Finding Your Way After a Child

Everyday events such as meeting a former teacher, celebrating a birthday, or thumbing through a family photo album may reignite the intense grief associated with losing a child, no matter how long it's been since their death. Finding Your Way After Your Child Dies offers parents a comforting way to grieve whenever the need arises. Phyllis Vos Wezeman and Kenneth R. Wezeman sensitively reflect on the various occasions that bring grief to the surface daily, weekly, annually, or perhaps only once. Fifty-two themes ranging from meal time to a favorite possession and from family vacations to graduations help parents acknowledge their loss, express their feelings, and recognize the experience as an opportunity for grief as well as for growth. A consistent and familiar format makes it easier to enter into these moments: reflection—an overview of the specific theme ritual—suggestions to explore the theme reading—a scripture passage or verse for reflection on the theme response—a prayer that summarizes the theme Finding Your Way After Your Child Dies is intended for parents who have experienced the death of a child, whether due to natural causes, accident, or miscarriage. You will be reminded that God is with us in every circumstance of life and that God’s love is a love that survives any loss. The themes may also be easily adapted for use in small- and large-group settings such as a support group, prayer service, or family ministry session.