Tragedy to Hope

Grief is Always Personal

Our stillborn son, Paul, had a purpose in our lives. I do not want to miss what he was to teach us.

We learned that we needed God’s help in a new way. We learned that we needed friends and a church to care and support us. We learned that help from friends could be good or less than good. Our crucible of sorrow made us better people and more empathetic toward those bowed down by grief. We have comforted, counseled, encouraged, and sympathized with hurting parents. Some of those parents were further wounded by careless words from well-intentioned friends, churches, and even ministers.

Since our own grief experience, we have shared what we learned with other grieving parents, support groups, hospitals, and ministers. What we learned, we now share with you.

You and Your Church

This book will help the you as a grieving parent find ways to deal with your grief. Many parents have walked your path before. Their experience will help you.

Churches can understand better the scope of stillbirth and miscarriage. Many churches already do a great job supporting those in grief. An infant death brings a whole new perspective as the church provides answers to honest questions about God, fairness, and innocence. This book and the study guide will prepare you to be informed and ready to help if it ever happens to an acquaintance or in your church. Oh yes, it will happen and you need to be ready with knowledgeable, loving support. If it happens, and when it happens, the church should be ready to share the hope of the Gospel during a time of grief.

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3: 15.

This book is an attempt to help you and your church know some things you can say and do when there is a miscarriage or stillbirth. God will help you and bless others when you provide compassionate care in an infant death situation. There is nothing quite as humbling for the Christian as walking though the valley of the shadow of death alongside a fellow believer. When you do, your faith grows and deepens in ways you never imagined. As you walk beside a grieving friend, their faith is sustained and supported by your faith. You become the cast which holds their fractured soul in place until it heals. Jesus is the real support for their broken, grieving spirit. When you walk with your friend, they see in you the Spirit of Jesus.