Open to Hope

How Do You Help a Toddler Remember Her Deceased Father?

Thursday, May 31, 2007

I am the mother of a 28 year old son who died from a fall down his basement stairs (TBI) almost 2 years ago now (June 19, 2005). Of course it has been devastating for all the members in his family. We have found out how very hard it is to grieve the loss of someone we love so dearly. Our son left behind a (at the time of his death) 4 month old baby girl. She is now 2 years old. My question is how we can help her know her dad, how much he loved (and still loves) […]

Special Topics

Poem: Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep

This is a new version of Do Not Stand At my Grave And Weep; on our website www.thelightbeyond.com it also forms the basis of an inspirational movie. I hope you find it helpful! Feel free to use the poem as you see fit (but please keep the credit at the bottom). Do not stand at my grave and weep. I am not there; I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow; I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain; I am the gentle autumn’s rain. Do not stand at my grave […]

Open to Hope

Know Anyone Who Needs Prayer?

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Hello dear friends and family, Know anyone who needs prayer? If so, please read on. I chose you because through the years, you?ve touched my life in a special way. So many of you have sent prayer requests in the past. And now, I want to offer a more effective response. If you, or anyone you know needs prayers for health concerns, struggles, emotional pain, disappointments or just issues in life, I offer you the following: *To make sure someone begins to pray for you immediately, please leave your prayer request by clicking “prayer: when you visit my web site: […]

Open to Hope

A Letter Asking for Sibling Support

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Dear Gloria, I recently heard you speak at the Compassionate Friends group in Monterey. I thoroughly enjoyed your presentation. We lost our 34 year old daughter to colon cancer in November 2006. She has 2 sisters. Jenny, her 29 year old sister lives in Brooklyn?works in Manhatten. I am doing the footwork to find out if your daughter has a sibling support group that she conducts or recommends. Thank you for any information you may be able to provide. Shirley Kiatta

Death of a Child, Open to Hope, Your Grief

Mother’s Day Trail Message By Debra Reagan

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Mother’s Day The first Mother’s Day without our son, Clint, was approaching. He had passed away the summer before, but the weight of grief was still heavy. So far we had made it through each day by taking one slow, encumbered step at a time. Each morning for several weeks prior to the upcoming holiday, I began to notice a little sports-type car parked near my car in the parking garage at work. Apparently, it was parked there on a long-term basis because it started to gather dust. After a while, the thick dust became a target for graffiti- some […]

Special Topics, Your Grief

Grace Notes: A Sweet and Sour Rip and Mend

Monday, May 7, 2007

Grace Notes By Natalie Costanza-Chavez We get Mothers Day wrong. We’re told to assume the sweetness, the flowers, the ease, and the “dream come true” of it all. We are led to expect a day in a glorious commercial, the house is clean, the dog is trained, and the children have flippy hair that’s never in their eyes. But, the truth of motherhood is much messier. It’s OK to say it. The truth of motherhood is a daily, sometimes moment-by-moment wild slide along a hard rail of gradation. It’s a trip, repeated again and again, from joy and what lies […]

Death of a Child, Special Topics, Your Grief

Mother’s Day Again

by Marilyn Heavilin Author of Roses in December Once again, here it comes. This day shows up every year, and I still dislike it. That day is Mother’s Day! Why should I dread it? After all, I still have living children. Ah yes, but I also am the mother of three children who are no longer living. I always enjoyed remembering my own mother on Mother’s Day, but for myself, I would prefer to skip Mother’s Day.  I generally attend church on Mother’s Day and many times women who are mothers are asked to stand so that they can be […]

Open to Hope

Dialog re: Dr. Francesca McCartney on Healing the Grieving Heart

(Note: the following is in sequence from first to last) Hi Dr. Gloria- I found your show with guest Dr. Francesca to be extremely interesting. I wish I had her book the first year of grief since I also felt all my grief on a cellular level.? I thought the call in student said it well when she spoke of feeling the loss of the connection with? your loved one. Where? does all that energy go? I think that is the most profound feeling when it is a loss of a child. It’s amazing how the grief starts to shift […]

Open to Hope

Thank You, Francesca

Saturday, May 5, 2007

Dear Francesca, Thank you very much for sharing your personal journey and wisdom on?the show.? The words cannot describe how much I appreciate the show?on different levels.? I was so inspired and empowered to observe how?you and the modern mystics do the beautiful healing work in plain?English from a compassionate place.? It’s soooooooooooooooo different?from the typical healer or guru’s new age woo woo work.? And thank?you again for reminding me of using the most basic tool of grounding. in gratitude, XXXX

Open to Hope

The GriefWorks

Friday, May 4, 2007

Hello Gloria! I was sure that I emailed you this afternoon, but can?t find it in the Sent folder.? Forgive me if I repeat myself here. Congratulations on expanding your ?ministry? to the bereaved.? It must be a joy to be working with your daughter!? I?ve added your website to the list of favorites that we give out to our clients.? I will be telling folks attending the support group tonight about it also. Please note that the correct email address for GriefWorks is:? info@griefworks.org or mel@griefworks.org.? We haven?t used the Yahoo address for several years.? Our retired co-founder was […]