Writer, Speaker, Editor, Blogger
For many months, I’ve been searching for the deadbolt key for the door from our sunroom to the deck. We hadn’t opened that door in years, but now, the threshold needs repairing. I looked through boxes, drawers, purses, and found many keys, but none were the key. Last week, while rifling through a small basket, […]
Since last week, a deeper level of grief has been my unwanted companion. Learning of the death of a childhood friend, who battled relentless cancer for many years, sparked deeper grief that seemed to multiply and grow. Like an invading vine that creeps unhindered, grief covered me with its unwanted presence, sending my mind spiraling […]
Last week, I had the pleasure of speaking at a ladies’ luncheon at a local church. The theme for the event was “Refresh.” All of us have times when we need refreshment, or areas of our lives that need refreshing. Often, we plow ahead, pushing through, rather than acknowledging that we are in a season […]
For the last several weeks, I’ve been going through boxes long buried in our garage and Jim’s home office. Sifting through the detritus of the life of a loved one, and the places that life intersects with yours, is a bittersweet experience. Scenes appear. Conversations float. Memories take on a life of their own. Some […]
Last week, I had several nights of dreams about Jim. As dreams often are, they were jumbled, confusing, and somewhat nonsensical. In part of the dream, Jim was alive, but later not. We were conversing, yet he said he couldn’t hear me when I asked if he could. Waking from those types of dreams leaves […]
Spring came early this year, and I am glad. I needed the return of color to brighten the solemnness of loss. Following are observations on the healing power of nature: Light One of the joys of spring is the change in light and the return of warmth. Although there are days when winter’s chill lingers, […]
Sometimes, I wish a manual existed with instructions on how to fly solo after 43 years of togetherness. But then, I realize this solo journey is unique to each who takes flight, thus, each manual different. This week is a solo flight for me—a retreat alone. I need this time to think, reflect, and process […]
Since Jim’s death, music has brought me great comfort. I listened to CeCe Winans sing “Goodness of God” over and over, distilling the truth of God’s faithfulness. I watched Jim’s celebration of life service repeatedly, listening to my son and daughter-in-law sing “How Great Thou Art,” my son play “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” on the […]
If you are staid, formal, and have rigid ideas about what is acceptable behavior for the grieving, you should stop reading now, because this post is about the blessing, value, and power of humor in grief. Since Jim’s death, our family has shed tears, but we have also laughed—a lot. Jim’s celebration of life included […]
It’s been a while since I lifted weights at the gym, but I know I need to get back to it. I much prefer cardio, because I can zone out, to some extent, once I get my heartrate where it needs to be. In many ways, grief is like weightlifting. We don’t want to experience […]