Wrestling with Jacob

A journal of faith, grief and devotional musings

death of child

  • Precious memories: Grief and comfort during the holidays

    I don’t believe for a minute that time heals all wounds. I never heard of a parent who got over the death of their child. Read more

  • rest in the desert

    All sunshine makes a desert, but when in the desert look for an oasis. I guess if I could define my life before grief I could use the word sunshine. Three healthy kids, a loving wife, stable jobs and a cape cod in the country.  Life certainly wasn’t without trouble but overall we enjoyed mostly Read more

  • Don’t be that guy

    There are many standard cliché phrases that get said in times of grief. Many of which would be most helpful to the sorrowing if much of it was just left unsaid. In the deepest moments of pain words are seldom digested so that the soul might be comforted by them. Well meaning people who don’t know what Read more

  • Enduring the holidays; no deposit and no return

    The linear journey There is never closure for the parents of dead children. I was reminded of this again recently as I listened to a traumatic grief counselor in a phone conversation. He used the word journey, a word I have used myself many times but this time I pondered what it really means for me during the Read more

  • Life with lemons; enduring the holidays

    When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Somehow I think the person who coined that phrase never lost a child. In concept I get it but in reality the lemonade is just as bitter as the lemons. Oh sure, it can be watered down and sweetened with artificial sweeteners but it is still sour. It Read more