Journeys Through Grief

09/11/2026

Grief can interrupt even our most familiar spiritual practices, including prayer. After the death of someone we love, we may feel too overwhelmed to pray, too unsettled to find peace, or simply unable to give words to what we carry. In those tender moments, even the simplest prayer can be enough: “God, help me,” or “God, be near.” If this loss has stirred questions about faith, please know that such questions are welcome. They can be held with gentleness, explored with honesty, and may even become part of prayer itself.

09/08/2026

For anyone in our community caring for a loved one with a terminal illness, this quote is for you. This journey can feel hard, lonely, and exhausting. Alongside caregiving, you may be carrying grief, denial, and the tender work of supporting your loved one as they face what is unfolding. Today, I hope you can take even a few moments to care for yourself—to put on your own oxygen mask. Journal, sip tea, listen to the birds, or rest when your loved one rests. The dishes can wait.

09/03/2026

Surviving the loss of a loved one to death by su***de is a complex journey through grief. One that is disorienting, often sudden, traumatic, confusing, and isolating. Let’s make surviving this kind of loss a little less lonely by sharing coping strategies.

What is one step you are taking to survive the pain of loss to death by su***de today?

***deAwareness

09/01/2026

September is Su***de Prevention Month. If you or someone you love is struggling with thoughts of su***de, please call or text 988 to reach the Su***de and Crisis Lifeline 24/7. Every life matters. Every Single One.

If you are grieving the loss of someone you loved to death by su***de, you are not alone. At Journeys Through Grief, we want you to find comfort, perspective, and community. This kind of loss is layered with trauma, questions, anger, sadness, resentment….you name it. You may be exhausted from carrying the heavy emotional load. Be gentle with yourself and practice radical acts of self-kindness. Eat nourishing meals, take walks, journal, and reach out for support.

08/27/2026

This statement feels so true. Grief is hard work, and the sadness and mourning do not simply stop because it is time to return to work or school. And yet, return we must. So we put on our “game face” and try to step back into “normal,” moving from task to task while grief makes even breathing feel painful. Please, friends, take time to pause. Acknowledge the grief. Shed a tear. Take a deep breath—even if it happens in a bathroom stall on your first day back to “normal.”

08/26/2026

08/25/2026

Survival mode is often the choice to keep putting one foot in front of the other when loss feels overwhelming. In survival mode, we aren’t necessarily processing the loss, we are, well, surviving it…moment by moment. We are taking care of tasks, planning the memorial service, dealing with decisions about finances, housing, wills, and often reassuring everyone else. We are surviving and we can look like we are doing alright to others. Maybe we have even convinced ourselves we are doing alright. Surviving is hard work and we need to find ways to practice self-care. How do you practice self-care in survival mode? Please share in the comments below.

08/21/2026

Many of us come to Journeys Through Grief because we love someone who is grieving, and we want to care for them as tenderly and faithfully as we can. That desire to “get it right” is so understandable, but it can sometimes leave us feeling unsure, distracted, or even distant. Instead, we can give ourselves permission to let the awkward moments come—because they will. Grief is unpredictable, and we may not always know what another person needs in the moment. But we can still show up with love, compassion, and empathy. Sometimes, our quiet presence is the most meaningful response we can offer.

08/19/2026

When I sit with people who are grieving, I often hear, “I didn’t talk about my loss because I didn’t want to make others feel bad.” That desire to protect loved ones is tender and natural. Some people may struggle to be present with our pain, while others can offer compassion without carrying the grief themselves. Still, you are not responsible for managing how others respond.

What you can do is reach out to someone safe and let them be with you in the sorrow. Your story matters, and telling it can help bring healing.

08/13/2026

Today, I offer you a brief poem about the pain of separation and hope of enduring connections. I encourage you to read it a few times slowly and notice how you resonate with it or not. I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.