Breathing Through Grief: A Devotional Journal for Seasons of Loss

by Dorina K. Lazo Gilmore-Young

Reflect on your unique path through grief with this guided journal, featuring compassionate resources, short devotionals, and heartfelt essays from the perspective of a woman who has walked her own journey of loss.

After the sudden loss of her husband, Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young felt lost in her grief. With Breathing Through Grief, she provides a comforting, giftable resource for those who are processing their own loss, whether of a loved one, a season of life, or a dream. In addition to the twenty-five short devotionals that each focus on a different aspect of grief from Dorina's personal experience, the journal includes special resources such as breathing exercises, reflection questions, soul care tips, ample writing space, advice on how to talk to children about death, suggestions on how to approach triggers, and creative ways to honor a loved one’s memory. 

If you or someone close to you is walking through loss⁠, let the comforting words in Breathing Through Grief encourage you with the knowledge that you are not alone and bring you a semblance of peace as you continue forward on the road to healing.

Genres: Devotional, Grief, Christian

181 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 14, 2023

About the author

Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young is a sought-after speaker, podcaster at Eat Pray Run, teacher, coach, runner and foodie. Dorina is also the author of the award-winning picture book, Cora Cooks Pancit and has an MFA in Children’s Literature. She has published additional children's books, devotionals, Bible studies, non-fiction and poetry.

Dorina specializes in helping people discover God's glory through unexpected life circumstances. She writes about faith, food, culture, grief and running. Her articles and essays have been published at (in)courage, Proverbs 31 Ministries, Propel Sophia, Everyday Faith magazine, The MOPS blog, and in more than 20 newspapers. Dorina also leads as the president of Redbud Writers Guild and director of Lead Loved ministry for women.

Dorina and her husband Shawn are raising three daughters to love cultural diversity, travel, and good food. Connect with Dorina at www.DorinaGilmore.com or @DorinaGilmore on Instagram.

Reviews

[Natasha Tripplett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a warm chenille blanket for the soul. The pages invite you to curl up inside the words and let the breath of God keep you close. Not only does Dorina authentically share her own journey with grief, but she gives the reader practical ways in which we can all move through our grief. I love the metaphor - grief is like a tangled ball of yarn. It is not easy to unravel. You can not muscle your way through. It takes time and care. It can be frustrating. Sometimes you may want to throw the yarn across the room. Dorina gives us permission to feel all these things and more. This book is the salve I didn't know I needed.

[Marie Chan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt like my heart stopped when my son's heart stopped beating too. Breathing Through Grief: A Devotional Journal for Seasons of Loss, addresses that very real pain and tension I felt of getting the wind knocked out of me and feeling breathless after the shock and unexpected loss of my loved one. This book is a healing balm that gently guides you to breathe again and release your pain to God and find that He is holding you in your grief.

Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young is a trusted voice and is familiar with loss having experienced it when she suddenly became a widow of three young children. She weaves in biblical truths with authentic stories from her grief journey that readers can relate to easily.

The format of this book is beautifully designed, soothing to read, and there is space to journal your thoughts and responses to the reflection questions after each devotional. The book literally gives you room to breathe and permission to grieve. The author encourages readers to pour out their hearts' cries honestly and addresses different emotions readers may experience when triggers arise from trauma: anger, envy, frustration, guilt, sadness, and shame; yet it offers true hope in Christ and His word.

The book includes practical ways to process your grief: breath prayers, lament, activities and conversations to help children talk about heaven and when someone they love dies, and how to honor and remember your loved one and create new memories.

I also like the sparse text that makes the book not so overwhelming to read. I remember experiencing brain fog after my son died and it was difficult to read dense texts. I am glad this book does not feel weighty though it is confronting a heavy topic. In fact, the book lightened my grief and helped me unload the burdens I was carrying from my loss. It reminded me that I was not alone.

I highly recommend this book to provide soul care and to help calm and comfort those who are experiencing loss. I want to thank the publisher for an advanced reader copy of this book, but I love this book so much that I am purchasing extra copies to give to friends on their grief journey.

[Rebecca Detrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

As we enter into the dark days of winter, when grief new and old can feel oppressive, Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young provides space to process grief through guided prayers, reflections and stories that remind you you are not alone, and thoughtful devotionals. Beautiful journal.

[Corinne Rodrigues · Rating 4 out of 5]

n ‘Breathing Through Grief,’ Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young extends a tender hand to those of us traversing the treacherous terrain of grief. With every page, she beckons you to join her on a deeply personal journey, drawing from her own heart-wrenching experience of sudden loss.

As I delved into this book, I felt like a friend was sharing her own story, her struggles, and her hard-won wisdom. Dorina’s words are more than ink on paper; they’re an embrace, a comforting presence in the midst of the storm.

Within these pages, you’ll discover twenty-five short devotionals, each one a heartfelt exploration of different facets of grief through Dorina’s own eyes. It’s as if she’s sitting with you, guiding you through the maze of emotions and challenges. But ‘Breathing Through Grief’ is a toolbox for healing. Dorina equips you with breathing exercises, reflective questions, and soul-soothing tips, making the daunting journey of grief feel a little more manageable.

What sets this book apart is its thoughtful guidance on talking to children about death, a topic that often leaves us at a loss for words. Dorina’s insights, born from her own experience, offer a lifeline to parents and caregivers grappling with this difficult conversation. She doesn’t stop there. ‘Breathing Through Grief’ also offers practical strategies for handling triggers and shares creative ways to honor and cherish the memory of your loved one.

This book is like a compassionate companion that touches the heart and soul, making it an essential resource for anyone seeking solace and understanding during their grief journey.”

[Janet Marks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone experiencing grief (and who hasn't?), will benefit greatly by this practical heart felt guide to healing. Intuitive, helpful and gentle support on these pages. Thank you Dorina for sharing so openly about your journey and encouraging us to move forward.

[Katie Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am loving reading and working through this book. It is a tender, practical, and accessible space to continue processing grief. So thankful for it!

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautiful and touched my heart deeply. Dorina has walked the journey of loss and has experienced God's comfort and peace as she has leaned into God for strength and hope after losing her husband. As a woman on her own grief journey and a pastoral counselor who comes alongside others to support them as they grieve I believe this book will be a comforting companion as one seeks to hold on to hope and God's promises one moment, one day, at a time. Dorina also includes breath prayers related to grieving; they are a very comforting addition to this book+journal.

[Mari Hernandez-Tuten · Rating 5 out of 5]

This journal is a gentle beckoning to lean into the places where you’ve carried grief, sorrow, and lament.
I especially appreciated the quotes and thoughtful prayers that remind us that God cares about our pain and our mess.

Though I have lost a loved one it spoke to me as I processed the loss of other things in my life.
I highly recommend it if you are going through a season of grieving.

[April Yamasaki · Rating 5 out of 5]

In her Introduction, the author describes her book as an invitation "to make space for your own grief," and this sense of invitation carries through the book. The way she shares her own grief journey, the gentle questions she asks, the breath pracices and prayers and soul care ideas are all beautiful invitations. Breathing Through Grief is a treasure.

[Darcy Wiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm really glad there is a book like this. When grief hits, we sometimes forget everything we know to do and we need someone to help us catch our breath again. This resource is rich with validating and insightful remembrances from the author's own excruciating loss of her husband and how she navigated the journey with her three daughters. It's a highly-usable manual that I am not only recommending for several friends and people I serve (I'm a vocational spiritual director) who've recently experienced sudden losses, but is something I'm actually buying for them. It makes a really sweet and helpful gift to bring along with a meal or to send on its own. Along with the devotional reflections, Gilmore-Young offers a treasure trove of soothing practices that tend to spiritual needs and nervous system needs in a time of crisis. The author's willingness to dig deep into the realities of her own grieving process and to explore a breadth of emotions/feelings including irritation, humor, and honor/celebration make this book so accessible and practical. This is a workbook I'll continue to use on my own and share with others who need a good framework to process the pain of loss.

[Iris Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't realize how long I had been holding my breath! I had no words to accurately describe how I felt when my husband passed away earlier this year. While reading the first few pages of Gilmore-Young's devotional, I slowly began to exhale. The stories, scriptures, prayers, and prompts help guide the reader through the difficult season of loss by pointing to the Savior who anchors us through it all.

[Dr. Patti Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

As we embark on personal paths of sorrow, this guided journal provides comfort by offering compassionate resources, concise reflections, and sincere writings, reminding us that we are not alone in our journey.

Following the unexpected passing of her spouse, Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young found herself adrift in her sorrow. Breathing Through Grief offers solace and serves as a thoughtful gift for individuals grappling with their own losses.

This journal comprises twenty-five concise devotionals, based on Dorina's personal experiences, each shining a light on a distinct facet of grief. It also includes a collection of invaluable resources such as breathing exercises, prompts for reflection, tips on nurturing one's soul, ample space for writing, guidance for discussing death with children, techniques for confronting triggers, and innovative ways to commemorate the memory of a loved one.

May this beautiful treasure bring you a measure of tranquility as you forge ahead on your individual path to healing.

[Belinda Merrin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Devotional journal has been so timely. Having recently lost my Mom, I have been in search of a resource to help me breathe through this new season without Mom. As a busy mom of two, I needed something to kickstart my mornings before the kids woke up or a quiet moment in the evening right before bed. Breathing through Grief has been a perfect addition to my morning routine. It gives me the space to breathe through the loss, feel all the feels, and the encouragement to press on in God's truth and promises. Thank you for this one DorinaDorina Gilmore-Young! It was for me.

[Susan Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young's beautiful book "Breathing Through Grief: A Devotional Journal for Seasons of Loss" is like a close friend giving gentle whispers of encouragement and a wise Biblical perspective for those experiencing grief.

I was moved to tears as I read through Dorina's book. I have experienced personal loss in my life and understand how it feels to go through seasons of grieving. I can relate to her personal stories and appreciate the Bible passages she shared to highlight the love and hope we have in God as we go through our grief journey.

I highly recommend my dear friend Dorina's book. You will be deeply encouraged and blessed by it!

[Katelyn Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This artful book is a treasure. Dorina is a wise, kind, and encouraging guide, and each section of her devotional journal provides grounding and hope in the midst of grief--which can often feel like such a circuitous process. Though her personal story of grief focuses on the loss of her husband, Dorina K. Lazo Gilmore-Young's devotional journal will be a life raft for anyone swimming in the deep waters of grief, trauma, and loss.

[Anitra Elmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful resource to help you pray, breathe, and journal through grief. The author's vulnerability and transparency bolster the content and aid in the difficult process of navigating seasons of grief. I highly recommend this for anyone processing loss of any kind. It is thoughtfully written, biblically based, and extremely helpful.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is like a hug from a friend who listens, dispenses calm generous wisdom, doesn’t mind if you aren’t feeling calm and generous too but gives you space to breathe at your own pace. I’m reading it slowly as there is a lot of goodness that I want to savour.

[Jana Upton Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dorina helps you walk through the grieving process with grace. She is so very real and honest in sharing her journey through grief. There are some great ideas on how to honor the memory of those that have passed on. Dorina's words give hope to those that are grieving.

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author brings to light so many of the obstacles and twists and turns in the journey of grief. Helpful strategies for processing as a family and ideas for children, as well as a thoughtful list of continued reading.

[Keren Dibbens-Wyatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great resource, especially for those who struggle to give themselves permission to live and breath fully and deeply again after loss.

[Christy Medlock Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful as I processed my grief. Good passages and prompts to answer and help me. I enjoyed the extra space to journal as well.

[Shawn Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exceptional and thoughtful devotional journal. It provides space to reflect on each devotional and your own entanglement with grief.