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Never Apologize for Your Tears: One woman's mission to make grief normal
Have you ever apologized for your tears in public? This book will finally affirm that your tears are not a sign of weakness - they are sacred and deserve to be seen.
Never Apologize for Your Tears is a heartfelt grief book and healing companion for anyone navigating loss. With raw honesty and hard-earned wisdom, author Lisa Orris shares her personal story of heartbreak along with the practices that helped her find light again. Part memoir, part spiritual guide, and part practical grief workbook, this book will help
Give yourself permission to grieve deeply and release the shame of not “moving on.”Break free from cultural myths about grief and uncover how spirituality can both help and harm.Understand that grief is not an emotion to “get over,” but a lived experience to move through.Explore powerful grief rituals and healing practices to foster hope, growth, and resilience.For anyone facing loss—whether the death of a loved one, a life transition, or heartbreak—this compassionate resource offers comfort and encouragement. You’ll be reminded that your tears tell how much you have loved and lost.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lisa Orris has known deep grief and has spent over 20 years walking with others through pain, giving them permission to feel. She is the founder of Grief Guide, a nonprofit dedicated to guiding people, organizations, companies, and communities through grief. Named one of McHenry County’s Women of Distinction in 2023, Lisa also is an ordained minister in the Evangelical Covenant Church. She holds a Master of Divinity from North Park Theological Seminary and a degree in Criminology from Gannon University. Lisa is married to Bill, mom to Lauren and Michael, and forever mom to Billy. Her greatest joys are her three grandsons—Micah, Malachi, and Theo.
REVIEWS
I, like many others, feel the compulsion to "look away" from the deep grief because it made me feel things too. This is the beauty and message of this book. Don’t look away. Sit with the grieving and sit in your own grief. Grief is a wound that can be transformative and as Lisa unpacks her journey and calls attention to the "glimmers".I recommend this book for anyone needing a raw, honest guide who can help them gather their bravery to move in some of the darkest mires they may ever face.
- Dr. Caitlyn McClure, LCSW - Vice President of Clinical Services - Northern Illinois Recovery
I have known Lisa for many years as a pastor, colleague, and friend. I’m grateful for her vulnerability in sharing not only how she continues to navigate loss but also the resources that have sustained her along the way. Equal parts memoir and guide, Lisa’s story beautifully reflects the steadfast love of God, the power of community, and the sacred work of healing. Her words invite us to honor our own journeys of grief with courage, grace, and hope.
- Rev. Tammy Swanson-Draheim - President - The Evangelical Covenant Church
It’s raw, real, and unapologetic, and vulnerable. I can’t wait to share it with people so that they know they have permission for their pain.
- Nicole P
This book tells the harsh truth about grief. Did you know that crying is good for your body? If you are like me and overcome by the fear, confusion, and anxiety that grief has brought you, this book can help you deal with the “confusing mix of spirituality, faith, and beliefs” that grief causes.
-David S
Your book was so transparent and vulnerable.I appreciate the tangible action items that you provide at the end of the chapters.
- Jorden M
I loved how authentic and raw you were. I love the Grief Practice at the end of each chapter.
-Lori P
It’s amazing. I’ve never read anything like it. It is profoundly permission-giving in so many different ways.
-Jen
Never Apologize for Your Tears is a heartfelt grief book and healing companion for anyone navigating loss. With raw honesty and hard-earned wisdom, author Lisa Orris shares her personal story of heartbreak along with the practices that helped her find light again. Part memoir, part spiritual guide, and part practical grief workbook, this book will help
Give yourself permission to grieve deeply and release the shame of not “moving on.”Break free from cultural myths about grief and uncover how spirituality can both help and harm.Understand that grief is not an emotion to “get over,” but a lived experience to move through.Explore powerful grief rituals and healing practices to foster hope, growth, and resilience.For anyone facing loss—whether the death of a loved one, a life transition, or heartbreak—this compassionate resource offers comfort and encouragement. You’ll be reminded that your tears tell how much you have loved and lost.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lisa Orris has known deep grief and has spent over 20 years walking with others through pain, giving them permission to feel. She is the founder of Grief Guide, a nonprofit dedicated to guiding people, organizations, companies, and communities through grief. Named one of McHenry County’s Women of Distinction in 2023, Lisa also is an ordained minister in the Evangelical Covenant Church. She holds a Master of Divinity from North Park Theological Seminary and a degree in Criminology from Gannon University. Lisa is married to Bill, mom to Lauren and Michael, and forever mom to Billy. Her greatest joys are her three grandsons—Micah, Malachi, and Theo.
REVIEWS
I, like many others, feel the compulsion to "look away" from the deep grief because it made me feel things too. This is the beauty and message of this book. Don’t look away. Sit with the grieving and sit in your own grief. Grief is a wound that can be transformative and as Lisa unpacks her journey and calls attention to the "glimmers".I recommend this book for anyone needing a raw, honest guide who can help them gather their bravery to move in some of the darkest mires they may ever face.
- Dr. Caitlyn McClure, LCSW - Vice President of Clinical Services - Northern Illinois Recovery
I have known Lisa for many years as a pastor, colleague, and friend. I’m grateful for her vulnerability in sharing not only how she continues to navigate loss but also the resources that have sustained her along the way. Equal parts memoir and guide, Lisa’s story beautifully reflects the steadfast love of God, the power of community, and the sacred work of healing. Her words invite us to honor our own journeys of grief with courage, grace, and hope.
- Rev. Tammy Swanson-Draheim - President - The Evangelical Covenant Church
It’s raw, real, and unapologetic, and vulnerable. I can’t wait to share it with people so that they know they have permission for their pain.
- Nicole P
This book tells the harsh truth about grief. Did you know that crying is good for your body? If you are like me and overcome by the fear, confusion, and anxiety that grief has brought you, this book can help you deal with the “confusing mix of spirituality, faith, and beliefs” that grief causes.
-David S
Your book was so transparent and vulnerable.I appreciate the tangible action items that you provide at the end of the chapters.
- Jorden M
I loved how authentic and raw you were. I love the Grief Practice at the end of each chapter.
-Lori P
It’s amazing. I’ve never read anything like it. It is profoundly permission-giving in so many different ways.
-Jen
124 pages, Paperback
Published October 26, 2025
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