Writing about grief brings the honor of listening to others’ stories of loss. In those stories, I hear pain but also tributes of love. Parents grieving for a daughter, 47 years later. A husband missing his beloved wife for 20 years. A couple grieving for a child as intensely now as when he died a year ago. People move on… Read More
Grieving When Babies Die: Why the controversy?
On the day of the Iowa Caucus, Rick Santorum is getting some unexpected attention thanks to Alan Colmes. The day before, Colmes said that people would soon learn about the crazy things Santorum has done “like taking his two-hour-old baby when it died right after childbirth home and played with it so that his other children would know that the… Read More
Can Revenge on Your Ex Bring Closure?
The end of a relationship is a common loss and may bring pain, anger, humiliation, abandonment, and grief. Some businesses sell products, such as divorce cakes, dead fish, the Ex Voodoo Doll, and Bury the Jerk kits. But does seeking revenge help or hurt the healing process? Many examples in popular culture would have us believe that revenge is good… Read More
A Young Widow’s Story of Grief and Hope
Almost six years ago, Jill’s husband died. She was 44 at the time. I do not know what it is like to be a widow. But through Jill’s stories, I am given a glimpse into that world. And generously, she is sharing her stories about love and grief with others. When discussing Closure on a radio program, I encouraged listeners… Read More
“Closure” Harms Sexual Assault Victims
Hoping that victims will find “closure” in the Penn State sex abuse scandal is wrong. Using the concept of closure helps those responsible for the harm; it doesn’t help victims. What does “closure for victims” really mean when used in these political and criminal cases? Jerry Sandusky, former assistant football coach at Penn State University, is facing multiple sexual assault… Read More
Heaven’s Rain: A Story of Murder and Forgiveness
“Nothing could have prepared 16-year-old Brooks Douglass for the future that lay before him. Brooks grew up in a loving family in a rural home near Oklahoma City. His father, Richard Douglass, was pastor of Putnam City Baptist Church, which housed over 3,000 members in its congregation. Brooks’ mother, Marilyn, devoted her time to her children, which in addition to… Read More
Carrying the Burden of Grief
This past weekend a young woman died at the university where I teach. My mind has been on my students and others who mourn this tragic and senseless loss. I have also been thinking of several other students who have died in the past few years. Watching my students process these losses and struggle to find their way through the… Read More
Selling Cremation Jewelry
Longing to remember a loved one and to keep that person’s spirit and memories close is nothing new. For generations we have been finding ways to memorialize people. The idea is that if you carry someone in your heart and memory, then you can retain part of the bond you had in life. There are many ways people learn to… Read More
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