On the Way: Short Stories and Biblical Reflections on Caring for a Loved One in Hospice

by Pam Northrup

Are you caring for a loved one who is dying? Are you wondering about the appropriateness of hospice? Are you curious about how another family got through this unique time? Are you seeking spiritual comfort as you are "on the way" in the dying process with someone you love? If any of this sounds like you, then this book is for you.

This inspiring and engaging collection of true stories and Biblical reflections offers a glimpse into one family's experience of caring for their loved one who was dying. Caregiving can quickly become overwhelming. Even with the help of professional hospice caregivers and other family and friends, this journey will stretch you emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually in every direction.

Facing a life-limiting diagnosis with someone you love often causes people to wonder where God is in all that is happening to and around them.  Questions like "Do the promises of God apply to me?" or "Why isn't God healing my loved one?" can linger in the thoughts of those accompanying their loved one who is dying.

Through these short stories and Biblical reflections, you'll experience caregiving through the lens of another family, be strengthened for your own caregiving journey, gain a sense of peace in challenging time, and find comfort in the assurance of God's presence and love in the tender moments of caregiving.

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 31, 2018

About the author

Pam Northrup is a hospice chaplain and a graduate of Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. She was ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in 2006. She's served as pastor at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Southern Pines, NC; St. Mark by the Sea Lutheran Church, Palm Coast, FL; and St. Philip Lutheran Church, Raleigh, NC. As a trained Stephen Leader, she has prepared countless lay people to serve as Stephen Ministers who provide confidential Christian caregiving to people in need.

Reviews

[L · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a treasure! Written from the heart of Pam Northrup's experience caring for her terminally-ill mother, the short stories and Biblical reflections capture well "the intersection of life, death, and eternal life" traversed by the dying and their caregivers, with signposts of laughter, tears, and more than a couple of frightening breathtakers on the way. I read this book through the lens of my past and future care-giving experiences, and found so much faith and wisdom here - to apply both to my unpacking feelings from previous losses in my life, and also to my becoming better equipped to walk this journey alongside loved ones in the future. While the subject matter is heart-wrenching, the writing style is easy to read, and the story of Hazel's journey is captivating. You might initially read it in one shot, as I did, or take in each individual story and Biblical reflection over a longer span of time. In any case, it feels like a book I will return to time and time again for reference and encouragement. There's also a free downloadable Companion workbook on the author's website which I'm looking forward to digging into for further reflection. I believe there's something for everyone to love in this book!

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

There may not be a more lonely time than the time spent walking a loved one through the uncharted territories of the end of life. This book serves as a reference for understanding what hospice care is and isn't. but more importantly, it walks you through the unfamiliar. While Pam's stories are unique to her journey with her mother, they shed light on the things you may experience when walking this path with a loved one. You will be strengthened for the journey by her honest, open sharing. Thank you for sharing this gift with us.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first part of the book was fine, but each chapter was too short to really get into depth on any topic. The thing I got out of it was that the author's mom was a tough person to deal with!!
The second part of the book was reflections on different passages from the Bible, and I really appreciated that part. It's so easy to feel like we're neglecting the rest of our lives when we're dealing with a sick loved one and then with our grief afterwards - neglecting the kids and work and spouse and our faith life. Her reflections were reassuring, like a big hug when the reader needs it most.

[Amanda Northrup · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a bit hesitant to read this book at first because I am nonreligious. I appreciate that the author set the Biblical reflections at the end. This allowed me to focus on the memoir portion. And boy am I glad that I got to read this book! On the Way captures what it's really like to journey with someone in hospice. It is a joyful, devastating, beautiful, confusing, hilarious, and angry time. This book will help so many people feel less alone in this process. Highly recommended!

[John Connolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy cow, what a holy read

As a point of disclosure, Pam has been a dear friend for nearly 20 years now. That does not diminish in any way the profound impact her incredible offering has contributed to pastoral ministry, ministry surrounding death and dying, or the gospel ministry in any fashion. As I read this book I wept, I cheered, and I laughed.

Thank you Pam for this gift to the body of Christ.

[Mary Beard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully done.

Written from the heart. You can feel the warmth of love for God as well as her mother reflected in the writing. A must read for anyone, not just those in hospice. We all will be touched by the hospice experience in some way at some time in our life.

[Abdl Rahman · Rating 5 out of 5]

i want to learn more english and i have a homework of a short story, so i want to get the basisk of steps and how to write a short story.

[Linda Colley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very moving account of keeping things positive when dealing with a terminal family member... Highly recommended.

[Ash · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't find this book helpful or comforting. I'm not sure if I was just expecting more from it or if my grief made it hard but I didn't enjoy the short stories