful appeared first on GPS Hope.
When our child leaves this earth, there are plenty of unexpected things that happen as we go along on this unwanted journey. Sometimes it is based on things we expected that just don’t happen the way we thought they would, and other times these unexpected things seem to come out of nowhere.
In this episode, Laura wants to help pareavors be more prepared to expect the unexpected.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Click here to sponsor a podcast episode in honor of your child.
Become a montly partner in supporting this podcast here.
Sign up to receive the Weekly Word of Hope here.
COME JOIN US for our big GPS Hope 10-year-event (Weekend of Hope) in Wisconsin this August!!! Find out more here.
Birthdays:Eric Decoteau was born on February 11 and is forever 28.
Jeffrey Allison was born on February 14 and is forever 30.
Hailey Eastridge was born on February 14 and is forever 9.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 247: Expecting the Unexpected in Our Grief appeared first on GPS Hope.
Many grieving parents who have faced child loss share how hard it is that everyone around them just keeps going on with their life as if nothing has happened, when their own life has come to a screeching halt after the death of their child.
Laura shares a specific time and place she had that exact painful thought and how she eventually saw that a change in perspective showed her how that could possibly be a good thing, as she continued on her unwanted journey of life here without her daughter.
In this episode, Laura also shares three suggestions on what to do when you feel like you just cannot go on without your child.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Click here to sponsor a podcast episode in honor of your child.
Become a montly partner in supporting this podcast here.
COME JOIN US for our big GPS Hope 10-year-event (Weekend of Hope) in Wisconsin this August!!! Find out more here.
Birthdays:Robert Schafer DeVries was born on February 4 and is forever 35.
Ava Shaw was born on February 4 and is forever 20.
Bradley K Bongar was born on February 7 and is forever 37.
Brenton Smith was born on February 10 and is forever 24.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 246: My World Stopped When My Child Died appeared first on GPS Hope.
Every year, since 1998, Laura has asked the Lord for a scripture of what He wants to work into her life for that year. Several years ago, she also ask Him for a specific word, and many times that word and the scripture flowed together.
Laura has shared on this topic before, but felt led to talk about it again, because this past year's verse for her has been so profound and so very meaningful, and because of how intertwined her word and verse for 2024 are.
Her hope and prayer is that this episode helps each listener seek the Holy Spirit to do something similar, as a needed anchor they can continually turn to during the year.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Click here to find out more about Laura's book Reflections of Hope: A Daily Reading for Bereaved Parents.
Do you have Reflections of Hope? Write a review here on Amazon, to encourage other pareavors how it can help them on their own journey.
Share your verse or word with us here in the comment section.
COME JOIN US for our big GPS Hope 10-year-event (Weekend of Hope) in Wisconsin this August!!! Find out more here.
Birthdays:Robert Scott Lelle was born on January 28 and is forever 26.
Celeste France was born on January 29 and is forever 17.
Bryce Thurman was born on January 30 and is forever 22.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 245: A Needed Anchor for the Year appeared first on GPS Hope.
After taking a short break for the first time in four years, Laura is back to share on the topic of hope and how wishful thinking is not true hope.
Hopelessness can leave us feeling weary and defeated, leaving us caught in a negative circle and not see any way out. In today's episode, Laura looks at Proverbs 13:12 which implies this very thing, along with the second half of the verse which breathes hope back into our lives.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Click here to find out more about Laura's book Reflections of Hope: A Daily Reading for Bereaved Parents.
Do you have Reflections of Hope? Write a review here on Amazon, to encourage other pareavors how it can help them on their own journey.
Find Sara's book Footsteps of Hope here.
COME JOIN US for our big GPS Hope 10-year-event (Weekend of Hope) in Wisconsin this August!!! Find out more here.
Birthdays:Note: These are all the birthdays that were not shared the weeks Laura took time off, along with this week.
Madison Clark was born on January 2 and is forever 20.
Jaden Dyce was born on January 6 and is forever 20.
Brandon Rodriguez was born on January 6 and is forever 27.
Ryan Hines was born on January 7 and is forever 27.
Julia Wamsley was born on January 9 and is forever 27.
Noah J Barela budded on earth to bloom in heaven on January 22.
Joshua Caldwell was born on January 16 and is forever 28.
Tate Kwiatkowski was born on January 16 and is forever 69 days.
Jonathan Jackson was born on January 17 and is forever 15.
Hugh Brown was born on January 19 and is forever 18.
Jeanette Marie was born on January 19 and is forever 36.
Tommy Wills was born on January 19 and is forever 23.
Richie Rudkin was born on January 27 and is forever 27.
Zachary Kidd was born on January 27 and is forever 26.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 244: Hope for the Hopeless After Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
Advent is a time of waiting. This time of year, advent means waiting for Christmas to arrive. As bereaved parents, our advent is waiting for the day we can see and be with our children again. Fortunately, Jesus coming to earth was out of God's love for us, so that our separation is only temporary.
In the meantime, we grieve deeply because we love deeply. Along with the fourth (and final) week of the advent reading, Laura also shares Twas the Night After Christmas for Bereaved Parents which voices for many of us our thoughts about the holiday season we have just come through.
Note: There will be a short break from the GPS Hope podcast until January 23.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Watch the fourth week advent reading on the GPS Hope YouTube channel here.
Find out more about the book Reflections of Hope here.
Click here to order Reflections of Hope on Amazon.
Write a review here for Reflections of Hope on Amazon.
Click here to find out more about the Weekend of Hope (and the Celebration of Hope) in August of 2024.
Birthdays:John Ferreira Jr. was born on December 24 and is forever 32.
Isaiah Key was born on December 25 and is forever 13.
Nicole Daniel was born on December 26 and is forever 27.
Ryan Durkin was born on December 27 and is forever 19.
Aria Arrona was born on December 31 and is forever 15.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 243: The Forever Love For Our Child appeared first on GPS Hope.
Joy is something that seems impossible to have ever again, after the death of our child. In today's episode, Laura talks about this, along with sharing some details about someone in the Bible who had an extremely difficult life (that included the death of her child) that most of us can relate to.
We can have joy in our lives once again, but it is something most of us have to fight for, when we are ready.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Find out more about the book Reflections of Hope here.
Click here to order Reflections of Hope on Amazon.
Write a review here for Reflections of Hope on Amazon.
Click here to find out more about the Weekend of Hope (and the Celebration of Hope) in August of 2024.
Birthdays:Brian was born on December 17 and is forever 26.
Bobbie Jo Odell was born on December 18 and is forever 44.
Luke Getchell was born on December 19 and is forever 14.
Carissa Perkins was born on December 21 and is forever 29.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 242: Is It Possible to Have Joy Again? appeared first on GPS Hope.
Peace can be hard to come by after the death of our child, and the Christmas season can make it even more difficult to find the peace we so desperately need. In this episode, Laura starts with a recording of the live reading from the book Hope for the Future: An Advent Journey for Bereaved Parents (Week 2 Day One) on the topic of peace within the Christmas season.
Since the podcast episodes are released on Tuesdays, she then reads Tuesdays entry from the book, sharing more about Jesus being our Prince of Peace.
Links Mentioned in this episode:See the webpage for the book Hope for the Future: An Advent Journey for Bereaved Parents, where you can get a PDF copy of the book for only $4.95. (Or you can order a paperback copy of the book from Amazon or your favorite book outlet.)
Click here to find out more about the Weekend of Hope (and the Celebration of Hope) in August of 2024.
Birthdays:Sarah Jordan was born on December 11 and is forever 42.
DW Grubbs was born on December 12 and is forever 27.
Tyler Sitter was born on December 12 and is forever 32.
Maria Elena Navarrete was born on December 12 and is forever 55.
Tanner Allen-Harris was born on December 13 and is forever 20.
Cameron Paddock was born on December 14 and is forever 22.
David Paul French was born on December 16 and is forever 52.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 241: The Prince of Peace Within the Pain of Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
The Christmas season can be brutal for those of us who have lost a child, especially the first few years. One year, when Laura was struggling deeply connecting to the reason for the season she found herself crying out to God to show Himself as Emmanuel, God with us.
She felt led to dig out the family advent wreath and found herself writing out something every day for the four weeks of advent. In this podcast episode, Laura shares the first reading from that first day.
Links Mentioned in this episode:See the webpage for the book Hope for the Future: An Advent Journey for Bereaved Parents, where you can get a PDF copy of the book for only $4.95. (Or you can order a paperback copy of the book from Amazon or your favorite book outlet.)
Find out more about The Grief Cruise and how to join Dave and Laura in 2025!
To see Laura's other books, click here.
Birthdays:Joseph Amaha was born on November 28 and is forever 29.
Angie Mata was born on December 4 and is forever 36.
Chelsea Kline (Billotte) was born on December 8 and is forever 32.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 240: Waiting with Hope appeared first on GPS Hope.
When our child dies, we feel like we have been left wandering in a wilderness with no way out. Recently, Laura saw how the wilderness may have more to it than how she has seen it in the past, and that there just might be a different perspective we can have while in this wilderness experience.
Links Mentioned in this episode:See the webpage for the book Hope for the Future: An Advent Journey for Bereaved Parents, where you can get a PDF copy of the book for only $4.95. (Or you can order a paperback copy of the book from Amazon or your favorite book outlet.)
Find out more about The Grief Cruise and how to join Dave and Laura in 2025!
Birthdays:Liam “Trip” Nugent was born on November 29 and is forever 21.
Raelyne Ten Bruggencate was born on November 29 and is forever 1.
Ginny Rettig was born on November 30 and is forever 21.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 239: The Wilderness of Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
As we are all very aware, this week is Thanksgiving. As grieving parents, child loss can make it feel like it is impossible to ever be truly thankful again.
Laura shares her heart about this family holiday, in hopes that it will be a help and encouragement to you. (Note: Most of this episode is a replay of a previous one on this topic, giving Dave and Laura a bit of a needed break during this time.)
Links Mentioned in this episode:See the webpage for the book Hope for the Future: An Advent Journey for Bereaved Parents, where you can get a PDF copy of the book for only $4.95. (Or you can order a paperback copy of the book from Amazon or your favorite book outlet.)
Find out more about The Grief Cruise and how to join Dave and Laura in 2025!
Birthdays:
Timothy Krawiec was born on November 17 and is forever 27.
Benjamin Krawiec was born on November 21 and is forever 32.
Logan Singer was born on November 21 and is forever 17.
Jacob LeTourneau was born on November 22 and is forever 21.
Josie Floyd was born on November 22 and is forever 25.
Jammica Shawniece Smith was born on November 22 and is forever 34.
Melissa Sulikowski Hill was born on November 23 and is forever 38.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 238: It’s So Hard to be Thankful appeared first on GPS Hope.
Those of us who have lost a child can begin to dread the end-of-the-year holidays way before they arrive, especially the Christmas season.
Several years ago, as Laura struggled with this, she ended up putting together her own advent time with God. Today she talks about this, and how you can join her on a special advent journey, specifically for bereaved parents.
This podcast episode is sponsored by Peter and Yuniati Dinh, in memory of their 21-month-old daughter, Hanna Abigail.
Links Mentioned in this episode:See the webpage for the book Hope for the Future: An Advent Journey for Bereaved Parents, where you can get a PDF copy of the book for only $4.95. (Or you can order a paperback copy of the book from Amazon or your favorite book outlet.)
Find out more about The Grief Cruise and how to join Dave and Laura in 2025!
Find Sara’s Facebook post here and feel free to share it.
Click here to see the webshop with the cards put together by Peter and Yuniati as a legacy to their daughter, Hanna.
Birthdays:Hanna Abigail Dinh was born on November 12 and is forever 21 months.
Joshua Dane Hughes was born on November 15 and is forever 30.
Lara Ann was born on November 17 and is forever 15.
Timothy Krawiec was born on November 17 and is forever 27.
Jessica was born on November 17 and is forever 26.
Cord Ramsey Davis was born on November 18 and is forever 24.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 237: Preparing for Advent as a Bereaved Parent appeared first on GPS Hope.
Many believers in Christ struggle with their faith after child loss. It can feel like God did not keep His end of things, and some scriptures feel like a slap-in-the-face reminder of this.
Instead of refusing to read the Word because of those verses, Laura discovered there were scriptures that took on a whole new meaning after her daughter died, that gave her the peace, encouragement, strength and hope she desperately needed.
Listen in, as Laura shares some of those scriptures in today's episode.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Find out more about The Grief Cruise and how to join Dave and Laura in 2025!
Birthdays:Everett Molino was born on November 9 and is forever 15.
Beau-Dean Gordon was born on November 10 and is forever 23.
Nathan Theriault was born on November 11 and is forever 2.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 236: My View of God’s Word after Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
Today is another topic that can be such a huge struggle for so many of us, which is what to do with our children's things when they are no longer here. Is it okay that I have left everything exactly where it was? What if I lost an adult child, and I wasn't given the things I wanted that were special to me?
These are some of the things Laura talks about in today's episode. If this is a hurdle you have been able to get across, feel free to share a word of encouragement to others who are struggling in the comments under the episode on the website.
Links Mentioned in this episode:To join the private GPS Hope Facebook page, click here. Be sure to answer the questions or your request will be declined.
Find out more about Laura's book When Tragedy Strikes: Rebuilding Your Life With Hope and Healing After the Death of Your Child.
Order When Tragedy Strikes on Amazon here.
Share your experience to encourage other pareavors by writing in the comment area here.
Birthdays:Shannon Shelby was born on October 28 and is forever 43.
Dawson Morris was born on October 29 and is forever 19.
Donice Vaughan was born on October 29 and is forever 30.
Mary Elizabeth Englebert was born on October 30 and is forever 21.
James was born on October 30 and is forever 17 months.
Ikaika Ewer was born on November 1 and is forever 6.
Chaney Partrich was born on November 4 and is forever 20.
Sophie Goertzen was born on November 4 and is forever 17.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 235: What About My Child's Things? appeared first on GPS Hope.
Last week (episode 233) Laura talked about struggling with guilt after child loss. If you did not hear it, you may want to listen to that one first. In this episode, Laura continues addressing the topic of guilt; specifically about some of the reasons we may have a hard time releasing ourselves from the guilt we carry after the death of our child.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Click here to get Laura’s Weekly Word of Hope.
Help Laura and Dave continue providing podcasts and other resources by giving a special gift to GPS Hope or become a monthly supporter here.
Birthdays:Matthew Anthony Sulikowski was born on October 22 and is forever 37.
Dustin Clements was born on October 26 and is forever 21.
Myles Wofford was born on October 27 and is forever 3 weeks.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 234: Why Do We Hold Onto Our Guilt When Our Child Dies? appeared first on GPS Hope.
Guilt. It is something we all struggle with after the death of our child. We believe it is somehow our fault and that we should have done something differently so our child would still be here with us. We feel guilty that we did not/could not keep our child safe.
Listen in, as Laura talks about this struggle we all face, and why we do not need to continue to carry guilt and self-condemnation.
Links Mentioned in this episode:There were no links mentioned. Save the date of August 1-4, 2024 for the Celebration of Hope in Wisconsin. Watch for details.
Birthdays:Alicia Martin was born on October 17 and is forever 36.
Carissa Ellen Hunsaker was born on October 19 and is forever 1.
Samuel Buss was born on October 19 and is forever 21.
Taylor Contreras was born on October 20 and is forever 16.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 233: Letting Go of Guilt After Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
For most of us, what used to be just a normal date on the calendar has become the worst day of the year.
This week, Laura hits that calendar day once again, which is October 12. Listen in, as she shares some of her thoughts on this topic we all have to deal with, as bereaved parents.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Click here to leave a review for Reflections of Hope on Amazon.
Find out more about Laura’s newly released book Reflections of Hope: Daily Readings for Bereaved Parents.
Purchase Reflections of Hope on Amazon here.
Birthdays:Rikki Grace was born on October 9 and is forever 25.
Mitchell Ang was born on October 12 and is forever 17.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 232: The Dreaded Anniversary Death Date appeared first on GPS Hope.
We can get very frustrated (even angry) when someone tries to compare their loss to our loss of the death of our child. No one can possibly know the suffocating pit it hurls you into, unless you have found yourself in that same pit of child loss.
There is another comparison that can frustrate us, and it is one we can make among each other if not out loud, then sometimes silently.
In today's episode, Laura focuses on us as pareavors, and how our comparisons cannot only hurt others, but keep us in our own cycle of grief.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Click here to go to the GPS Hope store and look at the various Hold On Pain Eases shirts.
Find out more about Umbrella Ministries.
Birthdays:Aaliyah Henderson was born on October 1 and she is forever 4.
Joshua Konaszewski was born on October 2 and is forever 24.
Paul Meyer was born on October 4 and is forever 29.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 231: You Can’t Compare When It Comes to Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
Sometimes God uses a movie or TV show to speak something to our hearts. In today's episode, Laura shares how there are some things based on Dorothy's journey in the classic movie Wizard of Oz, that can open our eyes to see some things about God we might be having a hard time seeing after the death of our child.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Click here to leave a review for Reflections of Hope on Amazon.
Find out more about Laura’s newly released book Reflections of Hope: Daily Readings for Bereaved Parents.
Click here to order Reflections of Hope on Amazon.
Click here for the book Conquering the Game of Control by Craig Green. Note: This is an “affiliate” link, meaning a small portion of your purchase price will be given to GPS Hope.
Birthdays:Cody Simmons was born on September 25 and is forever 25.
Jacob Rhoades was born on September 28 and is forever 21.
Shea Thomas Patno was born on September 29 and is forever 15.
Stephanie Webber was born on September 29 and is forever 29.
Jason Hoyle was born on September 29 and is forever 24.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 230: Is God Really in Control? appeared first on GPS Hope.
When our child dies, many of us struggle with not wanting to continue living here on earth. We want to go be with our child, even if we know in our heads there are reasons to stay, such as other children or a spouse, friends, ministries, or a job we enjoy.
How can we get past that feeling and be okay with being here (for who knows how long) without our child? In this episode, Laura shares some of the things that personally helped her through that time after her daughter, Becca died.
Today’s episode is sponsored by Richard and LaRee Lorenz, in memory of their son, Rodney Dean Lorenz.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Click here to go to the GPS Hope store and look at the various Hold On Pain Eases shirts.
You can sponsor a podcast episode in memory of your child here.
Birthdays:Elijah Hubbell was born on September 17 and is forever 8.
Rodney Lorenz was born on September 18 and is forever 49.
Acacia Goertzen was born on September 19 and is forever 15.
Rachel Terrazas was born on September 21 and is forever 22.
Nicole Zanoni Romualdo was born on September 21 and is forever 16 months old
Alyssa Barker was born on September 22 and is forever 33.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 229: I Don’t Want to Be Here Anymore After My Child Died appeared first on GPS Hope.
For many of us who have lost a child, it seems like God is silent when we need Him the most. We can be very angry how God seemed to be absent to keep our child from dying, and now He is absent in helping us through the darkness. Today is part two of this […] The post 228: When God is Silent After Child Loss (Part Two) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Why is God silent when I need Him more than ever? Does He not care? Has He abandoned me? Have I done something that has made Him mad at me?
This week Laura shares from a book that addresses these thoughts, based on when God was silent after His Son was tortured and died a painful death.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Click here to go to the GPS Hope store and look at the various Hold On Pain Eases shirts.
Birthdays:Toni was born on September 4 and is forever 24.
Alyshia DeFranco was born on September 6 and is forever 24.
Brady Keith Herbert was born on September 7 and is forever 30.
Jacob Sorouri was born on September 8 and is forever 32.
Emma Ho was born on September 9 and is forever 10.
Paul Murphy was born on September 9 and is forever 21.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 227: When God is Silent After Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
Laura recently heard something that caused her to see God's love in a different light than she has before. The statement, "God loves us all the same", isn't really a comfort to most of us after the death of our child. Laura digs into this, as she also shares some recent communication between herself and […] The post 226: Does God Love Me? appeared first on GPS Hope.
Everyone who has lost a child is affected in some way in the area of grandchildren, making it a big topic with many angles. In last week's episode, Laura talked about those who have grandchildren through their child who is no longer here, and how quite often those grandchildren are removed from our lives (which […] The post 225: The Issue of Grandchildren after Child Loss (Part Two) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Everyone who has lost a child is affected in some way in the area of grandchildren, making it a big topic with many angles. In today's episode, Laura talks about those who have grandchildren through their child who is no longer here, and how quite often those grandchildren are removed from our lives (which Laura […] The post 224: The Issue of Grandchildren after Child Loss (Part One) appeared first on GPS Hope.
When our child leaves this earth, we feel so very lost in our identity. Who am I now? Does it even matter? How can I go on? Do I even want to? So much of our identity is wrapped up in being a parent, but we are still so much more than being a parent, […] The post 223: A Key to Your Future Self’s Identity appeared first on GPS Hope.
"What does this whole child-loss-thing look like, years down the road?" Believe it or not, this is a question Laura has been asked a few times. Those first few years, we are just trying to get through the next minute, much less the next day or the next year. But after a while, when a […] The post 222: The Many Years Following Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
In today's episode, Laura talks with a guest who questioned if God was punishing her with child loss because of an abortion she had in her younger years (based on the shame of losing her image as a good church girl). This is an excellent talk for those who have the same question, wondering if […] The post 221: Is God Punishing Me? appeared first on GPS Hope.
Many of us struggle with our faith in God after He didn't answer our prayers for our children. We may have prayed daily for protection, but he or she was in an accident that took their life. We may have prayed for healing from an addiction, or a mental illness like being bi-polar or manic […] The post 220: When You Believed God for a Healing (with Rhyl Venning) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Seven years ago this month, Laura's book When Tragedy Strikes: Rebuilding Your Life with Hope and Healing was released with Morgan James Publishing. We are very excited to announce that the audio version has finally being released. In today's episode you will be listening to the audio of another chapter, which is Chapter 11, The […] The post 219: Our Thoughts in Grief appeared first on GPS Hope.
Seven years ago this week, Laura's book When Tragedy Strikes: Rebuilding Your Life with Hope and Healing was released with Morgan James Publishing. We are very excited to announce that the audio version is finally being released this week. In today's episode you will be listening to Laura's audio, reading one of the chapters from […] The post 218: Our Many Triggers and Tears After Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
When our child dies, we may have many reasons to "stick around" but none of them seem to matter. We cannot imagine being here for any length of time without our child here with us. Most of us are not suicidal, we just don't want to be here anymore and would be fine with something […] The post 217: I Don’t Want to Be Here Without My Child appeared first on GPS Hope.
In this episode, Laura talks about something most parents who have lost a child think about. "I am not the same person I used to be. I will never be that person again. Who am I now? Why do we have a word for someone who has lost a spouse, or someone who has lost […] The post 216: What Do You Call Someone Who Has Lost a Child? appeared first on GPS Hope.
Today's episode is a continuation of Laura's conversation with Melanie DeSimone on the topic of when people around us try to help, but end up hurting us. In today's chat, the two talk about: being in the "range" of normal grief of child loss within the first three to five years when we are made […] The post 215: It Hurts When They Don't Understand (continued with Melanie DeSimone) appeared first on GPS Hope.
When our child dies, it is more than just a moment in time for us. It is a continual, ongoing loss. However, most of the people around us see it as an event; as something we should be able to get over , and it can really hurt.
People we thought who would be there for us seem to go on with their lives, forgetting about our child and the huge gaping hole it leaves in our lives and in our hearts.
Today you will hear part of Laura's discussion with guest, Melanie DeSimone, about the many thoughts and feelings we can have when we are hurt by those around us who don't even seem to try and understand what it is like to lose our child from this earth.
Melanie DeSimone has lived on a small homestead for twenty-five years, nestled in rural Bibb County, Alabama. Along with her husband, Hector, she raised four children, along with dozens of various farm animals. Since her son, Dominic, ran ahead to Heaven in 2014, she has spent a great deal of her time and energy writing about their family's grief journey and ministering to the bereaved parent community through her blog, thelifeididntchoose.com, and in person through speaking. In her spare time, Melanie loves hugging and playing with her two grandsons, sewing small one-of-a-kind handcrafts, and reading lots of books from many different points of view.
(Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)
This podcast episode was sponsored by Omnia Masoud in memory of her son, Ocean Yohannes Emru Campbell.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Connect with Melanie: website or on Facebook
The reduced cabin prices for joining GPS Hope on a cruise have been extened for two more weeks! Get more information!
Sponsor a podcast episode in memory of your child.
Click here to become a monthly partner, giving hope to other parents, or to give a special gift to keep this podcast going, along with providing other needed resources to bereaved parents.
(GPS Hope is a 501c3 nonprofit and runs on the financial support of those who believe in passing along the hope they have received to others.)
Birthdays:Richard Elia was born on June 5 and is forever 40.
Aaron Paige was born on June 6 and is forever 21.
Kayla Ramos was born on June 7 and is forever 25.
Ocean Yohannes Emru Campbell was born on June 7 and is forever 23.
Tasha Nicole Busick was born on June 10 and is forever 40.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at office@gpshope.org.
Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope
The post 214: It Hurts When They Don't Understand (with Melanie DeSimone) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Last Sunday, May 28 was Pentecost Sunday. This is when the Holy Spirit fell on those in the upper room with power and anointing, fifty days after Jesus' resurrection.
As believers in Christ, we are familiar with who Jesus is and what He did for us. We hear a lot about who God is as well. But how much do we know about the third part of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, who lives in us when we receive the gift of salvation?
Why do we need the Holy Spirit, and how can He help us in our grief after the death of our child? This is what Laura talks about in today's episode.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Click here to find out more about Laura’s health journey.
Click here to sign up to talk with Laura about having her as a health coach and have a health assessment.
Send Laura an email to let her know you would like to join other pareavors working toward better health in the GroupMe app.
Join Laura and Dave on The Grief Cruise! Click here for more information.
Birthdays:Jordan Kok was born on May 28 and is forever 33.
Alayna Lisboa was born on May 28 and is forever 7 weeks.
Kyle Enanoria was born on May 30 and is forever 11.
Kyron was born on June 2 and is forever 18.
James Manning was born on June 3 and is forever 2.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 213: The Gift of the Holy Spirit Within Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
Do you feel guilty for laughing after your child died? Are humorous things that used to make you laugh no longer funny? How do we get past that? What if we don't want to ever laugh again?
Laura's guest, Nancy Weil, is a certified laughter specialist, who combines it with being a certified grief worker. Laughter is something that is needed in our lives as soon as possible because of the physical, mental and emotional benefits it brings to the grieving process. Find out why and how in today’s discussion.
Nancy Weil is a leading authority on the relationship between humor and grief, and is known for her energetic, entertaining and content rich programs. She runs a national virtual grief support group through her work with the Order of the Golden Rule, an association for independent funeral homes. Nancy is Certified as a Funeral Celebrant, Grief Management Specialist, and Laughter Leader. She is the founder of The Laugh Academy and the author of, If Stress Doesn't Kill You, Your Family Might.
(Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)
This podcast episode was sponsored by Lester and Kathy Wilfong, in memory of their daughter, Jessi Wilfong.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Listen to previous episode with Nancy: Can Our Children Still Communicate With Us?
Connect with Nancy: website thelaughacademy.com or email nancy@thelaughacademy.com
It is the last week to get in on the reduced cabin prices! Get more information to join Laura and Nancy on The Grief Cruise!
Sponsor a podcast episode in memory of your child.
Click here to become a monthly partner, giving hope to other parents, or to give a special gift to keep this podcast going, along with providing other needed resources to bereaved parents.
(GPS Hope is a 501c3 nonprofit and runs on the financial support of those who believe in passing along the hope they have received to others.)
Birthdays:Isaiah Santell was born on May 22 and is forever 16.
Tyrin Carter was born on May 22 and is forever 19.
Andrew Ricken was born on May 22 and is forever 35.
Kyle Terry was born on May 24 and is forever 28.
Jessi Wilfong was born on May 26 and is forever 20.
Andrew LaPlante was born on May 27 and is forever 24.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at office@gpshope.org.
Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope
The post 212: Grief and Laughter appeared first on GPS Hope.
As parents who have faced the loss of a child, our world comes to a screeching halt. It can feel devastating to see life going on as normal with those around us.
In today's episode, Laura's guest, Kim Peacock talks about this, along with dealing with the many triggering activities that go on this time of year, such as graduations and weddings.
Kim Peacock is the author of Victorious Heart, which details her handling of grief over the loss of her 17-year-old daughter. It also provides insightful advice for those seeking to support and help those who grieve. She has raised six children, residing with her husband, Larry in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. Kim is the CFO of Peacock Engineering, a cemetery construction company that specializes in cemetery improvement and expansion. Through her blog, Wild Victorious Heart, and her book and speaking, Kim acts as a grief mentor to others in need. She enjoys spending time with her several grandchildren, gardening and playing with the animals on her mini farm.
(Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)
Links Mentioned in this episode:Click the link to connect with Kim: www.wildvictoriousheart.com
Click the link to order Kim’s book on Amazon.
(Note: This is an affiliate link which means GPS Hope will recieve a small portion of the purchase price.)
Click here to find out more about Reflections of Hope: Daily Readings for Bereaved Parents.
Birthdays:Jordan Slusher was born on May 17 and is forever 21.
Jason Turner was born on May 20 and is forever 36.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 211: When the Rest of the World Moves On appeared first on GPS Hope.
In the darkness of child loss, we feel like we are wandering in a wilderness with no hope of ever getting out. It is a very vulnerable place to be, and the enemy knows it.
In this episode, Laura talks about Jesus' wilderness experience at a time when He was also extremely vulnerable. There are several things that can help us as pareavors, when we take the time to really look at what was happening with Jesus at that time.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Click here to find out more about Reflections of Hope: Daily Readings for Bereaved Parents.
Please give a rating and review here on Amazon for Reflections of Hope.
Get information about the last room available for the GPS Hope & Healing retreat here.
Join Laura and Dave on The Grief Cruise! Click here for more information.
Birthdays:Marc Cerundolo was born on May 7 and is forever 49.
Michael Slater was born on May 8 and is forever 26.
Sarah Wilber was born on May 10 and is forever 34.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 210: I Feel Like I Am Dying In the Wilderness appeared first on GPS Hope.
As a pareavor (parent who is bereaved of their child) we are broken. Deeply broken and our hearts are shattered. We don't think it is possible to ever have our hearts be put back together.
In today's episode, Laura shares her thoughts and experience in being broken after child loss, and being okay with being broken.
Today’s episode is sponsored by Stephen and Ariel Kostrna in memory of Milo Liam Kostrna.
“From the moment we knew he was alive, we loved him. We felt such longing to meet him and to hold him, especially when we knew the time was drawing near. At last, our dear little boy was flawlessly born on May 3rd last year. We learned so much about him in those first few minutes. He was beautiful, he was cuddly, and we were and are so glad that he is ours.
Milo, we know you are alive, and we love you. We feel such longing to meet you and to hold you, I'm sure it will be especially strong when our time is drawing near. At last, our dear little boy will see his parents flawlessly born anew. We will learn so much about you in those first few minutes. You will still be beautiful, you will still be cuddly, and you will still be ours just as we are yours.”
We love you, little boy.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Click here to find out more about Reflections of Hope: Daily Readings for Bereaved Parents.
Please give a rating and review here on Amazon for Reflections of Hope.
Please share the following with others!
Podcast episode 106: International Bereaved Mother’s Day
Podcast episode 156: A Special Day for Bereaved Mothers
A Letter to My Child on Bereaved Mother’s Day
Click here to sponsor an episode in memory of your child.
Birthdays:Milo Kostrna budded on earth to bloom in heaven on May 3.
Rosalie Marstall was born on May 4 and is forever 4.
Blake Anthony Wellmaker was born on May 5 and is forever 28.
Adam Walker was born on May 6 and is forever 28.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 209: Being Okay with Being Broken appeared first on GPS Hope.
The Grieving Parents Sharing Hope podcast's first episode was released on April 23rd, four years ago.
Today you will hear Laura read the April 23rd entry in Reflections of Hope: Daily Readings for Bereaved Parents, which talks about how our thoughts affect the process of finding our way out of the suffocating darkness of our grief.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Click here to find out more about Reflections of Hope: Daily Readings for Bereaved Parents. This is where you will also find how to participate in the preorder bonus of joining Laura live for for Mondays in May.
BE a grieving parent sharing hope with a financial gift or become a monthly partner with GPS Hope here.
Birthdays:Jude Como was born on April 23 and is forever 19.
Aminu Christopher was born on April 23 and is forever 41.
Abigail Jane (Abi) was born on April 25 and is forever 18 months.
Michael Roach was born on April 26 and is forever 28.
Bradley Brown was born on April 27 and is forever 17.
Christi Gayheart was born on April 29 and is forever 49.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 208: Our Dark Thoughts After Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
When we are faced with the shock of child loss, literally every part of us is out of whack our thoughts, our bodies, our emotions, and even our relationship with God.
Most of us start looking for some sort of hope, that life will not always be like this. We look for a way to try and make sense of why a good God would allow this to happen. Unfortunately, these things can be hard to find.
For almost three years, Laura has been working on a book to help pareavors find hope in all these areas, and she is thrilled to announce that Reflections of Hope: Daily Readings for Bereaved Parents is now available.
In today's episode, Laura brings on two guests, Sara Nelson and Vickie Hickox, who were part of a team of twelve bereaved parents that stuck with her for over a year, reading every entry and giving valuable feedback. Sara and Vickie share their thoughts on Reflections of Hope, so the listeners can hear from other pareavors how this book will help them in this difficult journey, no matter the age of your child, how he or she died, or how long or short of time it has been.
Sara Faith Nelson taught elementary and middle school grades for 15 years. Now she enjoys pursuing her love of writing. The primary focus of her writing has always leaned toward themes of hope, faith, and trust in the goodness of God. Since the death of her daughter and only child, she writes about her grief journey and surviving a devastating loss. She continues to write about trusting in God's goodness and grace while grappling with the hard questions. Sara and her husband, Dennis, live in Arizona.
Vickie Hickox lost her son, Dominic, from this earth on June 22, 2019 from brain cancer, which sent her on a journey to rediscover who God is in the midst of such a horrible tragedy. She was a correctional officer in a county jail in Georgia for ten years and recently moved, continuing her career in Florida to be closer to her other children and grandchildren. Whenever she can get away from her job, Vickie enjoys spending time with her family, and time on a beach somewhere.
(Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)
Links Mentioned in this episode:Click here to find out more about Reflections of Hope: Daily Readings for Bereaved Parents. This is where you will also find how to participate in the preorder bonus of joining Laura live for for Mondays in May.
Join Laura and Dave, as well as Sara and Vickie on The Grief Cruise in October! Click here for information.
Birthdays:Briana Martinez was born on April 17 and is forever 17.
Christopher Schofer was born on April 21 and is forever 25.
Adam Sharp was born on April 21 and is forever 19.
Shannon Chevalier was born on April 21 and is forever 27.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 207: Reflections of Hope After Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
Forever 29. Every parent who has lost a child from this earth knows exactly what that means.
Since this is the birthday week of Laura's daughter, Becca, she decided to talk about how difficult their birthdays can be, especially when those around us think we should be moving on and don't understand why this day is still so important to us.
Laura shares some encouragement in this area as well, along with various ideas on how to celebrate our child's birthday, even while deeply missing them.
You will also get to hear Laura sing the entire song that she wrote, I Remember Well which plays in the background of each week's birthday segment.
Today’s episode was sponsored by Dave and Laura Diehl, in memory of their daughter, Becca Diehl Howard. If you would like to sponsor a podcast episode for your child, click here.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Click here to know more about Laura’s book Reflections of Hope coming out soon!
To find out more about My Grief Journey for Kids click here.
To go directly to order My Grief Journey for Kids and automatically recieve the matching book for pareavors click here. (This offer is only good from April 9-15, 2023.)
(GPS Hope is a 501c3 nonprofit and runs on the financial support of those who believe in passing along the hope they have received to others.)
Birthdays:Brandon Matos was born on April 13 and is forever 23.
Becca Diehl Howard was born on April 13 and is forever 29.
Mylei Birdinground was born on April 14 and is forever 15.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 206: Their Birthday is So Hard! appeared first on GPS Hope.
1 Corinthians 15:55 is a verse we hear every year around this time at Easter, which says, O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? As parents who have lost a child, we can tell you exactly where that sting is, can't we?
In this episode, Laura talks about this, along with some thoughts about how the death and resurrection of Jesus affects us in such a deep way after the death of our child.
Click here to know more about Laura’s book Reflections of Hope coming out in April.
(GPS Hope is a 501c3 nonprofit and runs on the financial support of those who believe in passing along the hope they have received to others.)
Birthdays:Jonda Steinkamp was born on April 2 and is forever 4 ½ months.
Amie Bichard was born on April 5 and is forever 45.
Greg London was born on April 8 and is forever 34.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 205: Removing the Sting of Death appeared first on GPS Hope.
This is the time of year we start heading into spring at least that is what the calendar tells us. It might take a while for the weather to get the message though.
God can use nature to teach us many things about life, as well as death and grief. Laura talks about this in today's episode, giving some comparisons with things in nature and the changing of the seasons to our grief, after the death of our child.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Click here to know more about Laura’s book Reflections of Hope coming out in April.
(GPS Hope is a 501c3 nonprofit and runs on the financial support of those who believe in passing along the hope they have received to others.)
Birthdays:Dakota Crandall was born on March 27 and is forever 25.
Tommy Simmons was born on March 29 and is forever 59.
Miles DiGiannantonio was born on March 30 and is forever 20 months.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 204: What Season of Grief are You In? appeared first on GPS Hope.
For those of us who have lost a child from this earth, there is no way we can put words to the pain and suffocating darkness we find ourselves hurled into. As Laura has been known to say, I didn't even know that kind of darkness existed!
How do you even try to explain to someone who has never faced child loss what our grief is like, not just the first few months, but the first few years?
In today's episode, Laura shares several illustrations or comparisons that not only help us describe what our grief is like to those around us, but helps other pareavors realize they are not alone in these crazy and dark emotions that seem to hang on for so long.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Click here to know more about Laura’s book Reflections of Hope coming out in April.
Preorder the children’s book Laura is writing with her granddaughter and help them get it funded here.
Savanah’s website
Savanah’s Facebook page
Watch the video with Alainah
Join the discussion! Leave a question or comment on today’s talk here.
(GPS Hope is a 501c3 nonprofit and runs on the financial support of those who believe in passing along the hope they have received to others.)
Birthdays:Daniel Wilson was born on March 21 and is forever 30.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 203: Our Grief is Like… appeared first on GPS Hope.
Today's episode is a continuation of last week's discussion with Linda Dillow. If you have not heard episode 201 yet, please do not listen to this one until you go back. It lays the foundation for what will be shared today, which is needed for the topic of sexual intimacy and grief to make much more sense. You may even be frustrated by what you hear in this episode if you have not heard the previous one.
One thing you will hear from Linda is how God gave us the gift of sexual intimacy as a form of comfort for each other, and she shares a situation recorded in the Bible where we see that.
Obviously today's (and last week's) content is not for everyone, but it is extremely needed as no one else is talking about how grief affects our sexual intimacy within our marriage. Thankfully, Linda is someone who is willing to do so.
Linda is the author of several bestselling books, including Calm My Anxious Heart, Satisfy My Thirsty Soul, What's it Like to be Married to Me? And the co-author of Intimate Issues, Passion Pursuit, Surprised by the Healer and others.
Linda and her husband, Jody ministered in the former East European Communist countries and in Asia for eighteen years training the leadership of the church. They have five grown children (one in heaven) and ten amazing grandchildren. Linda loves to encourage women to hope in God and trust in His faithfulness!
(Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)
Links Mentioned in this episode:AuthenticIntimacy.com
Listen here to the previous episode 201: God’s Gift of Sexual Intimacy (with Linda Dillow).
Check out Linda’s books (Amazon Links):
- Intimate Issues 21 Questions Women Ask About Sex
- What's It Like to be Married to Me?
- Intimacy Ignited
Find out more about the GPS Hope & Healing retreats or register to attend.
Join Laura and Dave on The Grief Cruise in October. Click here for information.
Join the discussion! Leave a question or comment on today’s talk here.
Click here to become a monthly partner, giving hope to other parents, or to give a special gift to keep this podcast going, along with providing other needed resources to bereaved parents.
(GPS Hope is a 501c3 nonprofit and runs on the financial support of those who believe in passing along the hope they have received to others.)
Birthdays:Quintin T. Flowers was born on March 12 and is forever 54.
Matthew Branca was born on March 15 and is forever 23.
Rohit Matthew was born on March 16 and is forever 23.
Adam Block was born on March 16 and is forever 34.
Taraoluwa Chizoba was born on March 17 and is forever 7.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 202: Sexual Intimacy after Child Loss (with Linda Dillow) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Today you are going to hear the start of a conversation with a returning guest, Linda Dillow on a topic that is highly unusual and hard to find, which is sexual intimacy and grief.
This may sound strange, but Linda is highly qualified on the topic of God's view of sexual intimacy. After studying it out for herself, God led her to write a book, which led to more books and doing over 80 conferences on this topic.
A couple of years ago, her daughter passed away, which now also (unfortunately) qualifies her to talk about this topic within the deep grief of losing a child.
Before we get to the topic of intimacy and grief, the foundation needs to be laid for God's view of sex, as His gift to us, and why it is important to know and grasp that revelation, which is what you will hear today.
Linda is the author of several bestselling books, including Calm My Anxious Heart, Satisfy My Thirsty Soul, What's it Like to be Married to Me? And the co-author of Intimate Issues, Passion Pursuit, Surprised by the Healer and others.
Linda and her husband, Jody ministered in the former East European Communist countries and in Asia for eighteen years training the leadership of the church. They have five grown children (one in heaven) and ten amazing grandchildren. Linda loves to encourage women to hope in God and trust in His faithfulness!
(Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)
Links Mentioned in this episode:AuthenticIntimacy.com
Check out Linda’s books (Amazon Links):
- Intimate Issues 21 Questions Women Ask About Sex
- What's It Like to be Married to Me?
- Intimacy Ignited
Previous episodes with Linda:
195: Trusting God When It Doesn’t Make Sense
196: A Declaration of Hope
Find out more about the GPS Hope & Healing retreats or register to attend.
Join Laura and Dave on The Grief Cruise in October. Click here for information.
Join the discussion! Leave a question or comment on today’s talk here.
Click here to become a monthly partner, giving hope to other parents, or to give a special gift to keep this podcast going, along with providing other needed resources to bereaved parents.
(GPS Hope is a 501c3 nonprofit and runs on the financial support of those who believe in passing along the hope they have received to others.)
Birthdays:Ava Jenkins was born on March 6 and is forever 2.
Jonathan Van Verdegem was born on March 6 and is forever 19.
Steven Kowalewski was born on March 11 and is forever 28.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 201: God's Gift of Sexual Intimacy (with Linda Dillow) appeared first on GPS Hope.
We will face pitfalls on this unwanted grief journey after the death of our child. The valley of the shadow of grief is real and it is big. There can be many different feelings and emotions while on this unwanted journey.
Some of those are:
- Fear
- Depression and anxiety
- Longings and triggers
- Regret
- Loneliness and isolation
- Thinking I can't go on without my child here
In today's episode, Laura talks about each of these, based on something written by pareavor Libby, Brady's mom.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Find out more about the GPS Hope Share & Care groups here.
Click here to know more about Laura’s book Reflections of Hope coming out in April.
Check out Laura’s fun project of writing a children’s book about their cat with her granddaughter:
Go here to find out more, including preordering a book (or several) to help cover the cost of the illustrator, production and printing.
Savanah’s webpage
Savanah’s Facebook page
(GPS Hope is a 501c3 nonprofit and runs on the financial support of those who believe in passing along the hope they have received to others.)
Birthdays:Ian Rodriguez was born on February 26 and is forever 33.
Miesha Grimes was born on March 1 and is forever 24.
Patrick Palazzo was born on March 2 and is forever 24.
Aaron Wright was born on March 3 and is forever 32.
Christian Fafnis was born on March 4 and is forever 20.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 200: Six Pitfalls of Grief appeared first on GPS Hope.
When we are in that place of deep grief after child loss, all kinds of dark thoughts can go through our minds and hearts. God knows this. He knows all our doubts about who He is and all our shame and messiness that make us feel so very broken and unlovable.
Not only does He know the darkest things about us that we might not even want to admit to ourselves, He wants to continue living inside us, while letting us know that He still loves us deeply and completely.
To know and be known is something we all desire. God wants to give us that blessing, especially in our place of darkness and brokenness. In today's episode will take a look at Hebrews 12, with this thought in mind.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Click here to know more about Laura’s book Reflections of Hope coming out in April.
Join the discussion! Leave a question or comment on today’s talk here.
Email Laura to let her know what you think about today’s episode: laura@gpshope.org
Click here to give a special gift to GPS Hope to bless Laura on her 60th birthday!
(GPS Hope is a 501c3 nonprofit and runs on the financial support of those who believe in passing along the hope they have received to others.)
Birthdays:Alex Soriano was born on February 17 and is forever 21.
Laci Ann Meyer was born on February 19 and is forever 28.
Sean Kraus was born on February 19 and is forever 24.
Jason Zimdars was born on February 20 and is forever 35.
William Burke was born on February 20 and is forever 29.
Sean Kelly was born on February 22 and is forever 44.
Nolan Sanders was born on February 24 and is forever 28.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 199: To Know and Be Known appeared first on GPS Hope.
Today's episode is with guest, Alicia White, whose seventeen-year-old daughter ended her own life, very unexpectedly. As someone who had a well-established ministry, teaching families how to grow together spiritually, there was a lot of guilt and shame to work through, on top of grieving her daughter's sudden departure from this world by her own hand.
This is a powerful conversation about how Alicia chose to lean on God when she couldn't understand why she could not save her child, and the struggle of dealing with the fact that He chose not to save her daughter, either. Peace only started to come when Alicia allowed herself not just to surrender, but to abandon her will to the Father's, even in the painful darkness of her daughter's suicide.
Alicia White is the director and founder of Chosen Stones Ministries, which brings families together spiritually in various ways, including conferences, workshops, family devotionals and curriculums. After her seventeen-year-old daughter died by suicide in 2020, Alicia's focused shifted and she now spends most of her time in ministry partnering with Jesus to break off the spirit of suicide from a generation and see them healed, delivered, and walking in their identity as a sons and daughters of their heavenly Father.
Alicia also feels called to those within the body who have encountered tragic loss and suffering, including other bereaved parents and parents who find themselves trying to navigate their children through suicidal or self-harm tendency. Learning to abandon to the Father daily in all circumstances and encouraging others to do the same, is her heart. Alicia resides in the greater Cincinnati area, along with her husband, Jason, and their youngest daughter, Isabella.
(Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)
Links Mentioned in this episode:To connect with Alicia: chosenstones.org
Alicia’s books At the Cliffs of Abandonment and There is Hope Even if Your Brain Tells You There Isn't (taken from Hope's journals) can be found under the resources tab of her website.
Find out more about the GPS Hope & Healing retreats or register to attend.
Check out the Bereaved Parents USA annual gathering where Laura is a keynote speaker.
Join Laura and Dave on The Grief Cruise in October. Click here for information.
Join the discussion! Leave a question or comment on today’s talk here.
Birthdays:Jeffrey Allison was born on February 14 and is forever 30.
Hailey Eastridge was born on February 14 and is forever 9.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 198. Why Couldn't I Save My Child? appeared first on GPS Hope.
What do you do when you help your child fulfill their dream at a young age, only to have that dream be what ends your child's life as a teenager?
That is exactly what happened to Laura's guest, Clint Hatton. His son, Gabriel, had a dream as a young boy to become a pilot. Clint and his wife got behind their son and helped him realize that dream. Gabriel got his pilot license even before getting his driver's license, only to have his life end, shortly before his 18th birthday when his plane crashed.
Clint and his family decided they needed to carry on Gabriel's memory by living life the same way Gabriel did big, bold and brave. Listen in, as Clint shares how they chose (and continue to choose) to live life to the fullest instead of staying stuck in the darkness of death and devastating loss.
Clint Hatton is an author, motivational speaker, personal development and leadership coach, and the founder of BigBoldBrave in McKinney, Texas. He has been coaching individuals and organizations for over twenty years with a proven track record of helping people live up to their full potential while building healthier marriages, relationships, and teams.
Clint recently published his first book, Big Bold Brave: How to Live Courageously in a Risky World. It was inspired by the way his oldest son lived his life. Gabriel achieved his goal of becoming a licensed pilot at the age of 17. He died in a tragic plane crash while living his dream just shy of his 18th birthday. His legacy is carried on by the Hatton family.
(Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)
Links Mentioned in this episode:To connect with Clint: bigboldbrave.us
See Clint’s wife’s beautiful artwork: artbyamarillys.com
Click here to recieve a Weekly Word of Hope delivered straight to you each Wednesday.
See Dave and Laura’s itinerary here.
Find out more about the GPS Hope & Healing retreats or register to attend.
Join Laura and Dave on The Grief Cruise in October. Click here for information.
Join the discussion! Leave a question or comment on today’s talk here.
Birthdays:Ava Shaw was born on February 4 and is forever 20.
Brenton Smith was born on February 10 and is forever 24.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 197: Learning How to Live Again After Child Loss (with Clint Hatton) appeared first on GPS Hope.
This is a continuation of Laura's talk with Linda Dillow. If you did not hear Episode 195: Trusting God When It Doesn't Make Sense, we strongly urge you to listen to that one first, as it will share Linda's unusual story and it is a springboard to what you will hear from Laura and Linda in this episode.
Last week led up to how and why Linda came up with her Declaration of Hope. Today we will hear Linda read that declaration to us. She will also share how God is using it, not just in her own life, but literally around the world, including our Christian sisters in Ukraine who are in the midst of losing their husbands and children while watching their country being torn apart by a brutal war, as they are under attack by Russia.
There is a lot of depth, wisdom and hope in this episode. Please be sure to share it with others who may need to hear this heart-to-heart discussion as well.
Linda is the author of several bestselling books, including Calm My Anxious Heart, Satisfy My Thirsty Soul, What's it Like to be Married to Me? And the co-author of Intimate Issues, Passion Pursuit, Surprised by the Healer and others.
Linda and her husband, Jody ministered in the former East European Communist countries and in Asia for eighteen years training the leadership of the church. They have five grown children (one in heaven) and ten amazing grandchildren. Linda loves to encourage women to hope in God and trust in His faithfulness!
(Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)
Links Mentioned in this episode:Email your personal Declaration of Hope to Laura: laura@gpshope.org
Books mentioned by Linda: (Note: These are affiliate links, which means a small portion of your purchase price will go to GPS Hope.)
Dark Clouds Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament by Vroegop
Sacred Sorrow by Michael Card
The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer
Check out Linda’s book Calm My Anxious Heart
Songs Linda mentioned (on YouTube):
New Wine By Hillsong
A Thousand Hallelujahs
GPS Hope store for Hold On Pain Eases shirts
Find out more about the GPS Hope & Healing retreats or register to attend.
Join Laura and Dave on The Grief Cruise in October. Click here for information.
Join the discussion! Leave a question or comment on today’s talk here.
Birthdays:Richie Rudkin was born on January 27 and is forever 27.
Zachary Kidd was born on January 27 and is forever 26.
Robert Scott Lelle was born on January 28 and is forever 26.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 196: A Declaration of Hope After Child Loss (with Linda Dillow) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Linda Dillow was a missionary for 18 years in Eastern Europe, including Russia when it was under communism. She has seen a lot and learned to trust God through many hardships. But nothing has caused her to fight darkness, despair, and hopelessness as much as the death of one of her two daughters, who were both battling cancer at the same time during the COVID pandemic.
Linda has had to go back to what the Lord has taught her over the years, digging even deeper into what it means to trust God when something so painful as the death of our child does not make sense.
This episode is the beginning of Laura's conversation with Linda. The second half will continue next week, with Linda sharing about her Declaration of Hope made after her daughter left this earth.
Linda is the author of several bestselling books, including Calm My Anxious Heart, Satisfy My Thirsty Soul, What's it Like to be Married to Me? And the co-author of Intimate Issues, Passion Pursuit, Surprised by the Healer and others.
Linda and her husband, Jody ministered in the former East European Communist countries and in Asia for eighteen years training the leadership of the church. They have five grown children (one in heaven) and ten amazing grandchildren. Linda loves to encourage women to hope in God and trust in His faithfulness!
(Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)
Links Mentioned in this episode:Check out Linda’s book Calm My Anxious Heart (Note: This is an affiliate link. A small portion of your purchase price will go to GPS Hope.)
Find out more about the GPS Hope & Healing retreats or register to attend.
Email Laura if you would like to use the scholarship being provided by another pareavor to be able to attend the Florida retreat. laura@gpshope.org
Join Laura and Dave on The Grief Cruise in October. Click here for information.
Join the discussion! Leave a question or comment on today’s talk here.
Click here to become a monthly partner, giving hope to other parents, or to give a special gift to keep this podcast going, along with providing other needed resources to bereaved parents.
(GPS Hope is a 501c3 nonprofit and runs on the financial support of those who believe in passing along the hope they have received to others.)
Birthdays:Richie Rudkin was born on January 27 and is forever 27.
Zachary Kidd was born on January 27 and is forever 26.
Robert Scott Lelle was born on January 28 and is forever 26.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 195: Trusting God When It Doesn't Make Sense (with Linda Dillow) appeared first on GPS Hope.
A point of frustration for many bereaved parents after child loss is feeling like we are being judged for still missing our children.
There are some people around us who think we should be moving on or be over it by now, as if the death of our child is like a bad cold. Yes, the death of our child was an event, a moment in time. But that moment has disfigured us for the rest of our lives.
In today's episode, Laura shares a lot of the reasons we continue to struggle with grieving the loss of our child, even years later.
If you know someone who wonders why you aren't back to your old self yet, or thinks something is wrong with you for not moving on by now, you may want to consider passing this episode along to them.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Want to know more about Laura’s books? Click here.
Find out more about the GPS Hope & Healing retreats.
Join Laura and Dave on The Grief Cruise in October. Click here for information.
Join the discussion! Leave a question or comment on today’s talk here.
Click here to become a monthly partner, giving hope to other parents, or to give a special gift to keep this podcast going, along with providing other needed resources to bereaved parents.
(GPS Hope is a 501c3 nonprofit and runs on the financial support of those who believe in passing along the hope they have received to others.)
Birthdays:Noah J Barela budded on earth to bloom in heaven on January 14.
Joshua Caldwell was born on January 16 and is forever 28,
Tate Kwiatkowski was born on January 16 and is forever 69 days.
Jonathan Jackson was born on January 17 and is forever 15.
Hugh Brown was born on January 19 and is forever 18.
Jeanette Marie was born on January 19 and is forever 36.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 194: Why We Will Never Get Over It appeared first on GPS Hope.
This is the time of year when we are surrounded by people talking about having goals for the new year and how to achieve them.
For those of us who are in the darkness of child loss, we are probably not making lists of lofty goals. We just want to know how to simply survive the coming year without our child.
Laura understands that one goal of survival, and also knows while it may sound simple, it can be far from easy. In this episode, she wants to help by sharing with you her acronym for G.R.I.E.F.
Links Mentioned in this episode:I want to know more about Laura’s new book Reflections of Hope: Daily Readings for Bereaved Parents.
Find out more about the GPS Hope & Healing retreats.
Join the discussion! Leave a question or comment on today’s talk here.
Go to the GPS Hope library.
Join the private GPS Hope Facebook page. (Remember to answer the two questions or your request will be denied.)
Click here to become a monthly partner, giving hope to other parents, or to give a special gift to keep this podcast going, along with providing other needed resources to bereaved parents.
(GPS Hope is a 501c3 nonprofit and runs on the financial support of those who believe in passing along the hope they have received to others.)
Birthdays:Mackenzie Barnes was born on January 9 and is forever 22 years old.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 193: My Goal for This Year Is To Survive! appeared first on GPS Hope.
After child loss, it can feel like the dagger in our hearts is being twisted as we head into a new year without our child, especially that first year. We feel like we are leaving them behind on a whole new level. Life is going on without our child and it isn't supposed to!
We desperately need hope to hang on. We need hope that God has not betrayed or abandoned us. Our head may know that, but sometimes our heart does not line up with that information.
In this episode, Laura reminds us of the hope we do have in Christ, throwing it out as a lifeline to those who feel like they are drowning in their grief.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Join the discussion! Leave a question or comment on today’s talk here.
Get a downloadable PDF of the 36 verses of hope. (This will also put you on our Weekly Word of Hope email list, which you can unsubscribe from at any time.)
Join the private GPS Hope Facebook page. (Remember to answer the two questions or your request will be denied.)
To sponsor a podcast episode in 2023 in memory of your child click here.
Click here to become a monthly partner, giving hope to other parents, or to give a special gift to keep this podcast going, along with providing other needed resources to bereaved parents.
(GPS Hope is a 501c3 nonprofit and runs on the financial support of those who believe in passing along the hope they have received to others.)
Birthdays:Joseph Youhana was born on January 6 and is forever 23.
Ryan Hines was born on January 7 and is forever 27.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 192: Hope is Our Anchor appeared first on GPS Hope.
This is a short episode, but an intimate and deep one as Laura reads a poem she wrote a few years after her daughter, Becca, died. Laura also closes out today’s episode with a prayer over the listeners, as they may be struggling heading into a new year without their child.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Join the discussion! Leave a question or comment on today’s talk here.
Click here to request a PDF download of this poem.
Join us for the first GPS Hope & Healing retreat in 2023.
Find out more about joining Dave and Laura on The Grief Cruise in October.
Click here to become a monthly partner, giving hope to other parents, or to give a special gift to keep this podcast going, along with providing other needed resources to bereaved parents.
(GPS Hope is a 501c3 nonprofit and runs on the financial support of those who believe in passing along the hope they have received to others.)
Birthdays:Isaiah Key was born on December 25 and is forever 13.
Mariah Drane was born on December 26 and is forever 16.
Ryan Durkin was born on December 27 and is forever 19.
Tevin Tyon was born on December 28 and is forever 21.
Melanie Bach was born on December 30 and is forever 46.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 191: ‘Twas the Night After Christmas appeared first on GPS Hope.
This podcast episode was sponsored by John and Tricia Ferreira in memory of their son, John Ferreira, Jr.
Laura has decided to spend a couple of weeks during the holidays to talk about whether our children can give us signs that they are around at times or are able to communicate with us in some way after they die. This can be a very controversial topic in the Body of Christ, but it is an extremely important one to tackle.
Laura does not use any titles, but she has been an ordained minister since 2009 and functioned in that role for many years previously, before being ordained. This may be important to some listeners, especially as she has spent time studying the Word of God on this topic, and shares much of what she has seen and learned over the years in the previous episode.
Today, Laura brings on Nancy Weil, who has dealt extensively with this topic for many years.
Note: If you would like to comment from theological or Biblical thoughts, please listen to episode 189 and share those thoughts there. Any comments along this line found under this episode will not be accepted.
If you would like to share your own stories, you can do so here.
Nancy Weil is a leading authority on the relationship between humor and grief, and is known for her energetic, entertaining and content rich programs. She runs a national virtual grief support group through her work with the Order of the Golden Rule, an association for independent funeral homes. Nancy is Certified as a Funeral Celebrant, Grief Management Specialist, and Laughter Leader. She is the founder of The Laugh Academy and the author of, If Stress Doesn't Kill You, Your Family Might.
(Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)
Links Mentioned in this episode:Connect with Nancy: nancy@thelaughacademy.com
Get more information to join Laura and Nancy on The Grief Cruise!
Sponsor a podcast episode in memory of your child.
Join the discussion! Leave a question or comment on today’s talk here.
Choose GPS Hope as your charity of choice on Smile Amazon here.
Click here to become a monthly partner, giving hope to other parents, or to give a special gift to keep this podcast going, along with providing other needed resources to bereaved parents.
(GPS Hope is a 501c3 nonprofit and runs on the financial support of those who believe in passing along the hope they have received to others.)
Birthdays:Austin Smith was born on December 18 and is forever 30.
Luke Getchell was born on December 19 and is forever 14.
Carissa Perkins was born on December 21and is forever 29.
Dylan Bieber was born on December 21 and is forever 16.
Jonathan Granick was born on December 21 and is forever 36.
James Anthony Walkley was born on December 23 and is forever 28.
John Ferreira Jr. was born on December 24 and is forever 32.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at office@gpshope.org.
Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope
The post 190: Can Our Children Still Communicate with Us? (with Nancy Weil) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Laura has decided to spend a couple of weeks during the holidays to talk about whether our children can give us signs that they are around at times, or be able to communicate with us in some way after they die. This can be a very controversial topic in the Body of Christ, but it is an extremely important one to tackle.
Laura does not use any titles, but she has been an ordained minister since 2009 and functioned in that role for many years previously, before being ordained. This may be important to some listeners, especially as she has spent time studying the Word of God on this topic, and shares much of what she has seen and learned here in this episode.
Along with looking at what the Bible has to say on this subject, going to psychics to communicate with our children is also discussed.
The purpose of this week's episode is more to lay a Biblical-based foundation for the topic of signs and communication from our children. Next week Laura will bring in an experienced guest to share more thoughts and lots of stories.
Links Mentioned in this episode:Join the discussion! Leave a question or comment on today’s talk here.
To sponsor a podcast episode in 2023 in memory of your child click here.
Click here to become a monthly partner, giving hope to other parents, or to give a special gift to keep this podcast going, along with providing other needed resources to bereaved parents.
(GPS Hope is a 501c3 nonprofit and runs on the financial support of those who believe in passing along the hope they have received to others.)
Birthdays:Sarah Jordan was born on December 11 and is forever 42.
DW Grubbs was born on December 12 and is forever 27.
Tanner Allen-Harris was born on December 13 and is forever 20.
Cameron Paddock was born on December 14 and is forever 22.
David Paul French was born on December 16 and is forever 52.
Brian was born on December 17 and is forever 26.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
The special song written for our children's birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
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.
The post 189: Can We Have Signs From Our Children? appeared first on GPS Hope.
With the Christmas season in full swing, it can make missing our child brutal. Finding the right gift to give others may not be on your radar right now, much less giving any gifts to yourself. However, those who have been on this journey for a while know how important it is find helpful ways to get through this painful time of year.
In this episode, Laura helps us to be okay with giving gifts to ourselves, with a few suggestions on how to possibly make this time of year a tiny bit more bearable.
Links Mentioned in this episode:What Help GPS Hope continue to provide support and resources in 2023 with a financial gift here.
Sponsor a podcast episode in honor of your child.
Add your child’s name in a heart decal to travel the nation on the Hope Mobile.
Request What Grieving Parents Want You to Know by Anne Moss Rogers here.
Join Dave and Laura on a cruise! Click here to find out more.
Click here to find out more about the live reading and lighting of candles during advent based on Laura’s book Hope for the Future:An Advent Journey for Bereaved Parents.
Find out more about joining Laura on her health journey and having her as a health coach.
Birthdays:Angie Mata was born on December 4 and is forever 36.
Fill out the short form with the needed information to have your child’s birthday shared with our listeners.
The special song “I Remember Well“, which was written by Laura for our children's birthdays, can be heard on your favorite music app. To hear samples of Laura’s other songs, click here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is* HOPE!www.gpshope.org*
Would you like to have Laura come and speak to your group? 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.
The post 188: Five Gifts to Give Yourself while Grieving During the Holidays appeared first on GPS Hope.
Last week Laura was talking with Lynda Cheldelin Fell about ten tips to help bereaved parents get through the end-of-the-year holiday season. They only got through eight of the ten. (You will want to listen to episode 186 first to catch up, plus it is full of things that are good to know, emotionally, mentally, […] The post 187: How to Survive the Christmas Season appeared first on GPS Hope.
As we come into the end-of-the-year holiday season, it can help to hear from others who are further down the road and can offer some encouragement and guidance. Lynda Cheldelin Fell is one of those pareavors. Lynda has ten tips to share with us as we go through the emotional kaleidoscope of missing our child […] The post 186: Grief and Coping with the Holidays appeared first on GPS Hope.
All the holidays are a struggle, but Thanksgiving is unique in that the entire purpose is to be thankful and grateful for the ways God has blessed us. If you are in those first two to three years of child loss, you may not feel even remotely blessed, believing it is impossible to have anything […] The post 185: Our Struggles with Thanksgiving and Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
The last few episodes have been discussing Isaiah 61:3 that says God will give those who mourn a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy for their mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of heaviness and despair. This verse continues to say they will be called oaks of […] The post 184: Strength and Stability After Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
Today's episode is continuing to look at Isaiah 61:3 through the eyes of a parent who has lost a child from this earth. Laura has asked worship leader, Angelique Marketon, (who lost her 16-year-old son and only child in a senseless single-car accident) to join her in talking about the struggle of allowing God to […] The post 183: The Heavy Weight of Grief after Child Loss (with Angelique Marketon) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Laura is taking a few episodes to dig into Isaiah 61:3 from the view of child loss. This week she is excited to share how the Holy Spirit shed new light on God giving us the oil of joy in the place of our deep grief. If you are a bereaved parent who struggles with […] The post 182: God Does Not Say He Will Give Us Joy for our Grief appeared first on GPS Hope.
In today's episode, Laura is joined by two ladies who have together, as a team, faithfully served those who have lost a child for twelve years. Carol Keefer and Pat Wentworth have been connected with GPS Hope from the beginning, inviting Laura to speak to their support group in Florida when Laura's book When Tragedy […] The post 181: Healing Under God’s Sovereignty (with Carol Keefer and Pat Wentworth) appeared first on GPS Hope.
This episode is the first of three, which will discuss the familiar verse of Isaiah 61:3 that says God will give beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning and a garment of praise for a spirit of heaviness. Laura begins this mini-series by bringing back Lin Findlay, to join her by talking specifically […] The post 180: Can We Ever Have Beauty in our Lives Again after Child Loss? (with Lin Findlay) appeared first on GPS Hope.
When our child dies, we don't want to be here so we just don't care what happens to us. Our health suffers dramatically because of that, plus our bodies are out of whack for a long time. After child loss, many of us turn to comfort foods in a big way, and we don't feel […] The post 179: Health and Self-Care After Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
The discussion between Laura and Teresa McCloy is a gold mine of depth and richness that is so desperately needed when facing the painful darkness of child loss. In this episode you will hear: The wisdom and heart of a mom whose son battled addiction for many years before succumbing to a heroin overdose. The […] The post 178: Looking for the Extraordinary Moments (with Teresa McCloy) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Shirley Thiessen is one of Laura's first returning guests, which is saying a lot since the Grieving Parents Sharing Hope podcast has been going for over three years now! In the previous episode, Shirley shared an incredible story, about a little black funeral dress, and then she and Laura start discussing five things Shirley wishes […] The post 177: Heroes of Hope After Child Loss (with Shirley Thiessen) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Shirley Thiessen is one of Laura's first returning guests, which is saying a lot since the Grieving Parents Sharing Hope podcast has been going for over three years now! Her previous interview is our number one listened to episode, so it makes sense to have her back on, doesn’t it? In this episode, Shirley shares […] The post 176: Five Things I Wish I Had Known About Grief (with Shirley Thiessen) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Since September 11 is National Grandparents Day, Laura decided to do an episode about our parents, who are obviously the grandparents of our children who have died. The relationship between grandparents and grandchildren is very unique and special. With the death of a precious grandchild, the grandparents get hit with a double whammy. They've lost […] The post 175: The Grandparents (Our Parents) in Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
Dreaming about our children after they die is a topic that comes up quite often in emails and conversations. This week, Laura talks to Dr. Joshua Black, who is a leading academic expert in grief dreams. Laura asked him all kinds of questions, which made for a fascinating discussion. Listen in, and hopefully some of […] The post 174: Our Dreams About Our Children after Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
This week's topic is one that can bring a lot of emotion with it, because when our child is gone, all we have left are memories and their belongings. Should we be packing up their things by a certain time? What if I want to keep everything and take it with me if I have […] The post 173: I Can’t Get Rid of My Child’s Things appeared first on GPS Hope.
Some of us have been taught by "the church" that we can have whatever we ask, if we believe and have enough faith. Does that mean the death of our child was our fault, for not having enough faith to keep it from happening? Did we not pray enough, or read our Bible enough? How […] The post 172: Was My Child’s Death My Fault? appeared first on GPS Hope.
As believers in Christ, we are familiar with who Jesus is and what He did for us. We hear a lot about who God is as well. But how much do we know about the third part of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit? Why do we need the Holy Spirit, and how can He help […] The post 171: How Can the Holy Spirit Help Me in My Grief? appeared first on GPS Hope.
When our child dies, it can take us to a very dark place, even if you have had a life-long close relationship with God through the indwelling Holy Spirit. In our place of deep grief, we become a target for the enemy, making it even more difficult to find God through the suffocating darkness. How […] The post 170: Finding God in the Darkness appeared first on GPS Hope.
Often when our child dies, we search for God in our darkness and pain, but we feel like He either isn't listening or doesn't seem to care. Why is that? Laura talks about some of the possibilities in today's episode. Links Mentioned in this episode: Find out more about Laura’s books: When Tragedy Strikes. […] The post 169. Why Does God Seem Silent? appeared first on GPS Hope.
When our child dies, many of us believe God failed us by walking out on us. We struggle in our relationship with Him. We question ourselves with things like, Is God really who I thought He was? In today's episode, Laura does her best to answer one of those questions, Where is God in my […] The post 168: Where Is God in My Grief? appeared first on GPS Hope.
Last week Laura started reading a chapter about learning how to rest in God during the deep grief of the early years of child loss from her book When Tragedy Strikes: Rebuilding Your Life with Hope and Healing After the Death Of Your Child. In today's episode she finishes out the chapter and then goes […] The post 167: Finding a Place of Rest in God After Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
Resting in God's love for us can be a huge struggle when we know He could have stopped the death of our child. How do we stop struggling and start resting in the very love we are questioning? Laura addresses this as she reads from a chapter in her book When Tragedy Strikes: Rebuilding Your […] The post 166: Resting in God Within the Struggle of Deep Grief appeared first on GPS Hope.
Today might seem like an unusual topic, but it seems to come up enough that Laura decided to do an episode on pets after child loss. Many of our children who are no longer here had a pet when they died, and quite often it becomes the pet of the parents. When that happens, that […] The post 165: Pets After Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
Today's episode is a continuation from last week with two dad pareavors, Dave Diehl and Steve Martindale. Today's discussion includes Dave and Steve sharing what they wish they had done differently in the early months of their grief. They also answered Laura's question if the death of their daughters changed their theology or what they […] The post 164: A Father's View of Child Loss – Part 2 (with Steve Martindale and Dave Diehl) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Most of you do not need to be reminded that Father's Day is this coming weekend. For many dads, it is the hardest day of the year with the pain of missing their child. Today and next week, we are going to hear from Laura's husband, Dave, and their friend, Steve Martindale, who also lost […] The post 163: A Father's View of Child Loss (with Steve Martindale and Dave Diehl) appeared first on GPS Hope.
If you have been frustrated because you are not following the "five stages of grief", you are not alone. What most people do not realize is that these five stages are to be applied to those who have received the news they have a terminal illness. They are NOT for someone who is grieving the […] The post 162: The Five Seasons of Grief after Child Loss, Part 2 (with Mitch Carmody) appeared first on GPS Hope.
The five stages of grief were not to be applied to those who are grieving the loss of a loved one, but for those who have received the news they have a terminal illness. If you have been frustrated because you are not following those five steps, you will be relieved to hear about the […] The post 161: The Five Seasons of Grief after Child Loss Part 1 (with Mitch Carmody) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Here in the United States, the last Monday in May is Memorial Day, which is a day to honor those who have given their lives for our country. In this episode, Laura focuses on pareavors who have lost their children because of being in the military. Their child chose to go into the armed forces, […] The post 160: Gold Star Moms (with Bev Shoemaker, Lorie Southerland and Amy Drake) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Those of us who have lost a child have been through a trauma. We are dealing with traumatic grief. Many parents also have PTSD. How do we get through the suffocating darkness and things like night terrors? Some go to their physician who will write them prescriptions for anxiety or to help them sleep. It […] The post 159: My Spouse Tried to Numb The Pain of Child Loss in Harmful Ways (with Jeff Snider and Curtis Stovall) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Attaining the Triple Crown is a rare accomplishment, whether in horse racing or in baseball. Unfortunately, it is also a rare accomplishment in our life as a Christian and can be especially difficult after the death of our child. What is the Triple Crown for a follower of Christ? Laura believes it is learning: 1) […] The post 158: The Hope of Glory appeared first on GPS Hope.
Attaining the Triple Crown is a rare accomplishment, whether in horse racing or in baseball. Unfortunately, it is also a rare accomplishment in our life as a Christian and can be especially difficult after the death of our child. What is the Triple Crown for a follower of Christ? Laura believes it is learning: how […] The post 157: Our Crown as a Pareavor appeared first on GPS Hope.
Did you know the first Sunday of May is International Bereaved Mother's Day? Yes, it is a real thing. A day just for us. Today’s episode talks about this special day. Laura also shares some real and honest thoughts and feelings about the following week, which is Mother's Day. It is one of the hardest […] The post 156: A Special Day for Bereaved Mothers appeared first on GPS Hope.
"There is no magical age when the death of our child doesn't affect us in a very deep and profound way. Whether the child died in the womb or was in their sixties, the wrongness of their death causes trauma, and we are never the same." (Laura Diehl - When Tragedy Strikes: Rebuilding Your Life […] The post 155: “At Least You…” Which Child Loss is the Worst? (With Sara Nelson) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Those of us who have lost a child have been through a trauma. We are dealing with traumatic grief. Many parents also have PTSD. How do we get through the suffocating darkness and things like night terrors? Some go to their physician who will write them prescriptions for anxiety or to help them sleep. It […] The post 154: I Tried to Numb My Pain with Prescription Drugs & Alcohol When My Child Died (with Stacie Snider and Courtney Stovall) appeared first on GPS Hope.
When we find ourselves thrown into the dark world of child loss, some of us know we need help right away and find ways to connect with other bereaved parents almost immediately. Some of us take longer to realize how important it is to be around others who "get it". Other parents who are further […] The post 153: Why I Don't Need Support from Other Bereaved Parents (with Dave Diehl) appeared first on GPS Hope.
There are times when Laura is sent something written by a pareavor that seems to capture the essence of who we are and how we feel after the death of our child, as well as what it is like to travel on this unwanted journey. On this episode, Laura reads three of these. This Mom's […] The post 152: Putting Words to Our Unwanted Journey of Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
Those of us who have lost a child will talk among ourselves about how hurtful it is that our family and friends seem to abandon us after the first few weeks or months. Not only that, but many of these people also seem to expect us to snap out of our grief after a certain […] The post 151: How to Help Us After Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
After our child dies, we all seem to struggle with the guilt of why we didn't do more, or do something differently, that would have prevented their death. How do we get past that? Does that feeling ever go away? In this episode, Laura brings on a guest, Sara Nelson, to discuss this. Sara Faith […] The post 150: Why Didn’t I Do More to Keep My Child From Dying? (With Sara Nelson) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Laura hears from many pareavors how they struggle with going to church after the death of their child. In today's episode, she talks about some of the reasons this happens, along with some of her own struggles in this area. She also spends time talking about the difference between going to church as a Sunday […] The post 149: I Struggle with Going to Church after Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
One thing Laura hears quite often from parents after child loss is their discouragement of not hearing from God or feeling His presence in their place of deep darkness and grief. She also hears from those who have read her book When Tragedy Strikes who are frustrated because God doesn't speak to them the way […] The post 148: Why Can't I Hear from God? appeared first on GPS Hope.
For those of us with other children, it is so difficult to watch them grieve the loss of their brother or sister. While we are relieved to be told that there is no right or wrong way to grieve for ourselves, we are often concerned that our children are not dealing with the loss of […] The post 147: Helping Our Children with Sibling Loss (Part 2) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Siblings play a big role and are meant to be the longest relationship in our lives. When a sibling dies, the ones left behind lose one of the only people who share a complete history with them, who are also supposed to be in most of their future. If they just had the one sibling, […] The post 146: Helping Our Children with Sibling Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
After the death of our child, many of us question God in ways we never thought we would, which puts us in a vulnerable place for attacks from the enemy. Satan does not use new tactics. He uses the same ones he used in the garden of Eden on Eve. In this episode, Laura calls […] The post 145: “If I Was God…” appeared first on GPS Hope.
In this episode, Laura brings on a guest to talk about a deeply serious and needed topic after the death of our child. How important is your child to you, and how important is God to you? Often, we don't realize the love for our child can overshadow our love for God, causing us to […] The post 144: God Can Recycle Your Pain after Child Loss (with Shirley Thiessen) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Many pareavors (bereaved parents) struggle with feeling guilty for laughing or doing special things like taking vacations after the death of their child, believing it isn't right to enjoy life again. We will always have an undercurrent of sadness and grief that can surface at any time. Sometimes there are known triggers and sometimes it […] The post 143: It Doesn’t Feel Okay to Be Happy appeared first on GPS Hope.
Many pareavors (bereaved parents) struggle with feeling guilty for laughing or doing special things like taking vacations after the death of their child, believing it isn't right to enjoy life again. In this episode, Laura brings on Lin Findlay to share about her own journey in this area after the death of her daughter, Aubrie, […] The post 142: “Cruising” With Our Grief (with Lin Findlay) appeared first on GPS Hope.
In today's episode, Laura is sharing what a gift it is to be with others who have lost a child because they get it. They understand the darkness and the struggles. It took her almost three years after her daughter, Becca, died to meet with a group who had lost a child because Laura didn't […] The post 141: The Gift of Being with Others Who Get It appeared first on GPS Hope.
Without hope, we have no desire to live. It can be easy to feel hopeless when going into a new year without our child. But that does not have to be the case. Join Laura, as shares how we can stir up the seed of hope that may by lying dormant inside us after the […] The post 140: Hope and Help for the New Year after Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
Going into a new year without our child can feel horrible, knowing there is nothing we can do to stop it. Join Laura as she shares what that was like for her after the death of her daughter, Becca, along with sharing some words of encouragement for those who are struggling with feeling like they […] The post 139: A New Year Does Not Mean You are Leaving Your Child Behind! appeared first on GPS Hope.
This episode with Anne Moss Rogers is one with a lot of practical advice for those who are struggling deeply in the darkness of grief after child loss. Being a mom who lost her son to suicide, Anne Moss made a conscious decision to figure out how to work through the guilt, shame and horrific […] The post 138: Struggling in the Darkness of our Loss (with Anne Moss Rogers) appeared first on GPS Hope.
For Beverly Shoemaker, finding meaning and purpose in her life was extremely difficult after her husband ended his own life three years after their son, Nick, died. Her husband's decision to take his own life left Bev in an even darker place, filled with anger, bitterness, and deep depression. Bev thought she would never ever […] The post 137: Finding Meaning and Purpose Again (with Bev Shoemaker) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Today Laura is joined by Bev Shoemaker, who lost her son, Nick, back in 2004 in a car accident. She was contacted within days by another mom who had lost her own son several years previously. This caring woman shared things with Bev that helped her immensely, in navigating through the darkness after Nick’s death. […] The post 136: Passing it On (with Bev Shoemaker) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Our grief journey can be compared to taking a road trip - an unplanned road trip – which is what Laura discussed last week with her guest, Jill Theriault. In this week's episode, Jill shares how the road signs we see while traveling can also guide us on our grief journey. They specifically talk about […] The post 135: Road Signs On Our Grief Journey (with Jill Theriault) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Most road trips are well planned, but occasionally they are not. Some things in life are planned, but losing a child is definitely an unplanned part of our life's journey. Today's guest, Jill Theriault, has been on this journey as a bereaved parent for over 20 years after her two-year-old son, Nathan, died from meningitis. […] The post 134: The Unplanned Road Trip of Grief (with Jill Theriault) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Many of us have been thinking about how to deal with the upcoming holidays, especially Christmas, for weeks or months already, so we might as well talk about it. Advent is a time of waiting, usually known for the four weeks of waiting for Christmas and the celebration of Christ's birth. We think of Jesus […] The post 133: Preparing for the Holiday Season appeared first on GPS Hope.
The holiday season brings many dark and painful emotions to the surface for those of us who have lost a child from this earth. It is a time of year where the pain of who is missing can be so much greater than the joy of who is still here. Many of us don't even […] The post 132: Don’t Tell Me to Be Thankful appeared first on GPS Hope.
We want answers and we want them now! We want (or feel like we need) God to explain Himself to us, telling us why our child left this earth before we did. We question how God can call Himself a loving Father or can possibly tell us that He is a good God. We don't […] The post 131: I Don’t Understand Why appeared first on GPS Hope.
Most of us are familiar with Paul's words in Philippians 1:21, "To live is Christ and to die is gain." As Laura began to study this out, she discovered a much deeper meaning to these words than most of us realize, which is very encouraging to us as pareavors. Laura also shares how that takes […] The post 130: To Live or Die appeared first on GPS Hope.
There is another thing Laura has learned in ten years of grieving the death of her daughter that she did not talk about in last week's episode, which is how much of an emotional roller coaster ride it is now, even ten years later. Yes, as the years go by, things smooth out and we […] The post 129: The Roller Coaster Ride of Grief appeared first on GPS Hope.
The day this podcast episode airs (on October 12, 2021) will be the 10-year anniversary of Becca's departure from this earth (Laura’s oldest daughter). Laura says the beginning of the last ten years held the most pain she have ever experienced. She had no idea that kind of suffocating darkness even existed. It scared her, […] The post 128: Ten Things I Have Learned After Ten Years of Grieving the Death of My Child appeared first on GPS Hope.
Recently Laura received a response from one of the Weekly Word of Hope emails. The pareavor was upset with how Laura's email said, "Neither life nor death is in our hands. God is the one who gives life within the womb. And God chooses when each person takes their last heartbeat." Part of what this […] The post 127: Does God Choose When We Die? (Discussion) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Recently Laura received a response from one of the Weekly Word of Hope emails. The pareavor was upset with how Laura's email said, "Neither life nor death is in our hands. God is the one who gives life within the womb. And God chooses when each person takes their last heartbeat." Part of what this […] The post 126: Does God Choose When We Die? appeared first on GPS Hope.
Today Laura will talk about a simple way to help pareavors remind themselves of some of the most important things they need to remember on this grief journey, using the word grief as an acronym. Listen in, as Laura talks about each one in detail. G- Give yourself a lot of grace. R - Release […] The post 125: Five Things to Remember appeared first on GPS Hope.
When our child dies, all our goals that had to do with that child dies with them, which seems to carry over into every part of our lives. We lose hope that life is even worth living without the plans we had for, and with, our child. When we don't have any hope, we don't […] The post 124: Getting Out of the Pit of Darkness appeared first on GPS Hope.
Most of us have what can be called domino effects after the death of our child. Just like when the first domino in a line of dominos falls and causes others to fall, the death of our child can cause unexpected and painful chain reactions. In this episode, Laura shares one of those personal chain […] The post 123: The Painful Domino Effects appeared first on GPS Hope.
This week Laura is doing something a bit different. Her new CD was just released, and you will be hearing her share the story behind each song. (One of the songs was written by her daughter, Becca, who died at age 29.) The songs are: I Remember Well Still Waiting You Are Together Forever I […] The post 122: Together Forever appeared first on GPS Hope.
As parents who have experienced child loss, we carry a heavy load of grief. In this episode, Laura shares how she discovered five helpful parallels of climbing mountain trails, to our grief journey. Links Mentioned in this episode: Listen to sample songs of new CD Together Forever Thirty Ways to Bring Yourself Comfort and Take […] The post 121: Climbing the Mountain of Grief appeared first on GPS Hope.
Many of us struggle with our view or belief about God after the death of our child. We feel like He has abandoned us. But it is much more helpful when we see God as the rescuer in our story, rather than the cause of our pain by something he did or didn’t do. In […] The post 120: A Perspective that Brings Hope appeared first on GPS Hope.
As a parent who has had a child die, it is very common to spend a lot of time thinking about the good things our children are missing out on because they are no longer here. We wish we could trade places with our kids because of those things. But how often do we think […] The post 119: Trading Places with Our Children appeared first on GPS Hope.
There are two kinds of guilt. One is when we know we have done something wrong and need to do our part to make it right. The second kind is when something happens, and we blame ourselves after the event happened with information we have now that we didn't have at the time. Guilt gives […] The post 118: Tips for Dealing with Guilt After Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
A parent who is in deep grief after the death of their child is in a very vulnerable place for the enemy's attacks. Jesus knew what it was like to have a wilderness experience and have the devil come at him during a time of intense weakness. In this episode, Laura continues looking at Jesus' […] The post 117: In the Wilderness with Jesus (Part Two) appeared first on GPS Hope.
When our child dies, many of us feel like we have been led into a dark pit and abandoned by God. We don't understand why God did not stop the death of our child, especially when we were doing everything right on our end to be a "good" Christian. In Matthew 4, we read how […] The post 116: In the Wilderness with Jesus (Part One) appeared first on GPS Hope.
The message I kept hearing from many different places for the first two years after my daughter leaving this earth was: Don't do, just be. I believe it is a message we all need at some point when working our way through the darkness and back into the light. The death of our child is […] The post 115: Healing Through Rest appeared first on GPS Hope.
Our thoughts about spending time with God can be all over the place after the death of our child, and it may be the last thing we want to do if we are angry with him. Some of us used to feel close to Him before our loss, and now He feels very distant, as […] The post 114: Time Alone With God appeared first on GPS Hope.
Last week we talked about how to answer the question, "How many children do you have?" This week we will discuss the question, "How are you?" This is an area we are good at putting on a mask with those who have not lost a child, but we will take it off very quickly when […] The post 113: When Someone Asks, “How are you?” appeared first on GPS Hope.
As a bereaved parent, getting asked what used to be a normal, simple question can cause confusion, guilt, anger or even bring us to tears. One of those questions is, "How many children do you have?" In this episode, I share a recently received email on this topic along with my thoughts and experiences with […] The post 112: How Should I Respond? appeared first on GPS Hope.
One of the struggles I hear from pareavors is the question: Why bother praying if God is just going to do whatever He wants to do and did not keep my child from dying? This is something that bothered me as well for quite some time. In this podcast episode I talk about this area […] The post 111: Why Bother Praying Anymore? appeared first on GPS Hope.
Did you know there is literally a medical condition that in lay terms is called "broken heart syndrome"? In this episode, I share a bit about that, along with how most of us moms just want to be done here, as well as how we can make a shift in wanting to stay for a […] The post 110: Our Broken Hearts After Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
Last week was the first part of a discussion with my friend Joy Ware Miller. If you didn't hear it, you may want to listen to that one first and then come back. It is called From Surviving to Thriving and has a lot of encouragement. Both weeks are from an interview back in 2017 […] The post 109: There’s A Party in the Pit and You’re Invited (with Joy Ware Miller) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Joy Ware Miller lost her healthy and active thirteen-year-old son as he collapsed from an unknown heart condition at the local YMCA one afternoon in March of 2005. Joy has become one of my treasured friends who brings encouragement, as she has been on this journey several years longer than I have. In this episode, […] The post 108: From Surviving to Thriving with Joy Ware Miller appeared first on GPS Hope.
We often equate love with happiness, which make sense. But love also has a side to it that doesn't give a person whatever they want, just so they won't have to suffer. This is really difficult to comprehend or accept, when our child dies, especially if there was suffering involved. If God loved us, why […] The post 107: God Must Not Love Me appeared first on GPS Hope.
Did you know that the first Sunday of each May is International Bereaved Mother's Day? That's what we will be talking about in this episode, along with touching on the week that follows which most of us dread... Mother's Day. Just a warning, I am very real and honest about my thoughts and feelings about […] The post 106: International Bereaved Mother’s Day appeared first on GPS Hope.
When our child dies, we want to die ourselves so we can go be with them. It may not make sense to others, or even ourselves, especially when we know in our heads that we have reasons (people) to live for. It is important for you to know that this is "normal" for someone who […] The post 105: I Just Want to Die and Be with My Child appeared first on GPS Hope.
The day this episode is released, my daughter, Becca, would be 39 years old. Instead, she is forever 29. Three of Becca's siblings are now older than their big sister, with one more sibling yet to hit that marker. The birthdays of our children are painful and bittersweet. We are so thankful for the day […] The post 104: My Child’s Birthday, Now that They are Gone… appeared first on GPS Hope.
This episode is a continuation of last week's topic. We are all very aware that in this life, we don't always get what we planned. I'm pretty sure as a parent, it wasn't your plan to be listening to a podcast for grieving parents, and it certainly wasn't in my plan to host one, or […] The post 103: Child Loss was Not in My Plan (Part 2) appeared first on GPS Hope.
We just got done having our GPS Hope and Healing retreat in Texas and it was wonderful! (See the link below if you want to find out more about our retreats.) Today and next week's episodes are one of the sessions from this past retreat. None of us ever planned to be listening to a […] The post 102: Child Loss was Not in My Plan appeared first on GPS Hope.
When our child dies, we are surrounded by family and friends who hurt with us, cry with us and pray with us. Some of them will sit with us, call to see if there is anything we need, and we often get a couple weeks' worth of meals brought to our house. Then 3 months, […] The post 101: I Lost My Friends When My Child Died appeared first on GPS Hope.
This is the 100th episode of the Grieving Parents Sharing Hope Podcast, which means it has been going faithfully for almost two years already! In trying to decide what to do for this special episode, I realized that many of our listeners might not know things like how the ministry of GPS Hope got started, […] The post 100: Here Comes Hope! (with Dave Diehl) appeared first on GPS Hope.
This is the last episode in our series of Grief and Music after Child Loss. What you will be hearing is part of a conversation I had with Hannah Linton and her mom, Kathi Wilson that was originally recorded as a video in 2017 for our Hope & Healing Virtual Summit (online conference). Kathi is […] The post 99. Grief and Music (with Hannah Linton and Kathi Wilson) appeared first on GPS Hope.
We are continuing with our series on Grief and Music by talking to Angelique Marketon. Angelique has been a songwriter and worship leader for many years. Her ministry through music was starting to grow to a national level, as area churches would ask her to come and lead worship for their events, and her recordings […] The post 98: Grief and Music (with Angelique Marketon) appeared first on GPS Hope.
We are in a series of Grief and Music. This week, our guest, Yolanda Blade-Rory, shares with us her experience with music and worship after the unexpected death of her seven-year-old young son, Sasha, who died of an unknown heart condition. The episode ends with listening to one of the songs Yolanda wrote in her […] The post 97: Grief and Music after Child Loss (with Yolanda Blade-Rory) appeared first on GPS Hope.
This is the first episode in a series about Grief and Music. Music affects our souls. God created it that way. Music can be a powerful tool as we fight our way out of the darkness, trying to find hope, light, meaning and purpose again after the death of our child. In this episode, I […] The post 96: Grief and Music After Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
This is a topic I don't hear talked about much, but it affects so many of us. Who would have ever thought we would be faced with the decision of donating our child's organs? There are so many mixed emotions about this, whether you did, or whether you didn't. The world of organ donation is […] The post 95: When Our Children’s Organs Were Donated (With Melanie Delorme and Rita Jackson) appeared first on GPS Hope.
In our Western Culture, we usually choose names for our newborn babies because we like the sound of it, or we name them after a famous person, or even after an object or a place because we want to give our child a unique name. No matter how we came up with our child's name, […] The post 94: Names Have Meaning appeared first on GPS Hope.
This is the third and last episode in our series for the newly bereaved. Today we will be hearing from Pam Vredevelt, who has faced both a pregnancy loss, and the death of her 16-year-old son. Not only can Pam share from the personal experience of child loss, she can add the depth of being […] The post 93: Empowering Your Healing Process after Child Loss (with Pam Vredevelt) appeared first on GPS Hope.
When my daughter, Becca, died, I thought I was getting early Alzheimer's because of how forgetful I was, how scrambled my mind felt, and how quickly important information could leave my brain. I had no idea for the first couple of years that it was "normal" for a parent after the death of their child, […] The post 92: What is “Normal” for a Newly Bereaved Parent? appeared first on GPS Hope.
There is no training for being a bereaved parent. It is a very dark place, and we can feel utterly alone, as if no one understands. But those of us who have lost a child do understand, and we want to walk with you, especially through the darkest part of your grief. In this episode […] The post 91: To the Newly Bereaved after Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
When my daughter died, I had already been leaning on a different yearly scripture for over twelve years. Each year I wrote down what that verse was, in the back of a specific Bible. In this podcast episode, I thought it would be interesting and valuable to go back and look at the verses God […] The post 90: Verses that Helped Me Through appeared first on GPS Hope.
Every time a new year shows up, it brings lots of emotions for many of us bereaved parents, especially if this is the first time the calendar has turned to a new year since your child died. It can seem horrible because it feels like we are leaving our child behind as we go into […] The post 89: Tips for Bereaved Parents, Heading into the New Year appeared first on GPS Hope.
Christmas can be one of the worst weeks of the year for many of us with child loss. After my daughter, Becca, died, it made me realize that even though I did my best to make Christmas about the birth of Jesus, it really was more about things like baking traditional cookies, giving my kids […] The post 88: Love Came Just for You in Your Place of Darkness appeared first on GPS Hope.
Child loss take us to such a dark place that we can easily believe it's impossible to ever have joy in our lives again. But if Christ is in us, so is joy, because that is one of the fruits of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Our lives will never be the same. We will never […] The post 87: Joy that Goes Beyond Our Grief appeared first on GPS Hope.
Christmas time can be brutal the first few years for those of us who have lost a child. It is so easy to lose what little peace we started to find. This week we will talk about peace, and the Prince of Peace who came as a baby to die so that we can have […] The post 86: It is Possible to Have Peace with Your Pain appeared first on GPS Hope.
You may not agree with the title of this podcast episode, but it really is true. You can have hope in your life again after child loss. And the Christmas season, as difficult as it can be, is a great time to have that hope infused into your heart and soul. Each week during the […] The post 85: You Can Have Hope During the Christmas Season appeared first on GPS Hope.
This is the final episode in a 3-part series called Rebuilding Your Life After Child Loss. First, we hear from two bereaved parents (Sara Nelson and Melanie Delorme) about their journey coming out of the darkness and back to a place of living a life of meaning and purpose again. Then I share how I […] The post 84: Looking Toward My Future After Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
When our child dies, we find ourselves in a place of darkness we didn't even know existed. There are often many struggles within that place of darkness. Today we will touch on three of these: Prayer Those around us who don't understand and aren't supporting us How our thoughts can keep us in our place […] The post 83: Working Through the Darkness of Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
In this podcast episode, I talk about the mental breakdown that we struggle with after the death of our child. If you are like me, the mental break downs are so very frustrating; the confusion, the fogginess, not being able to concentrate, and major forgetfulness (as in forgetting how to do a simple task you […] The post 82: Our Mental Breakdown After Child Loss appeared first on GPS Hope.
When our child dies, we start out in such a place of darkness and eventually have moments we see light or hope, and then fall back into that darkness. Along with that, many of us have a hard time seeing or finding God in all of the pain and confusion. No one has all the […] The post 81: Seven Shifts in How You See God appeared first on GPS Hope.
At GPS Hope, we get emails from those of you who are struggling in your marriage after the death of your child, or who have questions about how your spouse is grieving. So, I decided it was time to do a podcast episode on this topic. Of course, this means I got to bring in […] The post 80: Spouses and Grief (with Dave Diehl) appeared first on GPS Hope.
So often I hear the frustration of bereaved parents who are hurt and angry because people around them think they should be doing better than they are, even as early as 3 or 4 months, on up to the first few years. This episode addresses this difficult issue, with some ideas of things that can […] The post 79: Five Suggestions for When You are Told, "You Should be Over This by Now" appeared first on GPS Hope.
This week is a continuation of last week's episode as I talked with Erica Mitchell. Erica had a pregnancy loss and had to deliver her stillborn son, which was pretty traumatic. Last week we ended in the middle of Erica's story of God allowing her to see her son, Sheldon, in heaven. She was so […] The post 78. The Dance with Grief (with Erica Mitchell) appeared first on GPS Hope.
This is the beginning of a chat I had in the Hope Mobile with a Wisconsin friend, Erica Mitchell. Today's talk is quite a bit of the details (and I do mean details - as in possible trigger warning, which are important to her story) of Erica's story of the traumatic pregnancy loss of her […] The post 77: God is Always With Us (with Erica Mitchell) appeared first on GPS Hope.
When our child dies, most of us have an immediate support system. But as the weeks and months go by, those people usually go back to their lives and we are left still shattered. We feel like we are going crazy. People around us say that we should be "over this" by now and make […] The post 76: Finding Others Who “Get It” as Bereaved Parents appeared first on GPS Hope.
Isaiah 62:3 is a scripture that has had a special meaning to me for several years now. It says, "You shall be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord." What does that mean? How can that possible apply to us after the death of our child? A few years ago, God used […] The post 75: You Are in His Hands appeared first on GPS Hope.
Lately I have been hearing from several of you, "I know my child is in heaven and no longer has to deal with pain and suffering, but what about me? What about my family? Why doesn't God seem to care how much pain we are in from my child's death?" This has been tugging on […] The post 74: Why Doesn't God Seem to Care About Me and My Pain? appeared first on GPS Hope.
I like to find out what topics you, the listeners, would like to have discussed, and one of them is this topic of our children who seemed to know that their time here on earth was going to be short. This could be a rough one, but since some of you have been asking, I […] The post 73: My Child Seemed to Know appeared first on GPS Hope.
It is devastating enough to have one of our children die, but to have your only child leave this earth gives a parent even more difficulties to have to fight against in working through the suffocating darkness. Sara Nelson lost her only child, Jeanette, and feels called to help others through their grief, no matter […] The post 72: Losing an Only Child (with Sara Nelson) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Ashley Pittman lost a set of twins, seven months into her pregnancy through premature labor. Will Jr. took his last breath in her husband's arms and Aree'a took her last breath on Ashley's chest. Ashley struggled with her grief for the next several years, believing her pain is what kept her connected to the twins. […] The post 71: I Can Breathe Again (with Ashley Pittman) appeared first on GPS Hope.
If you are like many Christians, we have been taught that happiness is more of a fleshly thing, and that we shouldn't be trying to be happy. "God isn't interested in your happiness." Really???? Then what is heaven about? Why does God try so hard to get us to believe and receive His love for […] The post 70: Happiness Versus Joy appeared first on GPS Hope.
When our child dies, anything that gave us joy or made us feel fulfilled in life seems to be wiped out. Most of us aren't suicidal; we just don't want to be here anymore. We can't imagine living life without our child being part of it and we know we can't continue to live for […] The post 69: Our Children are Our Life appeared first on GPS Hope.
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 […] The post 68: Joy is Part of God’s Kingdom appeared first on GPS Hope.
This week is a continuation of my talk with Joe and Shaunda Knight in our Finding Joy Again series. (If you didn't hear last week’s episode, I highly recommend going back to hear Shaunda share about her "Matt box" in Episode 66: Fighting for Joy.) This week the discussion covers: How easy it is to […] The post 67: Getting out of “Whyville” (With Joe and Shaunda Knight) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Last week I started talking about scriptures that can be difficult to understand like having joy in trials or rejoicing always in the Lord. This episode was going to be part 2 of that discussion. Due to "the computer eating my homework", I lost my notes and was unable to record what I had planned […] The post 66: Choosing to Find Joy Again (with Joe and Shaunda Knight) appeared first on GPS Hope.
This series of Finding Joy Again wouldn't be complete if we didn't also talk about some verses in the Bible that tell us to have joy in our trials, which can almost be like stumbling blocks that get in the way - things we can trip over. As I started recording, I realized I had […] The post 65: Untangling Tough Scriptures About Joy appeared first on GPS Hope.
Facing child loss puts us on a very long, unwanted journey. Not only do we feel robbed of our child, but we feel robbed of who we were as a parent and as a person. One of the things that seems to take the longest to find again, after the death of our child, is […] The post 64: Six Stepping Stones to Finding Joy Again appeared first on GPS Hope.
God promises that we can have joy in our lives, and there doesn't seem to be any parameters or limits on which of life's circumstances (or tragedies) don't qualify. We are the ones who have to decide that we want joy back in our lives again and be willing to work for it after the […] The post 63: Things That Keep Us from Finding Joy appeared first on GPS Hope.
This is the second episode in the Finding Joy Again series. As I push for myself to learn how to have joy back in my life again, one thing I am sure of is that we can't have joy without a revelation of God's love for us. We must learn how to live loved by […] The post 62: You Are Loved appeared first on GPS Hope.
In this new series, Finding Joy Again, we are going to be digging deep into the topic of joy. What is it? Is it even possible to have joy in my life again? If so, how do I get there? How can I hold on to it and not keep losing […] The post 61: Planting the Seed of Joy appeared first on GPS Hope.
How we think about certain things can either keep us in our place of darkness or can help us find our way out. In this continuation from last week's episode ("This Was NOT in My Plan!") we look at four more keys that can help unlock the door to the prison cell of our suffocating […] The post 60: Four Keys to Unlock the Door to the Prison of Grief appeared first on GPS Hope.
It was certainly never in our plan to have a child leave this earth ahead of us. But that is what happened to many of us, and it changes everything. It may have blindsided us, but it didn't take God by surprise. Even before your child was thought in your mind, He knew how many […] The post 59: This Was NOT in My Plan! appeared first on GPS Hope.
The death of our child gives us so many mixed emotions about God. Here are just some of them: God betrayed me so I can't trust Him anymore. I am so angry and confused with why God allowed my child to die. I know I had faith! Why didn't my faith keep my child from […] The post 58: I Am So Angry With God (With Wayne Jacobson) appeared first on GPS Hope.
In the last seven weeks, we have been in a series of people in the Bible who lost a child. We have looked at Adam and Eve who were the parents of the first person who died in the Bible (#49: The First Death in the Bible was a Son Who Was Murdered) […] The post 57: Our Grief is the Same, Yet Different appeared first on GPS Hope.
This is part of the series People in the Bible Who Lost a Child. In this episode, we are going to look at two dads, who had their children returned to them while still on this earth; Jacob in the Old Testament, and Jairus in the New Testament. It would be easy for us to […] The post 56. Reunited with our Children appeared first on GPS Hope.
This week we are looking at Naomi, in the book of Ruth. Naomi lost her husband and both of her sons. She became a bitter woman, blaming God for her troubled life. She doesn't realize how much God is at work behind the scenes, and eventually is able to declare that God never stopped showing […] The post 55. From Fullness to Bitterness to Fullness Again appeared first on GPS Hope.
Last week we started looking at Job through the eyes of a parent who has also lost a child. This week continues this fascinating study, starting with of Job's friends, whom he calls "miserable comforters". There are many things we can relate to in the book of Job, much more than I realized until I […] The post 54: Why Did God Allow Me to Suffer Like This? appeared first on GPS Hope.
We are still in the series Parents in the Bible Who Lost a Child, and this week it’s time to look at Job. You are probably tempted to skip this one because it's easy to pass right by him, thinking we already know Job’s story. (He lost everything, had friends who didn't do a good […] The post 53: Trying to Find God in the Midst of Our Deepest Pain appeared first on GPS Hope.
This is episode 52, which means this episode completes a full year of the Grieving Parents Sharing Hope podcast. Because of this milestone, we are taking a break from the current series to share some thoughts about the difference a year can make. Those of us who have lost a child from this earth are […] The post 52: The Difference a Year Can Make appeared first on GPS Hope.
Since Easter is in just a few days, it seems like a good time to look at Mary, Jesus' mother, as a parent who lost her child. I had never taken the time to see Mary's life through the eyes of a grieving parent. But as I began to study it out for this episode, […] The post 51: Three Things We Can Learn from Jesus' Mother After the Death of Our Own Child appeared first on GPS Hope.
Did you realize that King Solomon was a rainbow baby? The scriptures that surround this situation can be confusing, and even hurtful, especially to those who have lost an infant. Podcast host (and ordained minister), Laura Diehl, spends most of the time on this episode doing her best to untangle these verses, giving listeners new […] The post 50: The Rainbow Baby in the Bible appeared first on GPS Hope.
In this new series, we will be looking at parents in the Bible who had a child die. I don't know about you, but there are so many things in the Bible that I see through new eyes after my daughter Becca died, and one of those areas is reading about the parents who lost […] The post 49: The First Death in the Bible was a Son Who Was Murdered (with Angela Alexander) appeared first on GPS Hope.
As I was doing some studying in the Word, looking at some of the parents in the Bible who had lost a child, I came across a scripture that just seemed to go totally against what I believe about God, and even what I have shared with others about God's goodness, and how He doesn't […] The post 48: Does God Contradict Himself? (With Dave Diehl) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Sometimes we know what we want to do to help our child leave a legacy, but we don't know how to get started with raising money to support that cause. Professional fund raiser, Mary Valloni, and host, Laura Diehl, continue their talk from last week, and Mary shares some thoughts and encouragement in this area. […] The post Episode 47: Getting Started Raising Funds for Your Cause (with Mary Valloni) appeared first on GPS Hope.
The last two episodes in this series on How to Help Your Child Leave a Legacy are with professional fundraiser, Mary Valloni. Since many of you are doing things in honor and memory of your children that involves raising money for your cause, I thought it would be helpful to get some tips from someone […] The post 46: Six Rookie Mistakes in Raising Money for Your Cause (with Mary Valloni) appeared first on GPS Hope.
This interview with Marcella Johnson is a continuation of last week's talk (episode 44). In this discussion, Marcella shares about how she developed The Comfort Cub (the first weighted therapeutic bear) after the death of her son, who died in her arms fifteen minutes after being born. I personally know a mom who lost her […] The post 45: The Comfort Cub (with Marcella Johnson) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Laura's guest for this and the following episode is Marcella Johnson. Over twenty years ago, Marcella knew she would be losing her son, George, at birth because of a rare, fatal disease that would not allow him to live outside the womb. This interview with Marcella is part of the "How to Help Your Child […] The post 44: The Bond of a Mother to Her Child (with Marcella Johnson) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Many parents who have lost a child either think about writing a book or have been told they should write a book. Obviously, it's a great way to tell your child’s story and to help him or her continue to live on in the hearts and minds of others. But how do you do it? […] The post 43: Footsteps of Hope (with Sara Nelson) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Rick Kauffman calls himself a fixer and as a fixer, he was a total failure after his three-year-old daughter, Kelsey, drowned in a public swimming pool, eight feet in front of a life guard. Rick started getting involved with water safety, but he quit as things in his life went downhill. Rick ended up divorced, […] The post Episode 42: When the Unthinkable Happens (with Rick Kauffman) appeared first on GPS Hope.
This second episode of the Helping Your Child Leave a Legacy series is with guest, Crystal Webster, who lost her one and only child eight hours after birth. Several years later, after coming out of the debilitating darkness of grief, she discovered something she could do that would help others who found themselves in that […] The post Episode 41: Paying it Forward (With Crystal Webster) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Today is an interview with the first guest for the How to Leave Your Child a Legacy Series. Patti has had quite the journey for over twelve years since the death of her daughter, Megan. I am sure you will take away some valuable thoughts, especially the word of encouragement that hope and helping others, […] The post Episode 40: Texting and Driving (with Patti Small) appeared first on GPS Hope.
We can make sure our child's legacy continues to live on in a way that makes a difference in this world, even if he or she never took a breath outside the womb. This episode is laying the foundation for the series Helping Your Child Leave a Legacy. For the next few weeks we will […] The post Episode 39: Helping Your Child Leave a Legacy appeared first on GPS Hope.
As we start 2020, we decided to use this episode to look back and listen to a few minutes of each of the top five podcasts of 2019. (To go directly to these episodes to hear the full discussion, use the links in the “Links referred to” section below.) The very first Grieving Parents Sharing […] The post Episode 38: The Top Podcast Episodes of 2019 appeared first on GPS Hope.
The new year is now upon us. For most people, anything that is new evokes a measure of excitement with possibilities, especially a new year. But for those who have had to face the darkness of the death of their child, “new” can bring almost a panicked feeling, as if we are leaving our child […] The post Episode 37: How Can I Go Into the New Year Without My Child? appeared first on GPS Hope.
We all need a deeper revelation of God's love for us, but especially those who are questioning God's love after the death of their child. There are so many things that show God's love. We just need to have our eyes and hearts open to see and receive them. In this episode, Laura does […] The post Episode 36: Does God Really Love Me? Finding His Love During the Holiday Season appeared first on GPS Hope.
Joy is something that can elude us for a long time after the death of our child. Not just that undercurrent that is a peaceful, confident hope, but joy from good and wonderful things that are going on around us. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit who is always at work in us. […] The post Episode 35: Is It Possible to Have Joy Again? appeared first on GPS Hope.
Advent is a time of waiting. Many people are waiting for Christmas with joyful anticipation, mixed with frazzled busyness. But for many of us who have faced the death of our child, it is a time of waiting for the season to just... be...over. God knew from the very beginning of time that we would […] The post Episode 34: Finding Peace During the Holidays appeared first on GPS Hope.
The end-of-the-year holidays can be brutal for those who have lost a child, especially those first few years. It can feel like a continual slap-in-the-face reminder of who is not here with us. Even if we have other children or grandchildren, a loving spouse, a great job or are part of a fulfilling ministry, it […] The post Episode 33: Finding Hope During the Holidays appeared first on GPS Hope.
It took podcast host, Laura Diehl, almost four years after her daughter died to go to a conference for bereaved moms because she didn't think it would help her at all to be around a bunch of others who were a mess like she was. But when she finally went, Laura discovered it was just […] The post Episode 32: Why Should I Go to a Retreat for Bereaved Parents? appeared first on GPS Hope.
This episode is for those of you with people in your life who don't understand why you are still struggling with the death of your child. Laura understands what that is like, because she had someone tell her that she needed to just move on. Let's face it, the people around us are not going […] The post Episode 31: What to Do When Others Think "You Should be Over This by Now" appeared first on GPS Hope.
The holidays can be brutal, especially those first few years. In part two of this subject, Laura starts out by answering a couple of specific questions asked by pareavors about how deal with the holidays. She then goes on to share several ideas on how to help you face those gatherings, by opening the door […] The post Episode 30: Help for the Holiday Season (Part 2) appeared first on GPS Hope.
In October, many stores already have fall items on clearance and are filling the shelves with Christmas items. This can make it feel like the holiday season is the entire last 3 months of the year instead of only the last 6 weeks. Many of us would love it if we could just sleep through […] The post Episode 29: Help for the Holiday Season appeared first on GPS Hope.
This is a bit of a different podcast, as host, Laura Diehl, invites her husband, Dave, to join her. Dave and Laura Diehl are the co-founders of the national ministry Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope), and in this podcast episode, they share their story, including: How their oldest daughter, Becca, died How what started […] The post Episode 28: We Are Here for You appeared first on GPS Hope.
The Road to Repair Series This series has been addressing how we are three-part beings (body, soul and spirit), that all three parts break down after the death of our child, and how we can work on repairing those three parts. In the final episode for this series, host, Laura Diehl, shares three specific areas […] The post Episode 27: Three Ways to Get Back on Track Spiritually appeared first on GPS Hope.
The Road to Repair Series This episode was taped the day before the eighth anniversary of Becca's death, (Laura’s daughter) so you will hear some emotion in her voice occasionally. We have been talking about how we are three-part beings (body, soul and spirit), that all three parts break down after the death of our […] The post Episode 26: Dealing With Our Spiritual Breakdown appeared first on GPS Hope.
The Road to Repair Series God created us as three-part beings; body, soul and spirit. Too often we don't think about how these three parts operate separately, or how they are intertwined, with one part affecting the other two parts. We started out this series by looking at how our soul is affected, which […] The post Episode 25: The Physical Breakdown and Sleep (with Denee Martindale) appeared first on GPS Hope.
The Road to Repair Series God created us as three-part beings; body, soul and spirit. Too often we don't think about how these three parts operate separately, or how they are intertwined, with one part affecting the other two parts. We started out this series by looking at how our soul is affected, which is […] The post Episode 24: The Physical Breakdown - Four Ways to Become Healthier (with Denee Martindale) appeared first on GPS Hope.
The Road to Repair Series God created us as three-part beings; body, soul and spirit. Too often we don't think about how these three parts operate separately, or how they are intertwined, with one part affecting the other two parts. We are starting out this series by looking at how our soul is affected, which […] The post Episode 23: The Mental Breakdown appeared first on GPS Hope.
The Road To Repair Series God created us as three-part beings; body, soul and spirit. Too often we don't think about how these three parts operate separately, or how they are intertwined, with one part affecting the other two parts. In this episode, we will tackle the emotional breakdown, which would be the soul […] The post Episode 22: The Emotional Breakdown appeared first on GPS Hope.
This subject directly affects podcast host, Laura Diehl. Laura got pregnant her summer out of high school and her boyfriend walked out on her. Shortly after Becca was born, Laura struck up a friendship with a co-worker, which turned into love and a marriage proposal. Little Becca was two years old when Dave and Laura […] The post Episode 21: Grieving an Adopted Child appeared first on GPS Hope.
When our child dies, most of us don't believe we can find our way out of the darkness, much less have a life with meaning or purpose again. Or if we believe it is possible, we don't know how to get there. That is one of the purposes of Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope). […] The post Episode 20: Finding Your Direction Again (with Glen Lord) appeared first on GPS Hope.
No matter how dark it is after the death of our child, as a follower of Christ, we all have a seed of hope inside of us. Host, Laura Diehl, and her guest, Glen Lord, talk about how to nurture that seed of hope so that it can grow, allowing you to live a life […] The post Episode 19: Having Hope (with Glen Lord) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Season Topic: Facing Our Fears After the Death of Our Child Laura and her guest, Pastor Lynn Breeden, talk passionately to those parents who live in fear, not knowing if their child who died is in heaven. They share things we know about God such as: His desire that no one perish without Him […] The post Episode 18: I Am Afraid My Child Might Not Be in Heaven appeared first on GPS Hope.
Season Topic: Facing Our Fears After the Death of Our Child "Grief fog" or "grief brain" is a very real thing. There are chemical changes in our brain with deep grief, and it can affect us for a very long time, as in years. Some of us feel like we have permanently lost our […] The post Episode 17: I Am Afraid I am Losing My Mind appeared first on GPS Hope.
Season Topic: Facing Our Fears After the Death of Our Child Grief triggers can happen any time, any place and with no warning. And when it happens in public, it can be very unnerving. Laura is once again joined by Pastor Lynn Breeden, who has been dealing with grief triggers for over 30 years, […] The post Episode 16: The Fear of Grief Triggers appeared first on GPS Hope.
Season Topic: Facing Our Fears After the Death of Our Child Losing another child is one of podcast host, Laura Diehl's, biggest fears that she has to fight. It is also one of the most common fears bereaved parents have, because once we know it can happen to us, we know it can happen […] The post Episode 15: I Am Afraid of Losing Another Child appeared first on GPS Hope.
Season Topic: Facing Our Fears After the Death of Our Child This is the second episode with Laura's guest, Pastor Lynn Breeden. The first conference event Laura attended after Becca's death, was the only one Lynn has ever hosted for grieving moms (even though Lynn's son died over 30 years ago, and she has had […] The post Episode 14: I Am Afraid to Enjoy Life Without My Child appeared first on GPS Hope.
Season Topic: Facing Our Fears After the Death of Our Child Pastor Lynn Breeden joins Laura for the next six episodes, talking about different fears we may have after the death of our child. This episode begins with Lynn sharing her son Joel with the listeners. He was only five when he died, and it […] The post Episode 13: I Am Afraid No One Will Remember My Child appeared first on GPS Hope.
This is the first episode in a series of seven, discussing our fears after the death of our child. Fear brings torment, and as parents grieving the earthly loss of our child, it is easy to feel the full weight of that torment. But there is something much more powerful than our deepest fears; God's […] The post Episode 12: Facing Our Fears after the Death of Our Child appeared first on GPS Hope.
Last week on episode 10, Laura and Kelly talked about the struggles we can have as believers in Christ, wondering where God is in the tragedy of the death of our children. This week the discussion turns to pregnancy and infant loss. Kelly starts out by sharing why she doesn't like to use the term […] The post Episode 11: Pregnancy and Infancy Loss (with Kelly Gerken) appeared first on GPS Hope.
This talk with Kelly Gerken was so full of good stuff that instead of editing things out, it was turned into two separate episodes. In this first half, Kelly shares her story about losing her twins, Faith and Grace, before they were born, along with her son Thomas six hours after his birth. Then Laura […] The post Episode 10: Where is Your God Now? (with Kelly Gerken) appeared first on GPS Hope.
This week Laura talks to Ron Kelly about a subject many of us are forced to deal with way too soon; going back to work when we are in such deep grief. This was a very packed discussion and longer than the normal podcast, but well worth it. Some of the things covered on this […] The post Episode 9: Grief and the Workplace (with Ron Kelly) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Season Topic: The Many Facets of Forgiveness This is part two of the discussion on forgiving God for allowing our child to die. If you missed part one, you will want to go back and listen to episode 7. We start out by picking up where we left off in talking about the big question […] The post Episode 8: Forgiving God for Allowing Our Child to Die (Part 2) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Season Topic: The Many Facets of Forgiveness I cannot offer an easy fix or solution to this issue of needing to forgive God. The best thing I can do isn’t to try and convince you why forgiving God is the right thing to do (or why you should stop being angry at Him), but […] The post Episode 7: Forgiving God for Letting Your Child Die (Part 1) appeared first on GPS Hope.
Season Topic: The Many Facets of Forgiveness I think we will all agree that there is no wrong way to grieve, especially when grieving the death of your child, until it comes to our spouse (or someone close to us) and then they are doing it wrong if they aren't doing it like we are! […] The post Episode 6: Forgiving Those Who Are Not Grieving the Same Way appeared first on GPS Hope.
Season Topic: The Many Facets of Forgiveness This week, we discuss forgiving the guilty; those who had a hand in our child's death, whether it was directly or indirectly. Your two choices You can keep dwelling on it, rehearsing all the reasons why you should remain bitter and why that person does not deserve […] The post Episode 5: Forgiving the Person Responsible appeared first on GPS Hope.
Season Topic: The Many Facets of Forgiveness Welcome to episode #4 Are you struggling with forgiveness after the death of your child? Well that's exactly what we are discussing in this first series of our podcast, and this week we specifically address forgiving our child for leaving us. A loaded and difficult topic Some […] The post Episode 4: Forgiving Your Child for Leaving You appeared first on GPS Hope.
Season Topic: The Many Facets of Forgiveness Welcome to episode #3 Are you struggling with forgiveness after the death of your child? That is the first topic series we are tackling on this podcast, and this week we are going to specifically address forgiving those who have hurt us in the grieving process. Mother's […] The post Episode 3: Forgiving Those Who Have Hurt You appeared first on GPS Hope.
Season Topic: The Many Facets of Forgiveness Welcome to episode #2 Our topic for these first few weeks is discussing how to lay the foundation of forgiveness as we learn how to rebuild our lives. When our child dies there are so many people we need to forgive that it can almost paralyze us. […] The post Episode 2: Forgiving Yourself appeared first on GPS Hope.
Season Topic: The Many Facets of Forgiveness Welcome to episode – #1, our very first podcast! There are so many other things you could be doing, so I am honored that you have chosen to check us out and are considering spending the next few minutes together. Are you struggling with unforgiveness? Most of us […] The post Episode 1: Is Forgiveness Really Necessary? appeared first on GPS Hope.