Rosie walked into the house carrying her famous apple pie. Everyone was happy to see her — and the pie — but also cautious. Rosie’s husband, Simon, died two years ago, and holiday family gatherings have never been the same. No one is sure what to say. They do not want to make Rosie cry by ... Continue Reading
Giving Thanks: An attitude of gratitude can include tears
During an especially difficult time in my life, I walked into a church. “How are you doing?” someone asked me, a little too enthusiastic for the day I was having. Facing some hard issues at the time, I did not pretend all was fine. I replied, “OK.” He asked, “Just OK? Not great? You should be doing ... Continue Reading
Does being kind matter anymore?
We live in a broken world—poverty, discrimination, crime, death, and war. We also continually face natural disasters such as earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, and hurricanes. In the midst of those trials we are negotiating a politically toxic culture that can sap our energy and compassion. We need to ... Continue Reading
Finding Beauty in Hard Times
We face much heartache in life. No one wants to willingly walk into painful times. But since you will at some point find yourself facing a difficult situation, look around and see what beauty you can find. You may be surprised. Sometimes you go through thistles before finding the beauty. You can ... Continue Reading
How to Help Someone Who is Grieving
In Closure: The Rush to End Grief and What It Costs Us, I encourage people not to push others (or themselves) through grief. Knowing what this means in practical ways is good to consider. People often struggle with not knowing what to say to someone who is grieving. In facing this struggle, there ... Continue Reading
Helping Children Cope in Difficult Times
When bad things happen in our lives or when we hear of tragedies in the news, it can be hard to know how to talk with our children about the events. Personal trauma, natural disasters, wars, and shootings are all stressful for families. Although every child’s needs are different, here are some ... Continue Reading
“Am I Grieving Right?”
We sit at the kitchen table, brushing off the chill of a winter evening. Gloria puts down her coffee mug and reaches for a picture of her children. Through tears, she tells me about her oldest son’s life, and quietly laughs when describing his antics. He died three years ago, and she obviously ... Continue Reading
We Can Carry Grief and Joy Together
Settling back in the chair, Tim talks about his wife Leah, who died 15 years ago. “There’s not a day that goes by without me thinking about her. You know, ‘What would she look like today? Would she still be working?’ You just kind of think about what our life might have been like. ‘What would she ... Continue Reading
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