Gary Roe's Blog

I can feel myself slipping backwards.

The pain is driving me to old, unhealthy habits.

These things promise relief, but they’re only quick fixes that never work.

Afterwards, the shame and guilt invade, and I feel worse off than before.

I feel stuck. Trapped.

What can I do?

We all have unhealthy habits back there. Some of us have an entire suitcase full of them.

We all have addictions. These are things we engage in when the stress vice tightens to the point where we feel like we need to escape.

Fear is ultimately behind this. Something has happened that has put us in fight-or-flight mode. Some of us have been hit hard enough that we spend a lot of our lives running from or fighting something.

Here are some of the more common addictions in our world today: alcohol, illegal and prescription drugs, tobacco and nicotine, coffee, gambling, pornography, sex, food, the internet and technology, video games, work, spending, collecting, entertainment, exercise, worry and negative thinking, etc.

Almost anything, even good things, can be used to try and medicate our pain and keep our terrors at bay. Our addictive habits become an unhealthy crutch. They are self-sabotaging coping mechanisms that simply do not work. We might get momentary relief, but the price we pay for it is astronomical. Guilt and shame invade. A sense of failure and worthlessness surface. We get caught in a cycle of slow self-destruction.

Some addictions are more serious than others, of course. But all addictions have their own insidious impact on our hearts, minds, and lives.

As with other challenges on the grief journey, addictions are not something that we can tackle and manage on our own. We need trust-worthy people to walk with us through these deep, dark valleys.

No one is immune from addiction. In fact, we all have them, of one form or another.

If you feel yourself slipping back into old, unhealthy habits, please know that this is common in grief. The stress of loss and all the life changes can easily tip us over into the well-worn ruts of addictive behavior. Accepting what is happening is the first step. Then you can respond rather than continuing to react in self-harming cycles.

Avoid isolating at all costs. Be kind to yourself by reaching out for help and assistance.

Release the guilt and shame. Let go of the illusion of control.

Affirmation:
I’ll be alert about the power of unhealthy habits. I’ll guard my heart by connecting well with people who can walk with me in these dark places.

Suggestions:
Below are some suggestions to consider when unhealthy habits start to exert their influence.

Reach out for support. Ask yourself, “Who can I contact about this?”If you’re not already, strongly consider connecting with an organization that specializes in the addictions and unhealthy habits you find yourself struggling with: Celebrate Recovery, Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous, Sex Addicts Anonymous, etc. Check your area for local addiction recovery and support options.Consider connecting with a mental health professional who understands addictions and the grief process. An experienced, knowledgeable counselor can be a huge asset during this time.When stress goes up, unhealthy habits knock louder. Please don’t try to tackle this on your own. You need good support to stay on the healthy grief path.

Excerpt from  The Grief Guidebook: Common Questions, Compassionate Answers, Practical Suggestions.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1, NIV)

Question: Have you slipped back into unhealthy habits since your loss? What has helped you with that? Please feel free to share by commenting below.

The post How to Avoid Old, Unhealthy Habits first appeared on Gary Roe.

I’m having panic attacks now.

They’re awful and terrifying.

Sometimes, I feel like I’m dying.

I’m a disaster. I feel so out of control.

What can I do?

Panic attacks are indeed terrifying. Sadly, they tend to be common in the grief journey.

Sometimes we know what the trigger is. We see something and begin thinking about this or that. We get anxious. The anxiety takes off.

We feel the panic coming. Soon, we’re hyperventilating, light-headed, and terror-stricken. Other times, we can’t identify a trigger at all. We seem to be fine, doing daily life and minding our own business. Anxiety descends on us seemingly out of nowhere. Panic ensues and hijacks us.

Panic attacks can be debilitating.

The insidious thing about panic attacks is that they are so awful that we begin fearing the next one before it arrives. Over time, that anticipatory anxiety can lead to another panic attack.

Though panic attacks are not uncommon for grieving hearts, they are not something we should attempt to manage on our own. Most of us are embarrassed by these sudden assaults of terror, which can lead us to isolate a bit. However, now is the very time when we need to be reaching out.

Though we don’t tend to share this struggle with others, it is wise and helpful to involve some trustworthy, safe people in this battle with us. We need the support and understanding of others. They can give invaluable input and bring perspective.

To manage panic attacks well, however, most need some professional guidance. Licensed counselors and grief professionals can provide the listening ears, compassionate acceptance, and expert assistance we need to navigate these fear-laced upheavals. These professionals, along with our physician, can help determine whether medication or supplements might be helpful.

The expert help we need may be costly at times. Investing heavily in our own recovery, healing, and wellness is a huge priority. One of the best gifts we can give to ourselves and those around us is to be as healthy as possible. Taking care of ourselves is also a powerful way to honor those we’ve lost.

If you find yourself having panic attacks, please take your heart seriously and reach out to someone who can walk with you through this. Don’t try to do this alone. We need each other.

Affirmation:
If I experience panic attacks, I’ll be careful not to isolate, but instead reach out for the assistance I need to handle these attacks in healthy ways.

Suggestions:
If you find yourself having anxiety or panic attacks, please consider
the following.

Remember that you are far from alone. Many experience panic attacks as part of their grief journey.Practice deep breathing and make it a habit (see the end of chapter five). This simple skill can make a big difference.While panic is sending emergency fight-or-flight messages to your brain, deep breathing sends the message, “Things are not as bad as panic says. I am not in danger. This will pass.”When a panic attacks comes, try accepting what is. “I’m feeling panicky. I’ll accept this panic as part of my grief process.” I know that might sound scary or even crazy, but the reality is that once you accept what’s happening in the moment, in most cases the panic actually begins to dissipate.Is there a counselor or grief professional you can talk with about panic attacks? If you don’t know anyone personally, whom can you talk to for some guidance or a recommendation? Getting some expert input can be invaluable in dealing with tough issues like this.Do you have a physician that you trust? Would you be willing to make a call or make an appointment to talk about panic attacks with them? Make sure you tell them about your loss and your grief process so far.

Excerpt from  The Grief Guidebook: Common Questions, Compassionate Answers, Practical Suggestions.

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10, ESV)

Question: Have you experienced panic attacks in your grief process? What was that like for you? Please feel free to share by commenting below.

The post How Do I Handle Panic Attacks? first appeared on Gary Roe.

The grief journey is challenging. Along the way, we might feel trapped, surrounded by grief. We can feel outnumbered and like the world is against us.

The following is a chapter from Soul Cry: Devotional Prayers for Wounded, Grieving, and Suffering Hearts. Chances are you can relate to the grieving heart in this chapter. 

I hope this will be an encouragement and comfort to you today.

Surrounded, Trapped, Outnumbered

2 Kings 6:15-17

When the servant of the man of God got up
and went out early the next morning,
an army with horses and chariots
had surrounded the city.
“Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.
(6:15)

O God, similar to this servant,
I feel surrounded, trapped, outnumbered,
as if I’m being relentlessly squeezed.
Sometimes, I find it hard to breathe.

I can feel so small, so alone,
so weak, vulnerable, and helpless.
Perhaps I am indeed all of those, except for alone,
for I know You, Jesus, are with me, in me.
With the servant, my heart cries,
“Oh no, my Lord! What shall I do?”

“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered.
“Those who are with us are more than
those who are with them.”
(6:16)

Yes, Lord. I am so quick to forget
the realities of the unseen, spiritual realm.
Every day, every moment, is a spiritual battle
amid a cosmic, spiritual war.

I surrender the fallacy that this is all about me that my life is about me,
and that these struggles are about me,
All this is part of a larger picture, a larger story.
Your grand story.

And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes,
LORD, so that he may see.”
Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes,
and he looked and saw the hills
full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
(6:17)

O Lord, open my eyes.
Give me discernment.
According to Your will for me,
may I be more aware of this battle that is raging.

Most of all, remind me that You are already victorious,
Conquering King of all.
You, Jesus, have conquered sin and death,
and You brought me into Your life.

Open my eyes, O God, that I might see.
Give me Your strength to endure,
to persevere patiently, walking with You,
following You, trusting You.

You are the Victorious One, my Creator, my Redeemer,
My Savior and my Lord.

In Jesus’ name..

Excerpt from  Soul Cry: Devotional Prayers for Wounded, Grieving, and Suffering Hearts.

Question: Have you felt trapped, surrounded, and outnumbered since your loss? Feel free to share by commenting below.

The post Surrounded, Trapped, and Outnumbered first appeared on Gary Roe.

I sigh a lot now.

I find myself thinking and even saying, “Whatever.”

If this can happen, if we all die, then what’s the point?

Frankly, I don’t care anymore, and that scares me.

Do other people experience this?

Is apathy a part of grief?

Most grieving hearts experience at least some apathy in their grief journey.

Our hearts have been hit so hard that sometimes our “feelers” have to shut down. We can become numb at times. Loss
stirs questions and wonderings in our hearts. One question that often surfaces is, “What’s the point of all this anyway?”

Though that question might be scary, it’s often one the heart needs to ask. We need to know why we’re here and what life is all about.

If we don’t, we’ll end up simply doing what everyone else does and going through the motions chasing things that in the end really don’t matter much.

If we’ve had heavy, serious losses in the past, this loss can push us into apathy. If close and deep enough, this loss all by itself can drive us into the land of “Whatever.”

Whatever Land is a temporary rest stop along the grief journey, not a permanent destination. We pass through Whatever Land but don’t make a home there.

We don’t do well without a clear sense of meaning and purpose.

Recognizing apathy and processing it are important.

If you find yourself feeling apathetic, please know that this is natural and common for a grieving heart. Let your heart express itself and ask the questions it needs to.

Be aware that part of the apathy you experience could be coming from anger toward yourself, others, God, or the world in general.

Owning up to and processing that anger is healthy for your mind and heart. Don’t let it hide, fester, and infect your life and relationships in adverse ways.

When in Whatever Land, be aware of what you’re thinking and feeling. Know that most grieving hearts experience some apathy on this journey. See yourself accepting where you are in Whatever Land but also know that you are passing through.

Be kind to yourself. This is hard.

Affirmation:
If I’m feeling apathetic, I’ll be real with myself about that. I’ll remember that Whatever Land is a temporary stop and not a permanent residence

Excerpt from  The Grief Guidebook: Common Questions, Compassionate Answers, Practical Suggestions.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. (2 Corinthians 4:7-9, NIV)

Question: Have you experienced apathy along with way in your grief process? Please feel free to share by commenting below.

The post Is Apathy a Part of Grief? first appeared on Gary Roe.

The grief journey is challenging. Along the way, most of us feeling like we’re failing somehow.

Then we try harder. And then we fail again.

The following is a chapter from Soul Cry: Devotional Prayers for Wounded, Grieving, and Suffering Hearts. Chances are you can relate to the grieving heart in this chapter. 

I hope this will be an encouragement and comfort to you today.

Trying and Failing
Psalm 40:1-5

I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
(40:1-2)

You have done this for me many times, O Lord.
You have delivered me again and again.
How many times have you rescued me
and I wasn’t even aware of it?

I do not know what has not happened –
all that you have protected me from.
You hear my every cry.

He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the LORD
and put their trust in him.
(40:3)

In the past, You have enabled me to sing,
even while my heart was broken.
You will strengthen me to sing again.
Shine in me, and shine through me, O Lord.

Blessed is the one
who trusts in the LORD,
who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods.
(40:4)

My idols have been many, Lord.
How numerous are the things and people
I have elevated above You.
Purify my heart to worship You alone,
and to trust You, O God my Savior.
I am tired of trying and failing.
I want to rest in You and trust.

Many, LORD my God,
are the wonders you have done,
the things you planned for us.
None can compare with you;
were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
they would be too many to declare.
(40:5)

I will practice Your presence today, O God.
You are here, now, with me.
You, Almighty God, Creator of all.
You know my tears, my pain, my suffering.

I give it all to You, O Holy One.
I open my heart wide to You.
Bring healing, Lord,
in Your time, in Your way.

In Jesus’ name…

Excerpt from  Soul Cry: Devotional Prayers for Wounded, Grieving, and Suffering Hearts.

Question: Have you experienced “trying and failing” in your grief journey? Feel free to share by commenting below.

The post Trying and Failing first appeared on Gary Roe.

At first, my heart was shattered.

I didn’t know how to feel. I was stunned.

Then came the pain.

The intensity shocked me.

Now I live with this pain – this chronic aching.

How do I stop this terrible ache in my heart?

At first, we’re shocked and stunned.

When we come to, we shake our heads in denial. “No. This cannot be happening. It’s not true.”

When the ugly reality sinks in, the pain begins to surface. It can be so intense we wonder if it might kill us.

We begin to live with this new pain. It invades every nook and cranny of our lives. Over time, a chronic ache settles over us.

This heartache can be so immense that it becomes hard to breathe emotionally. All of life seems to be about our loss. Grief encompasses everything in our world.

Finally, our soul cries out: “When will this pain end? How do I stop this terrible heartache?”

You can’t stop this heartache. The ache is there for a good reason.

You have a heart. Your heart has been hit hard by loss. Your heart is hurting.

This heartache is real. It must be accepted as it is. Your heartache honors the one you lost. The ache proclaims your love and affection.

As you accept this heartache – and yourself as you are at present something begins to happen over time. The ache is still there, but it changes. As you express this ache through talking, writing, or art, you’re giving this great internal wound some much-needed air.

As you connect and share with safe, trustworthy people who take your heartache seriously, they provide some of the salve your wound needs.

Accept where you are. Process what’s happening inside you. Connect with healthy people. Share with those you trust. These things combined lead to healing.

Again, you will heal, but you will never be the same. Let your heartache lead you to love and live more fully than ever.

Affirmation:
My heartache honors my loved one and shouts my love for them. I’ll accept this heartache, process it well, and stay connected to safe, loving people.

Excerpt from  The Grief Guidebook: Common Questions, Compassionate Answers, Practical Suggestions.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
    and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18, NIV)

Question: How has this excerpt resonated with you? Please feel free to share by commenting below.

The post How Do I Stop This Terrible Ache in My Heart? first appeared on Gary Roe.

The grief journey is challenging. Along the way, most of us experience fear. Perhaps a lot of fear.

The following is a chapter from Soul Cry: Devotional Prayers for Wounded, Grieving, and Suffering Hearts. If you’re fearful or anxious, chances are you can relate to the grieving heart in this chapter. 

I hope this will be an encouragement and comfort to you today.

In the Grip of Fear
John 1:1-5

Lord, I lift my eyes to You,
Almighty One, Loving Creator.
You are life.
You are my life.

I wonder, Lord. I doubt.
Fear grips and hijacks me.
Grief permeates my being,
and oozes out all over my life.

Lift my eyes, Lord,
to You, to heaven,
to things beyond me and my situation,
beyond these seemingly impossible circumstances.

In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
(1:1-2)

I praise You, Jesus, the Word.
You have always been, and You will always be.
You have no beginning, no end.
You are forever You – the same.

Through him all things were made;
without him nothing was made that has been made.
(1:3)

All that has ever been and will ever be
was created by You, for You, and through You.
You sustain all things, including me.
I was created by You, for You, and through You.

In Him was life,
and that life was the light of all mankind.
(1:4)

Jesus, life was and is in You.
You are life – real life, forever life, eternal life.
You are the light amid the darkness,
shining continually for all, for me.

The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.
(1:5)

The darkness continues,
but it has an expiration date.
Darkness could not, cannot conquer You, Jesus.
You are the light. You are life.

In this present darkness, You shine.
In this world of death, You are life.
In my life of turmoil, You bring light and life.
You have overcome, and I am in You.

All praise be to You, Jesus.
I release all to You.

In Jesus’ name…

Excerpt from Soul Cry: Devotional Prayers for Wounded, Grieving, and Suffering Hearts. 

Question: Have you experienced fear in your grief journey? Feel free to share by commenting below.

The post In the Grip of Fear first appeared on Gary Roe.

I’m plagued by what I saw.

The pictures in my brain will not go away.

I add to them other things that I have imagined.

These images haunt me.

How do I deal with this?

How do I get rid of the pictures in my mind?

One terrible truth in life is that we can’t un-see something.

Visual images lodge themselves in our minds. If we witness something traumatic, like the suffering and death of someone important to us, that image sears a pathway in our brains. Our minds tend to go there repeatedly.

Traumatic mental images are a huge part of post-traumatic stress.

Our hearts, minds, bodies, and souls have witnessed a shocking event.

We’re hit on every level of our being.

Many times, we add to what we’ve seen by creating scenes of what we imagine occurred. Even if we didn’t witness the traumatic event, we create pictures in our minds of what it might have been like. We contemplate what our friend or loved one might have felt – emotionally and physically. Our imaginary images can be haunting as well.

Post-traumatic stress like this can be debilitating. Flashbacks are often unnerving and terrifying. It’s like we’re right back there reliving the horrors all over again. Our anxiety can go through the roof. Panic attacks can become commonplace.

If you witnessed the death of your loved one or friend, please be kind to yourself. Experiencing post-traumatic stress is common in such cases. This is painful, disorienting, and extremely challenging.

Disturbing mental images need to be proactively processed. It’s hard for us to do that by ourselves. We need other people to help us.

We need safe people, good listeners, and compassionate and competent guides to walk with us in this.

If you’re dealing with painful mental images or post-traumatic stress, please consider seeking expert help and assistance from a mental health professional who is well-acquainted with such things.

Is it possible to recover and heal from such things? Yes. That may be hard to imagine right now, but you are not alone in experiencing severe trauma. Many have walked this path, sought and received what they needed, and learned to manage this deep pain and begin to use it to heal and grow.

Struggling with traumatic mental images is natural and common for those who have witnessed disturbing scenes. We can’t un-see something, but with help we can begin to deal with what we’ve seen in healthy ways that lead to recovery and healing.

Affirmation:
I’ll need help to deal well with any disturbing, traumatic images. I’ll reach out, find the help I need, and learn
to deal with this pain in a way that leads to healing.

Suggestions:
If you’re experiencing disturbing, repetitive mental images, here are some things to remember and consider.

You can’t un-see something. Traumatic images automatically burn themselves into our brains. These mental pictures tend to stay with us.These images usually need to be talked about, shared, and processed. When we keep them to ourselves, we only end up giving the trauma more power and influence.Consider seeking professional expert assistance. Your heart is worth this. Look for someone with experience in guiding
wounded hearts through post-traumatic stress. You want to find ways to take care of yourself, heal, and grow. This honors your loved one and empowers you to have healthier relationships with others.Please know that this internalized trauma does not simply go away on its own. The passing of time will not chase it away. We heal when we take our hearts seriously and process what’s happening inside us.Be kind to yourself. Be patient with yourself. This is hard. Healing takes time.

Excerpt from  The Grief Guidebook: Common Questions, Compassionate Answers, Practical Suggestions.

But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless. (Psalm 10:14)

Question: Do you struggle with traumatic mental images related to your loss? Please feel free to share by commenting below.

The post How Do I Deal with Traumatic Mental Images? first appeared on Gary Roe.

If you wish, you can read the following article on my website.

The grief journey is challenging. Along the way, most of us experience anger.

The following is a chapter from Soul Cry: Devotional Prayers for Wounded, Grieving, and Suffering Hearts. If you’re dealing with anger, chances are you can relate to the grieving heart in this chapter. 

I hope this will be an encouragement and comfort to you today.

Grieving and Angry
Psalm 73:21-26, 28

When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,
I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before You.
(73:21-22)

I was angry, and sometimes still am.
Bitterness threatened to invade my soul.
I felt as if I was going crazy.
My heart was frozen.
I was paralyzed on the inside.
Pain overwhelmed me.

Yet I am always with You;
You hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward You will take me into glory.
(73:23-24)

You did not retreat from me.
You did not pull away.
In my agony, I looked, and You were there.
You were always there.

You are with me, and You have me.
You will not let me go.
I will be with You forever.
This pain, this grief, will end.

Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
(73:25-26)

Forgive me, O Lord,
when I raise anything or anyone above You.
You alone are worthy of worship.
You are always what and who I need.

You alone are my strength, my salvation, my life.
You are my inheritance, my future.
Give me eyes to see You amid this present darkness.

But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds.
(73:28)

In Jesus’ name…

Excerpt from Soul Cry: Devotional Prayers for Wounded, Grieving, and Suffering Hearts. 

Question: Have you tussled with anger since your loss? Feel free to share by commenting below.

The post Grieving and Angry first appeared on Gary Roe.

I didn’t get to say goodbye.

I didn’t get to hold their hand and look into their eyes.

I didn’t get to tell them all they meant to me, to ask forgiveness, or to even say, “I love you.”

This is awful. It all feels so unfinished.

It’s like I’m in limbo with no closure.

What can I do?

Many of us didn’t get to say goodbye.

Perhaps we weren’t with our loved ones when they died. We didn’t get a chance to connect with them and interact. We didn’t have an opportunity to ask questions and say what we wanted and needed to say.

Many times, death comes unexpectedly. Life can depart suddenly and without warning. The shock can be immense. We shake our heads.

Our hearts scream, “No!”

Other times, we’re aware that our loved one or friend is dying, but
circumstances keep us from being present or communicating meaningfully with them. The coronavirus pandemic, for example, thrust many of us into unbelievable situations of separation and isolation.

When we don’t get these precious final moments with those we love and care about, we feel robbed. We can feel stunned and paralyzed.

When the shock fades, we’re often left with a profound sense of emptiness. Everything feels unfinished.

Lack of closure is disturbing and frustrating. Not being able to be present or communicate meaningfully with our friend or loved one only adds to our sadness and anger. In many cases, not being able to properly say goodbye can vastly add to the challenge of our grief journey.

Were you able to be with your loved one when they died? Were you able to communicate meaningfully to them or with them?

Did you get to say what you needed to? Did you get to say goodbye in the way you would have liked?

If you didn’t, please know that there are many of us struggling with a lack of closure. You are not alone in this.

There is a sense in which all of us are dealing with not being able to say goodbye the way we wanted to. None of us had a perfect scenario. None of us did all that we wanted to do or said all we wanted and needed to say. We all feel “unfinished” in some way.

Now we must find our own closure somehow. We must make our own opportunities to say goodbye, perhaps long after a death. Though this can be challenging, it can be done.

Saying goodbye is hard and painful. Saying goodbye meaningfully can also be good and healing. Finding a sense of closure is important. Be kind to yourself in this. Set your mind to move from frustration with how things were to what you can do now to seek a healthy sense of closure. Though that might be hard to imagine, focus on taking the
next step in that direction.

Affirmation:
Though I didn’t get the closure I would have wanted, I will do what I can now to say goodbye in healthy ways over time.

Suggestions:
If you didn’t get a chance to say goodbye in the way you would have
liked, here are a few things to consider:

Though difficult, try to accept things as they were. Acceptance is key to recovery, healing, and adjustment. Acceptance of
what was enables you to take the next step in creating your own sense of closure about what happened and how.What do you wish you could have said to your loved one? What would you have wanted those final hours and moments
to have been like? Take a few moments and write about this. Express your heart.Consider writing a letter to your loved one, saying what you wished you could have said. Express your love. Ask forgiveness, if necessary. Be open, real, and honest.How we deal with lack of closure is important. Find ways to express your love and find some of the closure you need. This is hard and can be intense, but it can also be incredibly good and healing.

Excerpt from  The Grief Guidebook: Common Questions, Compassionate Answers, Practical Suggestions.

You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted;
    you encourage them, and you listen to their cry… (Psalm 10:17)

Question: Did you have a lack of closure with your loved one or friend? Please feel free to share by commenting below.

The post Finding Closure: When You Didn’t Get to Say Goodbye first appeared on Gary Roe.