"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us." (2 Corinthians … Continue reading Purpose In Our Pain
Grief
“Suffer With Me”
Those words cited in the title, written by Paul to a young Timothy, are sobering to be sure. (2 Timothy 2:3) But, they take on a new - painful - meaning when we suffer. I've always said that "suffering as Christians" is that side of the gospel we rarely hear preached about on Sundays. Something … Continue reading “Suffer With Me”
Moving at the Speed of Grief
"Weeping may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning." (Psalm 30:6) The familiar Kubler-Ross Five Stages of Grief are intended to be a model, not a rule. Grief is messy, violent, complicated and discombobulating. People are unique. The circumstances surrounding a person's grief is unique. So, it should be no surprise that … Continue reading Moving at the Speed of Grief
The Question No Christian Wants to be Forced to Answer
We’d love nothing more than to have our son, Jordan Watts, back. But, I remember something Jordan said in a video that was played at his Memorial Service: “If God were to take all my fingers away I would love him just the same.” (Jordan was an artist and his hands were his life.) Jordan’s … Continue reading The Question No Christian Wants to be Forced to Answer
Getting to Know Laughter Again
Those who know me on most any level know that laughter is a sizable part of my DNA. Due to the loss of my son (and how we lost him), there hasn't been much to laugh about the past year. Then,....i came across these ridiculous photos. (Two of them were taken a few years ago, … Continue reading Getting to Know Laughter Again
“I. Am. Here. I’ve Got This.”
"I. Am. Here. I've got this." That's what Christ has whispered to me (and continues to whisper to me) over and over again since my son's suicide in 2013. Jesus never gets impatient with me, or tired of telling me how much He loves me. His word (rock-solid & infallible) assures me, "His mercies are … Continue reading “I. Am. Here. I’ve Got This.”
Sometimes….I Just Miss Him
Sometimes....., I just miss him. The pain in my chest is constricting, and heavy. I shut the door to my office. And i cry. And then I cry some more. It's not complicated. I. just. miss. him. I want him to help me with Super Summer preparations. With planning. With ideas. Etc. I miss his … Continue reading Sometimes….I Just Miss Him
Yesterday
No, the above title is not a reference to the Beatles' classic. Tomorrow, May 13th, is the one-year mark of my son, Jordan's, entrance into Paradise. But, I had been dreading yesterday (5/11), I think, more than tomorrow (5/13). Mother's Day '13, unbeknownst to the me, Michelle, Kelsie & Macy would be the last day … Continue reading Yesterday
The Pain of Healing
Satan is evil personified. However, it wasn't until after Jordan died that I understood this on a deeper level. Losing a child comprises, in my opinion, the single worst day of a parent's life. After Jordan died I was in a state of relentless despair. To my surprise (and I shouldn't have been surprised) satan … Continue reading The Pain of Healing
S.O.S. – A Request for Prayer
Each year, our staff writes letters of congratulations to the year's high school graduates. As I was searching for resources today, I came across the letter I wrote to my son, Jordan, when he graduated high school in 2011. This week, as we approach May 13th, has been horrible. The emotional ambushes are crippling. I've … Continue reading S.O.S. – A Request for Prayer