Burying my son and living life without one of my children walking with me continues to be the hardest thing I have ever done. I wouldn’t wish the pain and struggle on my worst enemy.
But I am determined not to waste the things that God is teaching me through this experience.
I want to allow Him to redeem this brokenness.
That’s why I share my journey.
I am working on a series of posts that will highlight some of the most helpful things people did for me and our family in the early days of our grief journey. I will also share the physical, emotional, spiritual and psychological challenges and experiences of bereavement.
I am asking other bereaved parents who are willing, to share their experiences so people can have the benefit of many and varied voices:
(I will never reveal any names or identifying information)
- What did people do for you and your family that was particularly helpful around the time of your child’s death?
- What do you wish had been done differently?
- What advice would you give to a parent in the first few weeks of grief?
- What support did you receive from your church or faith community?
- What support did you wish you had received from your church or faith community?
- What were the greatest challenges with extended family?
- What was helpful for your surviving children as they grieved?
- What surprised you most about grieving your child?
- What do you want others to know about your grief journey?
These are just a few questions that I would like to explore–you may think of others. Please feel free to respond in the “comments” section or send me an email to Godsgrdnr@aol.com.
You can also join the discussion on the public Facebook page: Heartache and Hope: Life After Losing a Child.
There is nothing easy about grieving a child, but I pray that sharing our experiences can help ease the pain of other parents just beginning this journey.
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thelifeididntchoose 
I have lost two sons, one in 2002 and the other in 2015. When we lost our first son, our church family and pastor were with us every step of the way. With it being a new journey God graciously put people in place to hel us. Last year when we lost our second son it was his church family that was there. I had a different pastor than in 2002 and I had virtually no support from him and very little from the members. I don’t think anyone of them realized how much my family needed them. My husband and I had been members of this church for 20 years. But, a few months later God led us to a new church and those members embraced and loved us. God was once again gracious to us. We have a blended family: my two sons (both that passed away) and a dsughter; my husband a son and a daughter. My remaining daughter is Having an extemely hard time dealing with the deaths of her brothers. I have tried to get her to seek counseling but she for some reason has not done so. I could not have made it through without my God and my other family members. I have found that talking about my boys, journaling and even posting on Facebook has helped me.
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Judy, Thank you for sharing. I’m so sorry for your pain and that you have had to experience the loss of two sons. Each of my surviving children has faced the loss of their brother in their own way–it’s an additional burden for us mamas to see them suffer too. May God continue to give you the strength you need for each day and may He send people to encourage and lift you up.
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