We have some exciting news to share! In 2015, the bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix, AZ, Bishop Thomas Olmstead, wrote a letter to the men of his diocese called Into the Breach. The phrase “into the breach” comes from the Bible, specifically, from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel: “And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I
What is grief? How does it impact the person? What can you do to help a friend who is grieving? In order to help someone who is grieving, we must first attempt to understand what it means to walk in their shoes. One of my goals with this blog is to show you, with words, what grief is like. Leave behind the “I could never imagine” and begin to imagine with me for just one
As I type the title to this latest blog post it shocks me to my core and I dissolve into tears. In a million years I never would have thought that I would be advising other grieving families on their child’s gravesite. It is something I had never stopped to imagine or consider and I know that most people don’t. It’s just not a normal thing to think about. As I have walked this path
Let’s talk about overwhelm. I cannot speak to what men experience but I can speak to what so many women experience. We are consistently exhausted and overwhelmed by the many demands life places on us. When grief is added into this mix all of these thoughts swirling around in our heads are suddenly exacerbated one hundredfold. How do I get the laundry folded when I can’t stop crying? How do I show my children peace
St. Padre Pio is famously known for his statement, "Pray, hope, and don't worry." But did you also know that when he received news of his mothers death that he collapsed in agony and could not get out of bed for several days? He truly grieved her and was truly stricken. Grieving your loved one doesn't make you less of a Christian. It just means that you love that person and you need to mourn them.
So, yes, pray and hope and do not worry. But also know that when the world is turned topsy turvy and everything is in darkness that God has not abandoned you. God is with you in the midst.
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I remember telling some friends who were staying in touch with me over those 28.5 hours, “My baby went to Heaven to be with Jesus” as I cried and smiled. Oh, in that moment of death you are witnessing something so incredible that you cannot help but mingle tears of agony and joy. To stand on the very edge of earth and Heaven is an experience unlike any other. God did not wipe away my tears in those moments. God has not wiped away my tears since those moments. And I am ok with that. Tears mean that I love my daughter. As my husband said to me recently, “We love her through death.” Death has not conquered us. Death has not had the victory over us. Though we have been utterly devastated we are not defeated.
What suffering are you experiencing right now? Does it seem that God does not care? Do you feel like maybe He just isn’t there? I am standing in the desert. The hot winds beat against my face. The blazing sun exhausts me. My throat is parched with the agony of grief. And yet here I stand to tell you that there is hope. There is always hope. Water will come. Resources will be made available. You will get through this desert and you will come out victorious. This will not be an easy journey for you. The desert was not easy for Jesus to conquer so neither will it be easy for us to conquer. But we can do this. We can and will conquer the desert. Hold strong. Life will spring up from what seems to be a barren and dry ground. I stand with you.
Remember. When the pain and agony threaten to take over just pause. Take a long deep breath. Breathe in slowly. Breathe out slowly. Repeat. Remember every blessing no matter how small. Remember that God has not forgotten you even if Heaven appears to be silent. You are loved. You have a purpose. You are not forgotten.
Never forgotten.We do not know the day or the hour but we know is that this life is such a gift.
So pray. Be kind. Forgive and ask for forgiveness. Love hard and then wake up and ask God for the graces to do it all over again.
Never forgotten. 💙
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