Wrestling with Jacob

A journal of faith, grief and devotional musings

  • Time and Change

    We planted a flowering tree in memory of Jacob Fekete our son after he died. Later we transplanted it in 2017 when we sold our old house and moved. I named the tree Jacob Feketree. Last fall I noticed signs that the tree might be dying. Spring has now arrived. There are no buds and… Read more

  • Precious Promises

    We are born into troubles. In those times of trouble, there are kind people with good intentions who try to console you with good and kind words because they care. Or perhaps because they don’t know what else to say. When facing cancer, you’ll hear them quote Romans 8:28 or say things like, “God’s got… Read more

  • Remembering Jake with Joy

    Clark Griswold is trapped in the attic. You remember the scene. The comedy classic pushed the laughter aside for a moment and hits us with the chill of somberness with the ghost of Christmas past in old family films.  Cold and shivering, crying and smiling, Chevy Chase drapes a blanket over himself and captures the… Read more

  • Finding comfort, hope and peace. A Grief journey 

    Small town people step up big when their neighbors need them. Stacey and I experienced the Benzie embrace in 2013 and 14 when we lost four of our loved ones suddenly.  I am observing a small community that has lost many young people over a short period of time. Some kids survived thankfully but will… Read more

  • Grief Shared Is Grief Diminished

    “Grief shared is grief diminished.” An insightful statement from Gaylord my wise friend a career funeral director. Shortly after Jake’s funeral I continued to bump into people grieving over him and feeling terrible for Stacey and I. People were hurting with us. The splinter of grief was buried deep and they needed help removing it.… Read more