I am finally launching the new space on my personal website here at Enthusiastically, Dawn which will make my writing on this topic more readily accessible. It will also hold space as I share and explore the themes, and challenges presented through loss.
Please join me as I share the page content for the first time as a post. The page will be remain it’s own place and tab named: My Grief Journey. If you know someone who may benefit from any of the writing at this page, please share with them. Thank you.
If you have suffered a recent loss, or a long ago loss that you still grieve, I have created this space on my website as a little place to come for hope, encouragement and a dose of grace for ordinary days that continue. I have been meaning to create this space for awhile now.
In the space of five years, I experienced the loss of both my parents, my only child, my mother-in-law, and three beloved pets. Loss upon loss, grief upon grief.
I am not minimizing anyone’s losses, for each person we lose from this side of eternity (who are not lost to God at all) is unique. In this way the way we grieve them will be unique.
But that being said, I have never felt the gut-wrenching, earth shattering, life altering grief as keenly or painfully as when my 20-year-old only child, Katherine chose to end her life by suicide. How I miss her…every. Single. Day.
For those who have suffered the loss of a child I want to offer this post/page as way of telling you two things, beyond, I am sorry for your loss:
- You are not alone.
- You will go on.
It has been a desire of my heart for some time now to gather the words I have shared from my personal grief experiences in one place for the ease of my readers. Grief is a strange creature. Faith is a powerful partner. I have only been able to bear up under the heavy burden of my loss(es) by the faith God has given me to believe beyond belief that He is good, He is faithful and He is present with me, every step of my journey.
I am not a professional counselor, nor do I offer counseling here. But what I have (incorruptible faith) and what I know (the relentless love of an incomprehensible God) I will share, through the means of my own humanity, as my dear Lord and Savior leads. Which usually means with my writing. With the words I am given, in this life I am living…a life of humanity, and grace.
Here you will catch a glimpse of one who grieves- yet not without hope (1 Thessalonians)- and continues to work out both my faith and grief with fear and trembling(Philippians), by the grace of His Name. The only name matters to me…that name is Jesus.
Here are some words I have shared thus far:
On the loss of my daughter:
- The Green Hat {A Love Letter to My Girl}
- All I know About Grief and Sadness
- First Day of the Second Summer Without You
- Third Summer Without My Girl
- Journaling Through Grief
- A Letter to My Daughter One Year Later
- Why I Dare To Smile: A Post-Mother’s Day Reflection and Poem
Other Losses:
- On Saying Goodbye to my Mom…The Last Love Letter
- A Truly Grand Grandmother
- Saying Goodbye to The Most Interesting Dog in the World
I will add to the page in the days ahead. I pray that you find a word of hope here, a glimpse of light for the path you are on. If not for you, maybe for someone you know.
Enthusiastically, Dawn
Enthusiastically, Dawn 
4 responses to “Sharing My Grief Journey”
Thank you so very much for this Dawn. I have also experienced loss after loss over a 6 year period. My mother, father and my only sibling passed away. My husband (24yrs) and I separated few months after my brother died. I too lost 4 beloved pets over those same 6 years. It has been incredibly difficult processing such loss in such a short span of time of time. It’s not just the absence of my loved ones that is hard. But the unresolved issues are just as difficult to work through and release. My faith not only has sustained me throughout, it prepared me for such a time as this. I don’t know how people do it without the Holy Spirit. I watched Katherine’s service and have clung to your words. So very few people are willing to talk about in person or online. And I get that. Which is why I am so grateful for what you have shared. May God bless you always.
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Grief manifests differently for each of u. It can arise from the loss of a beloved person or a four-footed family member, or even from the recognition of hopes and dreams that will never come to fruition. As a mother, I grieve for the experiences that my two boys will never have. I have four children but have severe disabilities, I find myself lamenting the moments and milestones they will not achieve, as well as the activities I will never share with them.
My eldest son can speak, yet he does not engage in conversations. I mourn the connection that many mothers share with their children, wishing for the simple joy of a heartfelt conversation with him. My youngest son is unable to speak at all, and I grieve for the thoughts and feelings I know he longs to express, especially when he struggles to convey his emotions and I cannot decipher what he is trying to say.
Grief comes in all shapes and sizes, for some grief can stem from the loss of loved ones, whether human or animal, while for others it can also arise from the recognition of the paths that will remain unexplored and the experiences that will never be due to circumstances that are beyond our control.
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Thank you for your thoughts, Cynthia. All of the things you mention resonate. I know you know this, as we have shared many words between us. You have spoken well and clearly about the many griefs we can experience. I do think these conversations are needed, and do help to bring light t o what can become dark and lonely places. Thanks again for sharing. I hope you are enjoying the journal prompts this round! Hugs and God bless you, Cynthia!
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Thank you, Pam. I often think of how generous and gracious you have always been to me and am so grateful for that…especially before I lost Katherine but you yourself HAD lost your son. Before Katherine, I know I was blind to the grief of losing a child, it’s sort of too hard to consider. Yet, the first thing we long for when we go through such tragedies is someone else who can show us a way through…God has provided these special people for me, but as you mention, none so completely comprehensive as His own Spirit. God’s presence, peace and power is the only thing I have going for me. And the grace and hope of Christ in the hearts of others who have gone before, and hold out a hand. I hope to be that for others, and to help make this OK to talk about. For our Lord Himself as a man well acquainted with grief. Oh, so much more than we dare to imagine! God bless you, Pam. You are a treasure to me.
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