Send us a text We trace Rachel’s caregiving through COVID barriers, hospital chaos, and a rare moment of blessing from her father, who tried to dance in a neck brace on the day he came home. Fear, advocacy, and dignity shape a story that turns separation into a deeper kind of love. • Rachel’s layered losses and why she chose to share • COVID-era separation and window visits with her father • the work of advocacy • comfort versus intervention that reframed caregiving Please support us b...

Send us a text We explore grief’s gray spaces, where love does not disappear but changes form, and we practice seeing God’s presence in simple, daily ways. Thich Nhat Hanh’s cloud-to-rain teaching helps us notice our beloved in new forms while faith widens the heart that holds them. • grief as gray rather than black and white • shock, aftershocks, and anniversaries as normal rhythms • love as the other side of grief that endures • energy of love dispersing and widening beyond one person • Th...

Send us a text We share a gentle guide to facing holidays and anniversaries after loss, with practical tools that reduce pressure and honor love. We explain why grief isn’t linear, how waves return, and how faith, ritual, and support help you endure and heal. (See: hospicefoundation.org) • choosing plans and rituals that fit your energy • communicating needs and setting expectations with family • compromising so different grief styles can coexist • understanding anticipatory grief and ...

Send us a text We explore the raw, tender reality of losing a family pet and how everyday rituals make their absence feel vast. We unpack disenfranchised grief, memorials, and how surviving pets can mourn too. • why pet loss can feel as deep as any bereavement • daily bonds that make absence hit hard • urgent choices, and easing suffering • parenting while grieving and holding space for kids • coming home to an empty house and grief pangs • disenfranchised grief and finding safe listen...

Send us a text Keeping vigil, reflecting on the gap between a rich life and a plain death, and wondering how faith, science, and ritual help us hold loss without letting it define us. The dead may be invisible, but we explore how their presence can still affect us. • why stories of death need telling and retelling • readings on the nearness of the dead and what comfort means • the vigil: hospice, timelines, and private moments of farewell • different grief responses within a family • finding...

Send us a text We share Rachel’s story of layered loss during 2020 and how a simple breeze became a faithful sign that love endures. We explore last words, waves of grief, and practical rituals to feel presence without denying absence. • why naming love before goodbye brings peace • how grief arrives in waves and why that is normal • the role of nature and sensory cues in healing • continuing bonds as a healthy way to stay connected • building simple rituals to steady daily If you have...

Send us a text Today we explore a traditional Rosh Hashanah reading from 1 Samuel about Jonathan's loyal friendship with King David, and; extracts powerful lessons for those on a grief journey. The biblical story demonstrates how love transcends hatred, and ultimately has the healing power to mend our deepest wounds. Especially grief. • Examination of the biblical story of Jonathan protecting King David from King Saul • Love is greater than hate, physical harm, and can heal all wounds • Love...

Send us a text Today we explore how our attachments to physical objects transform during grief. Loss requires us to reconsider what we hold onto and why, as we weave grief into the fabric of our lives rather than trying to overcome it. • Grief isn't something to "get over" but something we integrate into our lives • Moving to a new home revealed how many things I was willing to let go • St. Ignatius teaches about "disordered attachments" that keep us from being closer to God • Examining our ...

Send us a text When we're grieving, our culture of rugged individualism often tells us to face losses alone, but healing requires the presence of others. This episode explores why seeking support during grief isn't weakness but essential wisdom for moving forward. • Grief and loss are inevitable in life but nearly impossible to manage alone • Many avoid seeking help due to fear of appearing weak, being vulnerable, or being judged • Past experiences with grief can provide strength for facing ...

Send us a text Today we explore how to walk with God during grief when prayer feels impossible and faith seems distant. Grief creates natural spiritual questions as we navigate the physical, emotional, and psychological shifts that come with significant loss. • Picture God on your side rather than as the cause of suffering • God's compassionate presence walks with us through our pain • Trust God's nearness even when feelings suggest otherwise • Call on good memories to help navigate present ...

Send us a text Today explore the delicate subject of experiencing happiness in the midst of grief, examining how these seemingly contradictory emotions can coexist. • Life continues moving forward regardless of our personal grief, which can feel jarring and isolating • Happiness can emerge unexpectedly during grief through events like births, engagements, or achievements • Biblical passages often describe joy and sorrow as concurrent experiences rather than opposing emotions • Pain and...

Send us a text Journaling serves as both a memorial and milestone marker on our grief journeys, allowing us to process complex emotions and track our healing progress over time. Journal entries spanning several years document my experiences with various losses and the spiritual dimensions of grief. • Grief journaling helps memorialize our journey and provides perspective on how far we've come • Personal journal entries reveal the complex, non-linear nature of grief processing • Spiritu...

Send us a text Grief creates a profound rupture in our lives, affecting us spiritually, psychologically, emotionally, and physically. The 14th century spiritual classic "The Cloud of Unknowing" offers wisdom for navigating the darkness of grief through contemplative prayer. • Focuses on prayer as an act of will and love rather than intellect • Offers practical guidance for being fully present in prayer during difficult times • Emphasizes that even short, simple prayers are sufficient for con...

Send us a text We explore Karl Rahner's profound spiritual insights from "Encounters with Silence," focusing on finding God within the ordinary routines of daily life. Rahner, a Jesuit priest and influential 20th century theologian who helped shape Vatican II, offers wisdom particularly relevant to those experiencing grief. • Karl Rahner entered the Society of Jesus in 1922 and was ordained in 1932 • Rahner's vision provided theological support for openness and dialogue between Christians • ...

Send us a text Experience how St. Ignatius of Loyola would counsel someone experiencing fresh grief through spiritual wisdom, emotional sensitivity, and practical guidance based on his teachings and spirituality. These approaches help navigate grief by fostering deeper connection with God, finding meaning in suffering, and cultivating hope even in our darkest moments. • Acknowledge pain and invite God's presence - bringing raw emotions to prayer • Engage in discernment to navigate difficult ...

Send us a text Candee Lucas, a grief chaplain and spiritual director trained by the Jesuits at Santa Clara University, presents an imaginative interview with St. Ignatius of Loyola exploring spiritual approaches to grief and loss. The 500-year-old saint offers compassionate guidance for those experiencing profound sorrow after losing a loved one. • Recognizing "desolation" - when grief makes us feel distant from God - and continuing simple prayer practices • Using the Ignatian Examen to noti...

Send us a text Grief presents itself in many forms, including the loss of control during difficult news. Explore how modern dependency on technology for answers differs from seeking spiritual guidance during times of uncertainty and fear. • What might happen if we took our questions to God instead of Google? • Spiritual answers may be different but more meaningful than information alone • Connection to divine love is universal and available to everyone • Recognition that technolo...

Send us a text Music creates a powerful pathway through grief, offering comfort and expression when words fall short. Ben Kweller, a singer-songwriter who lost his 16-year-old son Dorian in a tragic car accident, channeled his grief into creating the album "Cover the Mirrors," demonstrating how art can become a healing force. • The "Impolitic" podcast with John Heileman features a poignant interview with Ben Kweller about his grief journey &nbs...

Send us a text Grief rarely follows the patterns we imagine it will, often surprising us with unexpected moments of both pain and comfort that defy our expectations. Our personal experiences with grief become like unique coloring books that reflect our individual journeys rather than conforming to society's expectations. • Childhood memories of a beloved sister who colored outside the lines • How grief rarely stays within the boundaries we expect • The unexpected comfort found in sensory mem...

Send us a text Today explore the difficult questions that arise during grief and how our Catholic faith offers pathways for healing. We examine how questions of "why" and "what if" can become poignant prayers and how sharing our stories helps us accept the reality of loss. • Questions beginning with "why" are often not really questions but statements of protest or pain • The sacrament of reconciliation helps those struggling with unresolved "what-if" questions and feelings of guilt • T...