Seeing With New Eyes (For Those Who Have Lost a Loved One)

Good Monday morning, sweet friends! I hope you all had an UBER WONDER-ful Mother’s Day weekend!

Mine was quite different! The empty chair where my mother once sat was purposefully not at the table, but its absence just reminded me of her absence.

I also noted that this weekend, my blog got more hits than it has ever received in a three day period! People were googling things like, “First Mother’s Day without my mom” and “Missing my mom on Mother’s Day.”

And my heart broke for each one of them!

The emails and comments I received were all very real reminders of how many hearts are hurting during a time when so many others are celebrating.

Thank you all for your willingness to comment about the cherished memories of your own mothers. You have honored me by sharing such a personal and painful place in your heart. Your words have encouraged my heart and I want you to know that I have prayed for you.

It’s seems that so many are hurting in the wake of a recent loss. Others hearts are aching because their loved ones suffer from Alzheimer, dementia or some other terrible disease.

Let’s face it… sometimes life is just hard. So for the next week or so, I’d like to use my little space in cyberspace as a place where we can walk through these tough times together.

I really hope these posts will encourage your heart, strengthen your faith and help you press on beyond the pain. I’ll be writing a post on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the next two weeks that I hope will help us get through this thing togetherposts that I hope will encourage you to know that your God has not forsaken you, that He is with you, that He still wants to make beauty out of the ashes of your hurting heart, that there is light at the end of this painful tunnel and that you can move forward by the grace of God.

My prayer is that we will all see with new eyes – eyes that view eternity more clearly and help those who mourn find hope again!

As we go through this together, I’d be honored for you to share where you are and what you’re going through so that it might help others in the journey. Some of you have already done that, but I want to encourage you to continue. Some of you have emailed me because you weren’t comfortable with sharing so publicly or because you had a specific prayer request or question. Please know that if you are more comfortable doing that, than that’s fine too.

2 Corinthian 1:3-4 says… “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.”

Wednesday, I’ll begin by sharing where I am in this journey of grief and tell you what I recently did to avoid days of depression. I realize that sometimes we have to cry and mourn the loss of those we love – and it’s okay to go there… it’s just not okay to stay there.

So join me Wednesday and let’s walk through this together. I pray I’ll be able to sincerely comfort you with the comfort our God has given me. I pray we will see with new eyes and trust in the truth that God truly is the source of all comfort and we can trust Him.

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10 Comments

  1. This was my first year without my Mom and the entire week was so tough, not buying a card or a present, or going to see her! It hurt really bad even though I know she is in a much better place. I miss her everyday! Thank you Stephanie! I'll be walking right there beside you on Wednesday!!

  2. Kelly ~ My heart hurts with and for yours! My first year without mine too!

    I'm not really a big crier normally, but the other day I was sobbing and a cried out, “Jesus…my heart is hurting…I'm SO sad! Please help me!”

    And He did!

    I'm so thankful we can encourage each other in difficult days like these. Please know I am praying for you and I'm thankful you are going to join me in this journey of healing for our hurting hearts.

  3. Sweet Stephanie,

    I can't tell you how much better I feel after being able to vent my feelings on Monday, May 9th. After feeling so hopeless the week before Mother's Day, it felt good to finally let it all out. I went into the internet looking for someone who might be experiencing their first Mother's Day without their mother and I found you. I have held in my true feelings for months and it felt really good to be able to express them. I know there will be sad days, but it's nice to know that I have a place to turn to when I need to vent my feelings.

  4. Your post today, wow… This Sunday morning, Mothers Day, my husband passed away at 5.30 in the morning. He was 58. I'm not sure what else to say, but I could surely use your prayers…

  5. It has only been a week since my daddy passed away. Everything is still so fresh for me. Hard to handle. Glad I saw your post though. Maybe it will help me.

  6. Anonymous ~ I'm honored that you would share your heart with me and with those who will be reading these comments. I know self-control is important, but holding things end can be emotionally dangerous. Please feel free to vent whenever you need to, sweet friend! And please know you are being prayed for.

  7. Julie ~ I don't even know what to say sweet friend! Your loss has brought me to tears. My husband is almost 57 and I can't imaging what you must be going through! Please know that I'm praying for you and will be here if you need anything!

    “Heaven Father, speak peace to Julie's heart as she walks through this difficult time.”

  8. Donna ~ My heart hurts with yours, dear one! Those first days and weeks can be a roller coaster of emotions. Today, with tears in my eyes, I kept picturing my mom and trying to remember what her voice sounded like.

    Time does begin healing the open wounds, but the scars still remain.

    Please know you can email me anytime as you face the difficult days ahead.

  9. I just wanted to say in doing the opposite. this year's Mother's Day was harder for me than the previous 3 because of my son's death 4 years ago. And in trying to make Mother's Day not so sad…..I put his pictures on the dinner table and made myself remember the beauty of his presence. the way he played guitar and would laugh and sing. and most of all how much he loved JESUS and the first time he heard HIS voice. ~ carrie

  10. Carrie ~ You're SO right! Sometimes we have to go there and reminisce about our loved ones, other times we need to not go there. Not because it's a bad place to be, but because our hearts may be prone to stay there.

    Both are part of the grieving process and I'm so glad that you did exactly what you needed to make Mother's Day sweet!

    My heart hurts with yours and please know I'm praying for you!

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