Beyond Grief: Navigating the Journey of Pregnancy and Baby Loss

Product Information

All I have I would have given gladly not to be standing here today. – Lyndon Baines Johnson, in his first speech to Congress after the death of JFK The truth is, your guess is as good as mine as to how long grief lasts. In my experience, it depends on the extent of the loss and the significance of the relationship with what you lose. Lastly, ‘have we gone beyond ‘The Stages of Grief’ model and do the stages described, put unnecessary pressure on those grieving?’ — Perhaps, but I don’t think these questions can be answered definitively. David Kessler explained that “the five stages were never intended to be prescriptive” which brings me seamlessly to Kessler’s sixth stage — Meaning. I want to be clear; I know you and I have our own unique love, challenges, and relationships. I’m not trying to speak for everyone; I’m lending a voice to connect understanding. We know who we are at this moment. We know who we are as a couple. However, when we suddenly lose our partner, we also lose part of our identity.

Strength is truly revealed by acting the right way at the right time. It takes more bravery to show your emotions than to hide them. It takes more confidence to reveal your weakness than to pretend indifference. In a word, to grieve well is to be emotionally strong. Some widows have not only survived but thrived in their new lives. They have found a new sense of purpose and identity and have even been inspired to start their own businesses, nonprofits, or volunteer work. These women have discovered that their grief can actually fuel them to create something beautiful and meaningful out of their pain. They have found a new spark of life within themselves that they never knew existed. O'Connor's upcoming book, The Grieving Brain, explores what scientists know about how our minds grapple with the loss of a loved one. Interview highlights Many of the grief quotes above will be ideal, but you also want to tailor what you say to the individual, their situation, and your relationship. A sense of sorrow over the loss of a loved one will always be with you. That’s a given. You will always miss them, and feel waves of sadness at times. You can expect to feel better (in time) as you actively mourn your loved one.

The Presentation

Bring something. Food and flowers are always appreciated. Or some other items, like practical household necessities (does a grieving person shop for TP?) or a sympathy gift. You drew memories in my mind I could never erase. You painted colors in my heart I could never replace. God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. – Revelation 21:4 This book will be a godsend to any woman going through the murky devastation that is called miscarriage but feels like something else entirely: the loss of a baby. Grief is a lifelong process that waxes and wanes, peaks and furrows. But intense emotions do gradually decrease over time.

Jesus wept over the death of his friend ( John 11:35), so we know that sorrow over death is not wrong. In fact, Jesus even said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” What we once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes part of us. – Helen Keller Have you ever felt angry at the loss of something or someone? You might be angry with yourself or with God, wishing the doctors could have done more, or blaming the company for eliminating your job. Read on, and we think you might benefit from this collection of wise and timeless words. Quotes for Those Who Grieve Understand that life might never feel the same for them. They may learn to accept the loss, but the sadness may never completely go away.When we lose someone we love, we can either die with them or live on to celebrate their life. I’m tired of focusing on what we lost. I want to focus on what we had. – Barbara Delinsky Listen. By all means, come with some of these mourning quotes and ideas in mind, some encouraging Scripture verses, a story of their loved one. Those all have a place. But first and foremost, listen. If your grieving friend needs to talk, be their ear. Don’t offer correction or advice in these early stages. Just listen. They need to process a wide range of emotions, and grief is a journey with many ups and downs. Prepare by reading about the “ 5 stages of grief“, it’s a basic roadmap of the grief process which will help you better understand.