Whether you have made prayer a habit for many years or this is your first prayer devotional, inspiration and comfort is waiting for you in the daily prayers written here. Prayer is a conversation with God. You don't need to use fancy words or recite long passages of Scripture. Just talk to God. Open your heart. Tell him about your depth of loss and express your grief in whatever way you need to in this moment. God is the best source of comfort you will find. He knows your heart and he is full of compassion for you. Let his strength be yours as you cry out to him. He is listening to every word you say.

Nothing could hurt worse. But even in the darkness . . . there’s hope.

The pain of suicide loss is indescribable. It seems beyond survival. Yet with faith, perseverance, and the tools of brain science, there is a way through. It will take time. It will take struggle. But hope is real, for there are things you can do to make it to the other side.

If you are struggling with suicide loss or you need to come alongside someone who is, Rita Schulte wants to help you move forward. As a suicide loss survivor herself, she understands the pain you’re feeling because she has been there too. Rita, an experienced therapist and expert in traumatic loss, offers a science-based therapy model that also takes into account the role of human spirituality.

Chapters in this book include:

• Making Sense of the Desire to Die
• The Mind-Body Connection
• Unfinished Business
• Making Peace with Ourselves
• Facing the Dark Side
• Children—Living Behind the Shadow
• The Time that Remains

When it comes to suicide loss, you’ll never have all the answers. But one thing is certain: there are real pathways to help you heal—body, mind, and spirit.

Author's New York Times essay, 'Death, the Prosperity Gospel and Me' (http://nyti.ms/2k87bUM) was chosen by the newspaper as one of their top 20 articles of 2016, and was read by millions

When a Loved One Dies we often go into shock. What has happened doesn't really penetrate. It's only later that we start to experience our emotions, what that person has meant to us. This is when grief and loneliness begin. For many of us this is also the time we start asking questions, like "what does death really mean?" We want to know, and understand. This time of sorrow can also be the start of a new, spiritual path. But whatever our reaction, for almost everyone it means passing through a dark tunnel. It is only beyond the deepest darkness that light begins to dawn again, and we can gradually open ourselves to life once more. When the end of the tunnel comes in sight, you are a different person. Every mourning process is a process of transformation.

Entertainers Roy and Dale Evans Rogers were thrilled when their little daughter Robin was born. But their excitement turned to concern when they were informed that Robin was born with Down's Syndrome and advised to "put her away." The Rogers ignored such talk and instead kept Robin, and she graced their home for two and a half years. Though Robin's time on earth was short, she changed her parents' lives and even made life better for other children born with special needs in the years to come.
Angel Unaware is Robin's account of her life as she looks down from heaven. As she speaks to God about the mission of love she just completed on earth, the reader sees how she brought her parents closer to God and encouraged them to help other children in need.
This book, which changed the way America treated children with special needs, is now available to a new generation. It is the perfect gift for parents of special needs children, parents grieving the death of a child, or anyone whose life has been touched by a special child.

"Whatever you are feeling, God can handle it--all of it. The tears, screams, and questions. God invites you to let Him tend to your heart." In the bluegrass fields of Kentucky, Anne Wilson and her siblings, Jacob and Elizabeth, grew up in the security and love of their family--and Jesus. But when Jacob died in a car accident, Anne was thrust into a painful journey of grief and soul-wrestling that led to God calling her to create songs that glorified Him. My Jesus weaves together Anne's personal story with an encouraging message to anyone longing for God to wipe away their tears. No matter what season of life you're facing, My Jesus comes alongside you to: Show how God can bring purpose out of loss Offer hope in the midst of heartbreak Remind you that God never abandons you Discover the beauty that can emerge from suffering as you read Anne's story of growing closer to the God who always makes a way. Praise for My Jesus: "I love how Anne Wilson invites us into the cracks and crevices of her life and how she built her life on Jesus. My Jesus is personal, and it takes you on a journey through some of the most foundational parts of Anne's life that develop into a large picture where it is so clear that God was the artist of it all. As I read through each page, I felt like I was at coffee with Anne, hearing her story." --Sadie Robertson Huff, author, speaker, and founder of Live Original "The song 'My Jesus' has impacted so many of our lives in such important ways. Reading this book, being in the moments with Anne and her family, and hearing her faith rise up when her heart was broken, Anne has told a true and deep story that we all need to read." --Annie F. Downs, New York Times bestselling author of That Sounds Fun

How do we respond to God, our family, and our colleagues when our whole world is shattered by the death of a loved one? For Spoken Word artist Dai Woolridge, there were sometimes no words. In this honest and personal story of grief, Dai offers a creative response to God. Working through a timeline of grief, he shares his experience of burn-out, anti-depressants and the question of why doesn't God heal? Using poetry, prayers and scripture, Dai looks back at his cries to God, and His words back to him. This is a book that will give words to those who are going through personal loss, and for those who have grieved, are grieving or have never yet grieved.

In Letters of Note: Grief, Shaun Usher gathers together some of the most powerful messages about grief, from the heart-wrenching pain of losing a loved one to reliving fond memories of those who have passed on. Includes letters by: Audre Lorde, Robert Frost, Nick Cave, Rainer Maria Rilke, Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, Kahlil Gibran, Edith Wharton, Mary Wortley Montagu, Seungsahn Haengwon & many more

Ask any woman whose mother has died, and she will tell you that she is irrevocably altered, as deeply changed by her mother's death as she was by her mother's life. Although a mother's mortality is inevitable, no book had discussed the profound, lasting and far-reaching effects of this loss - until Motherless Daughters, which became in instant classic. Over twenty years later, it is still the book that women of all ages look to for comfort and understanding when their mothers die, and the book that they continue to press into each other's hands. Building on interviews with hundreds of mother-loss survivors, the author's personal story of losing her mother and recent research in grief and psychology, Motherless Daughters reveals the shared experiences and core identity issues of motherless women. * * * * * * * 'Motherless Daughters is a timeless source of consolation and information for all who grieve the death of their mother. It highlights that we bear this loss by remembering, not forgetting our mother.' JULIA SAMUEL, author of Grief Works 'Anyone who has lost their mother should read this remarkable, tender book, full of insight and consolation. This is one of those exceptional books that has the power to change your life.' CLOVER STROUD, author of The Wild Other 'Nothing has helped me make more sense of myself than Motherless Daughters; it's the book I go back to again and again, and find something new in it every time.' DECCA AITKENHEAD 'Intelligent, brave, consoling and wise . . . an essential and illuminating must-read for anyone who has lost a mother or loves someone who did.' CHERYL STRAYED, author of Wild 'This book has helped me heal my heart. Finding myself in the stories of other motherless daughters let me know I was not alone. If you have lost your mom - this book is essential.' ROSIE O'DONNELL 'Absorbing . . . insightful . . . a moving and valuable treatment of a neglected subject.' NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

Each person fears death in their own way. Despite turning to the comforts of children, or wealth, or belief in a higher power, death anxiety is never completely subdued: it is always there, lurking in the hidden ravines of our minds. In STARING AT THE SUN, master psychotherapist Irvin D. Yalom faces his own fear of death and examines its role in many patients' fears, stresses and depression. With characteristic wisdom and illuminating case histories, he shows how confronting and coping with death allows us to live in a richer, more compassionate way.

The Grief Companion is a modern illustrated deck of cards that provides gentle guidance, support, and knowledge for those navigating loss and grief. No two people grieve in the same way. The Grief Companion is a non-linear collection of cards that offers insights into the ever-evolving grieving process: providing thoughts and facts to help you feel grounded and seen; ideas on how to honour your loss and memory; and resources you can rely on as your experience of grief continues to shift. The cards can be used in a number of different ways. Simply pull an Insight, Action, or Prompt card every day or every week as part of a mindful intention, or during a difficult moment to be comforted. The cards are designed with dozens of actions and reflections that can be easily incorporated into your routine to guide and support you on your unique path. With The Grief Companion, you'll be empowered to better understand the grieving process and its effects as you learn coping mechanisms and, most of all, feel supported in your grieving experience.

'This is a wonderful, beautiful little book. It is like a quiet, wise friend, full of comfort and practical counsel, when your world has collapsed or changed beyond recognition. It is like a crib sheet of how to cope; it is as helpful to friends of widows as to the widows themselves, and it is written from experience, which is the bedrock of reliable advice' Joanna Lumley When Jan Robinson's husband died suddenly and unexpectedly, she had the idea of asking any other widows, whenever and wherever she met them, for two tips about how to deal with widowhood - anything that came to mind, whether it was what to do or what not to do, however seemingly unimportant. That is how Tips from Widows started. Grief is an unmanageable emotion and the form it takes is unique to every woman whose husband or partner has died. There are no set rules about coping with loss. Some people struggle with it for years and maybe never get over it. Others manage to move on. This book makes no claim to be an authority on how to cope as a widow, nor does it set out to offer a thorough analysis of widowhood. It is, quite simply, tips from widows. You may be alone in your boat on the ocean, but Tips from Widows will help you to recognise that other boats are out there too.

A USA TODAY BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR ( ) "Little and Often is a beautiful memoir of grief, love, the shattered bond between a father and son, and the resurrection of a broken heart. Trent Preszler tells his story with the same level of art and craftsmanship that he brings to his boat making, and he reminds us of creativity's power to transform and heal our lives. This is a powerful and deeply moving book. I won't soon forget it." -Elizabeth Gilbert Trent Preszler thought he was living the life he always wanted, with a job at a winery and a seaside Long Island home, when he was called back to the life he left behind. After years of estrangement, his cancer-stricken father had invited him to South Dakota for Thanksgiving. It would be the last time he saw his father alive. Preszler's only inheritance was a beat-up wooden toolbox that had belonged to his father, who was a cattle rancher, rodeo champion, and Vietnam War Bronze Star Medal recipient. This family heirloom befuddled Preszler. He did not work with his hands-but maybe that was the point. In his grief, he wondered if there was still a way to understand his father, and with that came an epiphany: he would make something with his inheritance. Having no experience or training in woodcraft, driven only by blind will, he decided to build a wooden canoe, and he would aim to paddle it on the first anniversary of his father's death. While Preszler taught himself how to use his father's tools, he confronted unexpected revelations about his father's secret history and his own struggle for self-respect. The grueling challenges of boatbuilding tested his limits, but the canoe became his sole consolation. Gradually, Preszler learned what working with his hands offered: a different per spective on life, and the means to change it. Little and Often is an unflinching account of bereavement and a stirring reflection on the complexities of inheritance. Between his past and his present, and between America's heartland and its coasts, Preszler shows how one can achieve reconciliation through the healing power of creativity. "Insightful, lyrical...Little and Often proves to be a rich tale of self-discovery and reconciliation. Resonating with Robert Pirsig's classic Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, it is a profound father-and-son odyssey that discovers the importance of the beauty of imperfection and small triumphs that make extraordinary happen." -USA Today ( )

We have many life-determining moments in our lives; moments when something happens, and we make decisions that determine the nature of our future life. Many of these moments are happy ones. We look forward to them, and we enjoy them. But many of our life-determining moments are not happy and we struggle with these unwanted intrusions into our lives - death is probably the most unwanted intrusion in our lives. We all struggle with these life-determining moments. The date when these moments occur will always remain significant to us. Our lives divide into two: before and after. In The Compassion of Memory P A McDermott explores the grief surrounding the untimely passing of a beloved family member and how grief continues for decades after the intial loss.

Experiencing a parent or guardian with cancer is extremely difficult for children and adolescents with healthcare professionals and cancer support centres often lacking the specialised knowledge needed to also support these individuals. This practical guide provides a comprehensive and current understanding of the impact of parental cancer on children, young people and families. It offers a longitudinal account of the impact of cancer through the different stages of the illness and explores the impact of culture and international contexts on how families experience parental cancer. The book also crucially focuses on how to support children, young people and families by examining existing interventions. Important chapters on death and bereavement, and on self-care for practitioners also supplement the book. A valuable handbook for healthcare practitioners from a range of specialities working with patients and families affected by cancer, including clinical psychology, counselling, nursing, oncology, palliative care and social work.

'Completely original, raw and warm' Evening Standard Books of the Summer 'Poignant... written with intelligence and tears' Ben Okri 'Nuanced, absorbing and moving... extraordinary' Observer 'Raw, poetic, beautifully formed' Daisy Johnson When Xanthi Barker's father died when she was in her mid twenties, she could make no sense of her grief for a man who had been absent for most of her life. Her father, poet Sebastian Barker, had left Xanthi, her mother and her brother to pursue writing and a new relationship, when Xanthi was a baby. Growing up she had always struggled to reconcile his extravagant affection - a rocking horse crafted from scavenged wood, the endless stream of poems and drawings and letters, conversations that spiralled from the structure of starlight to philosophy to Bruce Springsteen - with the fact that he could not be depended upon for more everyday things. Though theirs was a relationship defined by departures, he always returned, so why should this farewell be any different, or more final? WILL THIS HOUSE LAST FOREVER? is a heartfelt and wholly original memoir about the pain of having to come to terms with a parent's mortality, the way grief so utterly defies logic, and about learning to see the flaws in those that we love, and let them go.

Every 85 minutes someone in the UK takes their own life and the suicide rate is currently the highest since 2004. Society often reacts with unease, fear and even disapproval but what happens to those bereaved by a self-inflicted death? The reasons leading someone to take their own life are complex, and the bereavement reactions of survivors of suicide can also be complex, including shame, guilt, sadness and the effects of trauma, stigma and social isolation. It can be difficult for those personally affected by a suicide death to come to terms with their loss and seek help and support. A Special Scar looks in detail at the impact of suicide and offers practical help for survivors, relatives and friends of people who have taken their own life. Fifty bereaved people tell their stories, showing us that, by not hiding the truth from themselves and others they have been able to learn to live with the suicide, offering hope to others facing this traumatic loss. This Classic Edition includes a brand-new introduction to the work and will be an invaluable resource for survivors of suicide as well as for all those who are in contact with them, including police and coroner's officers, bereavement services, self-help organisations for survivors, mental health professionals, social workers, GPs, counsellors and therapists.

Every year in the UK over 10,000 babies die before birth or shortly afterwards. For the parents, the grief is hard to bear. In this book, parents who have lost a baby tell their stories. They speak about what happened, how they felt, how they have been helped by others and how they helped themselves.
Using letters from and interviews with many bereaved parents, Nancy Kohner and Alix Henley have written a book which offers understanding of what it means to lose a baby and the grief that follows. When a Baby Dies also contains valuable information about why a baby dies, hospital practices, the process of grieving, sources of support, and the care parents need in future pregnancies.

Intended for use with elementary-school-aged children who have experienced the death of someone special, Mourning Child Grief Support Group Curriculum: Early Childhood Edition is for professionals who work in schools, hospitals, hospices, mental health agencies, or any setting that serves bereaved children. The Middle Childhood Edition contains lesson plans for 10 sessions that include age-appropriate activities. These fun and engaging activities enable young children to approach highly sensitive and painful topics. The authors provide detailed instructions and learning objectives to guide users through the curriculum.

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