GPS Hope

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • About GPS Hope
    • Meet Dave & Laura
    • Our Becca
    • AUTHOR Laura Diehl
      • About the Author
      • Laura’s Books
    • SPEAKER Laura Diehl
    • Contact Us
    • MEDIA
      • In the Media
      • PRESS KITS
  • PODCAST / BLOGS
    • PODCAST
    • Weekly VLOG (YouTube Channel)
    • Expressions of Hope Blog
    • Friends of GPS Hope Blog
    • Archives
      • Gems from the Crown
      • Kidz Korner
  • RESOURCES
    • My Profile
    • BOOKS
    • Online Workshops
    • HOPE For Your HEALTH
    • Laura’s Music CD
    • Free Content Library
    • FACEBOOK
    • Wall of Rememberance
  • SUPPORT GROUPS
    • ARIZONA, Sierra Vista
    • FLORIDA, Deltona (H.U.G.S.)
    • MINNESOTA, Worthington
    • OHIO, Newark
    • OREGON, Grants Pass
    • TEXAS, Livingston
    • WASHINGTON, Olympia
    • WISCONSIN, Janesville
  • EVENTS
    • Calendar
    • CRUISE Feb. 2026
    • RETREATS
      • OCT 2025 Long Island NY
      • FEB 2026 Florida
  • DONATE
    • DONATE NOW
    • Sponsor Memorial Heart Decal
    • Sponsor a Podcast Episode
    • Our Sponsors
  • STORE

October 24, 2025 by Laura Diehl Leave a Comment

Healing After Pregnancy Loss: A Mom’s Story of Hope

A wide-angle photo of a twilight sky with soft blue, pink, and purple clouds and a crescent moon. Text reads “Healing After Pregnancy Loss: A Mom’s Story of Hope.” Reflecting comfort, faith, and healing after pregnancy loss — GPS Hope - Grieving Parents Sharing HOPE.Healing after pregnancy loss is a journey that can feel both lonely and sacred. Too often, this kind of loss isn’t acknowledged for the deep heartbreak it truly is. But whether the pregnancy loss was early or late, whether you held your baby or not, your love was real, and so is your grief. Today, I want to share a story that beautifully captures both the pain and the redemption that can come through healing after pregnancy loss, especially when faith becomes the anchor that carries you through.

Recently, I had the privilege of talking with Shelley Hitz, a wife, author, and follower of Christ who knows this pain personally. After years of trying to conceive, Shelley finally became pregnant, only to lose her baby through miscarriage. She and her husband, CJ, were never able to conceive again. Yet what followed was a tender story of surrender, healing and faith after pregnancy loss, and how God birthed something new through her heartbreak.

The Unexpected Path

A silhouette of an open hand reaching toward a glowing sunset sky, symbolizing surrender and remembrance. The quote reads, “Whether the pregnancy loss was early or late, whether you held your baby or not, your love was real, and so is your grief.” Reflects faith, hope, and healing after pregnancy loss — GPS Hope - Grieving Parents Sharing HOPE.Shelley shared how she and CJ spent years in ministry, serving as missionaries and then stepping out in faith to travel full-time in an RV. They dreamed of raising a family, but after several years,  pregnancy didn’t come. But it finally did, only to end in devastating loss.

At that point, Shelley was older and realized this might be her last chance to have a child. The grief hit hard. “It was the most difficult loss I’ve ever faced,” she told me, even after walking through other painful losses in her life.

Pregnancy loss is often a lonely grief, one that others don’t always understand. Shelley described how it took her about a year to begin to truly process the pain and to take practical and spiritual steps toward healing. “I would walk remote trails and scream and cry out to God,” she said. “I had to face the pain honestly before I could move forward.”

Surrender and the Gift of Purpose

A silhouette of a person standing on the beach, gazing at a radiant orange and red sunset over the ocean. The quote reads: “Even though closure isn't complete, the deep wound can eventually become a healed scar, as a reminder of love and of how God met us in the pain.” Reflects faith, comfort, and healing after pregnancy loss — GPS Hope - Grieving Parents Sharing HOPE.Eventually, Shelley came to a place of surrender, where she could tell God, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” It was then that new life began to grow in a different way. A few months after her pregnancy loss, God led her to start Christian Book Academy, a ministry that helps others “birth books into the world.”

“God told me,” Shelley shared, “You may not have birthed a baby, but you’ve birthed many books, and helped others do the same.” What a beautiful picture of Christian healing after pregnancy loss, when God redeems the broken pieces and brings new purpose from them.

Today, Shelley and CJ have helped thousands of authors write and publish their stories through Christian Book Academy, while continuing to see their own ministry flourish.

A Couple’s Journey Toward Healing

A woman with long light brown hair, wrapped in a white shawl, sits in a field of tall green grass, gazing into the distance. The overlaid quote reads: “Healing after pregnancy loss is not forgetting, but allowing God to redeem. It's a sacred acceptance that says: This isn't what I wanted, but I trust You anyway.” Faith-filled reflection on healing after pregnancy loss — GPS Hope - Grieving Parents Sharing HOPE.Healing after pregnancy loss isn’t only a mother’s journey. Shelley shared that while she began to heal after that first year, CJ hadn’t yet processed his own grief. A counselor encouraged them to hold a ceremony together. They wrote a letter, prayed, named their baby Caden James, and released a balloon in his memory.

That simple act became a sacred moment of shared healing and closure. “It helped CJ grieve,” she said. “It gave us something tangible to honor our child’s life.”

Shelley reminds us that even though closure isn’t complete, the deep wound can eventually become a healed scar. “It’s not a scab that gets easily reopened anymore,” she said. “It’s a healed scar—a reminder of love and of how God met us in the pain.”

The Grace of Acceptance

A close-up of scattered jigsaw puzzle pieces on a wooden surface, symbolizing life’s broken moments. The overlaid quote reads: “God sees every tear, holds every question, and has the ‘box top’ to see the full picture of our life, when we only see the scattered puzzle pieces.” A comforting reminder of healing after pregnancy loss — GPS Hope - Grieving Parents Sharing HOPE.Over the years, Shelley has found peace in trusting that God’s plans, though different from her dreams, are still good. “Because we didn’t have children, we’ve had the gift of time,” she said. “God has used that time in ministry and in ways we couldn’t have imagined.”

That’s the heart of healing after pregnancy loss. It is not forgetting, but allowing God to redeem. It’s a sacred acceptance that says, This isn’t what I wanted, but I trust You anyway.

Shelley admits that some days are still tender, especially around December when she remembers the loss of her baby. But rather than spiraling in grief, she feels peace knowing her child is with the Lord. “We may not have our baby here,” she shared, “but we have spiritual children all over the world through the ministry God gave us.”

Finding Hope in the Journey

Mother’s Day, baby showers, and casual questions like “How many kids do you have?” can still sting for parents who’ve experienced pregnancy loss. Shelley gently reminds us that every story is different, and there’s no single path through grief.

“You never completely get over it,” she said. “But you do get through it.”

Her encouragement to others walking this road is simple but profound: don’t rush your grief. “God is gentle,” she said. “He leads us through it in phases. It took me a year to heal, but it may take longer for others. Just take one step at a time. Allow God to walk with you in the real and the raw.”

That’s what true healing and faith after pregnancy loss look like; being honest with God, processing your emotions, and trusting that He can bring purpose from pain.

You Are Not Forgotten

As we wrapped up our conversation, Shelley prayed a powerful prayer over parents who have lost a baby through miscarriage or stillbirth. She reminded us that God sees every tear, holds every question, and has the “box top” to see the full picture of our life, when we only see the scattered puzzle pieces.

If you’ve experienced this kind of loss, know this: your baby’s life mattered. Your grief matters. And healing after pregnancy loss is possible, even if right now all you can see is the pain.

Like Shelley, you may find one day that your tears have turned into something redemptive and that God has gently shaped your story into one of faith, hope, and healing.

So Hold On. Pain Eases. There is HOPE.


A horizontal row of colorful butterflies in different sizes and positions, appearing as if in flight. The vibrant wings symbolize hope, healing, and remembrance after child loss. GPS Hope - Grieving Parents Sharing HOPE.

NOTE: This was partially taken from the Grieving Parents Sharing Hope podcast episode 319. Click here to listen to the full discussion, or look for the Grieving Parents Sharing Hope podcast on your favorite listening app.

Find out more about the full program of Christian Book Academy here.   

Four award-winning grief support books by Laura Diehl for bereaved parents. Top-left: When Tragedy Strikes, black cover, subtitle “Rebuilding Your Life with Hope and Healing After the Death of Your Child,” with an Illumination Book Awards sticker. Top-right: Reflections of HOPE, ocean and sun cover, subtitle “Daily Readings for Bereaved Parents,” next to a wooden Illumination Book Award plaque (2024). Bottom-left: Hope for the Future, white cover with three lit candles, subtitle “An Advent Journey for Bereaved Parents,” with three gold Illumination Book Awards stickers. Bottom-right: My Grief Journey coloring book and journal, colorful intricate designs, with a Christian Book Award Winner sticker. GPS Hope – Grieving Parents Sharing HOPE.

AWARD WINNING AUTHOR, LAURA DIEHL, has written several impactful books that provide comfort and guidance to those navigating the painful journey of child loss, after the death of her own daughter in 2011. Her most acclaimed work, When Tragedy Strikes: Rebuilding Your Life with Hope and Healing After the Death of Your Child, has received multiple accolades, including the 2017 Gold Medal Centauri Christian Book Award for Non-Fiction and a Silver Medal in the 2018 Illumination Awards. Several of her other books have won awards as well.

Podcast cover for “Grieving Parents Sharing Hope” with Laura Diehl, offering faith-based encouragement for grieving parents after child loss. Background shows a dramatic sunset over the ocean with a lighthouse on the right, symbolizing hope in darkness. Laura Diehl’s headshot is in the bottom left corner. A gold seal in the center reads “Winner, AmericanWritingAwards.com, Podcast of the Year 2025,” with a smaller version of the seal in the bottom right corner. GPS Hope – Grieving Parents Sharing HOPE.In addition to her writing, Laura is an ordained minister and has an extensive background in international children’s ministry. She is a sought-after speaker and singer at grief conferences and churches, known for her compassionate approach and deep understanding of the grieving process, especially the unique loss of a child. Through her weekly award-winning podcast, her writings, and other resources provided by GPS Hope, Laura and her husband, Dave, continue to provide hope and healing to thousands of parents worldwide, helping them find light in the midst of profound loss and darkness.

For more information about Laura’s award-winning books go to gpshope.org/books.
To find out more about Laura Diehl and the ministry of Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) visit gpshope.org.

The link to Hope for the Future is an affiliate link, allowing part of the purchase price to go to GPS Hope. 

Filed Under: Expressions of Hope Tagged With: bereaved parents, bereaved parents awareness month, bereaved parents day, dreaming of your child's death, grief, grief and loss, grief anxiety, grieving parents, how to cope with the death of a child, how to deal with grief and loss of a loved one, how to deal with losing a son, how to handle grief at work and beyond, Laura Diehl, losing a daughter quotes, losing a daughter to death, loss of child, pareavor, prayer for bereaved parents, what to say on anniversary of child's death​

October 21, 2025 by Laura Diehl Leave a Comment

319: No Rainbow Baby after Pregnancy Loss (with Shelley Hitz)

When a baby is born after a pregnancy loss, it is often called a “rainbow baby”. We all know one child can never replace another, and it certainly does not remove the grief of the child who was conceived but is not here with us. However, most will agree that there is an ache that has been filled in having a baby after that devastating loss.

But what about the parents who have a pregnancy loss and there is no rainbow baby? In today’s interview, Laura talks with Shelley Hitz, who lives that out with words of comfort, hope and encouragement of all the blessings God still has for those who find themselves in the same place, or anyone who has lost a child. 

October is Pregnancy Loss awareness month, and GPS Hope wants to acknowledge those parents who have lost a child, but their grief is often downplayed or ignored. We see you, we hear you, and we hurt with you. 

Portrait of a smiling woman with long brown hair wearing a gold cardigan and statement necklace, representing hope and strength in the journey of No Rainbow Baby after Pregnancy Loss. GPS Hope - Grieving Parents Sharing HOPE.Shelley Hitz is an award-winning and best-selling author of over 40 books. However, most importantly she is a wife, daughter, sister, friend and follower of Christ. She has been ministering alongside her husband, CJ, since 1998 and her main passion is to share God’s truth and the freedom in Christ she has found with others. She does this through her books, websites and speaking engagements. 

Shelley’s openness and vulnerability as she shares her own story of hope and healing through her book, Broken Crayons Still Color, will inspire and encourage you.

(Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)

Links Mentioned in this episode:

Connect with Shelley online and download all the book extras at www.BrokenCrayonsBook.com

Find out more about the full program of Christian Book Academy here.   

Check out some of Shelley’s writing workshops here.

Get Shelley’s book Kingdom Writers here.

Click here to get your copy of Reflections of Hope: Daily Readings for Bereaved Parents (November Edition).

Find out more about how to join Dave and Laura on The Grief Cruise this coming February here.

Birthdays:

We lovingly remember and celebrate the lives of:

Carissa Ellen Hunsaker was born on October 19 and left us at age 1.

Samuel (Sam) Buss was born on October 19 and left us at age 21.

Matthew Anthony Sulikowski was born on October 22 and left us at age 36.

Visit gpshope.org/birthdays to submit your child’s name and date so we can honor them, too.

The special song written for our children’s birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.

Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is HOPE!

The GPS Hope logo featuring a sunrise rising over soft clouds and a teardrop-shaped emblem, symbolizing faith-based support and healing. It represents national grieving parent support after child loss, emphasizing community and hope through gpshope.org

www.gpshope.org

The GPS Hope Mobile parked and ready for outreach—a 420-square-foot motorhome used as a national grief support ministry for grieving parents. This image marks the one-year anniversary of GPS Hope becoming fully mobile, offering hope, comfort, and faith-based resources to pareavors across the country after child loss. Image includes gpshope.org, representing a journey of healing and support on wheels.To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at office@gpshope.org.

Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose.

It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.

October 17, 2025 by Laura Diehl Leave a Comment

Keep Walking One Step at a Time Through Your Grief

A wide-angle landscape shows two people walking hand-in-hand along a grassy ridge at dusk, overlooking a dark lake and forest. Large white text overlay reads: “Keep Walking One Step at a Time Through Your Grief.” This image symbolizes hope and encouragement for grieving parents, reflecting the journey of child loss and healing. GPS Hope – Grieving Parents Sharing HOPE.

Meeting God in His Creation

A starry night sky with two people silhouetted on a hill beside a tripod camera, symbolizing reflection and faith. The overlaid quote speaks of God’s ability to hold us through life’s storms, offering grieving parents comfort to keep walking one step at a time through your grief. GPS Hope - Grieving Parents Sharing HOPEOne of the things I loved about traveling in the Hope Mobile is how often God would meet me through His creation.

One time, while parked in a valley surrounded by mountains near San Diego, I enjoyed taking morning walks. Every path I took seemed to climb one of those mountains. The first was a small hill that gave me a nice view from the top. The next day, I climbed a higher one and was surprised at how far I’d gone until I reached the top and looked out over the beauty below.

As I stood there, surrounded by God’s majesty, I thought, “Lord, if You created all of this, You can take care of me.”

It was one of those sacred moments when creation draws you into the heart of the Creator. I found myself worshiping and handing over the heaviness in my heart before heading back down the mountain.

Finding Hope Through God’s Majestic Reminders

A silhouette of a person standing on a grassy hill at sunset with arms raised in praise against a glowing orange sky. Overlaying the image is a quote: “You might not feel it. You might not see it. But He has you in His hands, and He's not letting go.” The text gpshope.org appears at the bottom. This image encourages grieving parents to keep walking one step at a time through your grief with God’s strength. GPS Hope - Grieving Parents Sharing HOPEThat same sense of awe often fills me when I stand at the ocean’s edge and watch the waves. The vastness of the sea reminds me of God’s love that is deep, unending, and powerful.

And even looking up at a sky full of stars reminds me that the same God who made all of this is able to hold me through life’s storms.

When we take time to notice God’s creation, even in small ways, we can be reminded that the One who made the mountains and oceans is also the One holding us right now. You might not feel it. You might not see it. But He has you in His hands, and He’s not letting go.

Hope Like a River

Close-up of two hands clasped together over a white shirt, set against a softly blurred light background. Overlaying the image is a quote: “Hope is always there, even when we can't see it, because Jesus, the Seed of Hope, lives inside of us.” The website gpshope.org is shown at the bottom. This visual encourages grieving parents to keep walking one step at a time through your grief with faith and hope in Christ. GPS Hope - Grieving Parents Sharing HOPEAnother place that spoke to me deeply was a river we camped near during our travels. As I walked a path that followed the river, sometimes it would wind through the trees and I couldn’t see the water at all. There were times I could still hear it, and times I couldn’t. Then suddenly it would reappear, flowing beside me.

That path reminded me so much of hope.

After losing a child, hope can feel like that river, sometimes hidden, sometimes only glimpsed for a moment. Then, through a small act of kindness, a memory, or a whisper from God, we see it again. Hope is always there, even when we can’t see it, because Jesus, the Seed of Hope, lives inside of us. These are the moments that help us keep walking, one step at a time through our grief, with His strength.

Like a seed pushing through dark soil, hope takes time to grow. You may not see it yet, but it’s alive, because He is alive in you.

Seeing How Far You’ve Come in Grief

A man in a red jacket stands on a rocky mountain peak, overlooking a vast mountain range at sunrise. An overlaid quote reads: “If you're tired, it's okay to stop and rest. But don't give up. Keep walking. Because one day you'll be able to see the view from where you are and realize how far you've climbed.” The website gpshope.org is displayed below. This image reflects the journey of hope, reminding grieving parents to keep walking one step at a time through your grief. GPS Hope - Grieving Parents Sharing HOPEBack to those mountains I talked about, there was one morning I took a different trail that ended up climbing yet another mountain. This trail seemed to go on forever, and I started getting really tired, hoping it might connect with a shorter route back. I kept going, and when I reached the top, I was shocked to look way down below and see the top of the mountain that I had previously been on. I had no idea how far I had come until seeing where I had been before.

That moment reminded me of our grief journey. Sometimes we move slowly, one step, even one breath at a time. But as we keep walking, there comes a day when we look back and realize that we’re doing better than we ever thought we could.

If you’re tired, it’s okay to stop and rest. But don’t give up. Keep walking. Because one day you’ll be able to see the view from where you are and realize how far you’ve climbed.

A Song Inspired by the Journey

Some of the things I talked about here inspired me to write the song, I Keep Walking, which is all about trusting that God is still near, even when we can’t see or feel Him, and believing that each small step forward matters.

Even when we can’t hear the water or see the sun, He is still there. And so is hope.

Keep Walking One Step at a Time

Maybe all you can do right now is breathe. That’s okay. Maybe all you can do is take one tiny step. That’s okay too.


A horizontal row of colorful butterflies in different sizes and positions, appearing as if in flight. The vibrant wings symbolize hope, healing, and remembrance after child loss. GPS Hope - Grieving Parents Sharing HOPE.

NOTE: This was partially taken from the Grieving Parents Sharing Hope podcast episode 318. Click here to listen to the full discussion, or look for the Grieving Parents Sharing Hope podcast on your favorite listening app.

🎵 Listen to the Song that Inspired This Message:
You can listen to a sample of my song “I Keep Walking,” here or you can find the full song on most music platforms. 

My prayer is that as you listen, you’ll feel God’s gentle reminder that you are not alone and that hope is still alive inside you, even when you can’t see it yet.

Four award-winning grief support books by Laura Diehl for bereaved parents. Top-left: When Tragedy Strikes, black cover, subtitle “Rebuilding Your Life with Hope and Healing After the Death of Your Child,” with an Illumination Book Awards sticker. Top-right: Reflections of HOPE, ocean and sun cover, subtitle “Daily Readings for Bereaved Parents,” next to a wooden Illumination Book Award plaque (2024). Bottom-left: Hope for the Future, white cover with three lit candles, subtitle “An Advent Journey for Bereaved Parents,” with three gold Illumination Book Awards stickers. Bottom-right: My Grief Journey coloring book and journal, colorful intricate designs, with a Christian Book Award Winner sticker. GPS Hope – Grieving Parents Sharing HOPE.

AWARD WINNING AUTHOR, LAURA DIEHL, has written several impactful books that provide comfort and guidance to those navigating the painful journey of child loss, after the death of her own daughter in 2011. Her most acclaimed work, When Tragedy Strikes: Rebuilding Your Life with Hope and Healing After the Death of Your Child, has received multiple accolades, including the 2017 Gold Medal Centauri Christian Book Award for Non-Fiction and a Silver Medal in the 2018 Illumination Awards. Several of her other books have won awards as well.

Podcast cover for “Grieving Parents Sharing Hope” with Laura Diehl, offering faith-based encouragement for grieving parents after child loss. Background shows a dramatic sunset over the ocean with a lighthouse on the right, symbolizing hope in darkness. Laura Diehl’s headshot is in the bottom left corner. A gold seal in the center reads “Winner, AmericanWritingAwards.com, Podcast of the Year 2025,” with a smaller version of the seal in the bottom right corner. GPS Hope – Grieving Parents Sharing HOPE.In addition to her writing, Laura is an ordained minister and has an extensive background in international children’s ministry. She is a sought-after speaker and singer at grief conferences and churches, known for her compassionate approach and deep understanding of the grieving process, especially the unique loss of a child. Through her weekly award-winning podcast, her writings, and other resources provided by GPS Hope, Laura and her husband, Dave, continue to provide hope and healing to thousands of parents worldwide, helping them find light in the midst of profound loss and darkness.

For more information about Laura’s award-winning books go to gpshope.org/books.
To find out more about Laura Diehl and the ministry of Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) visit gpshope.org.

The link to Hope for the Future is an affiliate link, allowing part of the purchase price to go to GPS Hope. 

Filed Under: Expressions of Hope Tagged With: bereaved parents, bereaved parents awareness month, bereaved parents day, dreaming of your child's death, grief, grief and loss, grief anxiety, grieving parents, how to cope with the death of a child, how to deal with grief and loss of a loved one, how to deal with losing a son, how to handle grief at work and beyond, Laura Diehl, losing a daughter quotes, losing a daughter to death, loss of child, pareavor, prayer for bereaved parents, what to say on anniversary of child's death​

October 14, 2025 by Laura Diehl Leave a Comment

318: One Step at a Time Through Our Grief

In this episode, One Step at a Time Through Our Grief, Laura shares how God used the beauty of His creation — mountains, rivers, the ocean, and even the warmth of the sun — to remind her that He is always present, even in the hardest moments of deep loss.

As grieving parents, we often wonder how we’ll ever make it through another day. But through her gentle storytelling, Laura helps us see that our healing truly happens one step at a time through our grief. Some days the path is steep and exhausting, other days it’s smoother and more peaceful, yet every step is part of the journey forward.

In this episode, you’ll hear Laura share a couple of stories from the Hope Mobile travels that reflect our grief journey, as well as the song “Keep Walking,” written and sung by Laura, offering hope and comfort to every grieving heart.

It’s okay to rest, to take breaks, and to simply breathe when the climb feels too hard. But no matter where you are, God is walking beside you, holding you steady. If you’re feeling weary today, may One Step at a Time Through Our Grief remind you that hope is still alive inside of you, and that you are not walking this path alone. God’s faithfulness will meet you in every step you take.

Links Mentioned in this episode:

Click here to listen to samples of the songs on Laura’s CD “Together Forever”. She can also be found on most music apps. (You can order the CD here.) 

Find out more about The Grief Cruise: gpshope.org/cruise

Don’t forget to give an Amazon rating and review for The Bible’s Grieving Parents.  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FR7KM44G 

Let Laura know where you are on this journey.  Join the conversation here.

Birthdays:

We lovingly remember and celebrate the lives of:

Mitchell Ang was born on October 12 and left us at age 17.

Pike Petersen was born on October 17 and left us at age 14.

Alicia Martin was born on October 17 and left us at age 36.

Visit gpshope.org/birthdays to submit your child’s name and date so we can honor them, too.

The special song written for our children’s birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.

Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is HOPE!

The GPS Hope logo featuring a sunrise rising over soft clouds and a teardrop-shaped emblem, symbolizing faith-based support and healing. It represents national grieving parent support after child loss, emphasizing community and hope through gpshope.org

www.gpshope.org

The GPS Hope Mobile parked and ready for outreach—a 420-square-foot motorhome used as a national grief support ministry for grieving parents. This image marks the one-year anniversary of GPS Hope becoming fully mobile, offering hope, comfort, and faith-based resources to pareavors across the country after child loss. Image includes gpshope.org, representing a journey of healing and support on wheels.To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at office@gpshope.org.

Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose.

It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.

October 10, 2025 by Laura Diehl Leave a Comment

The One-Year Anniversary of Losing a Child: Hope and Help

The one-year anniversary of losing a child is a milestone no parent ever wants to face. It can feel unbearably heavy, filled with painful memories and emotions that leave us wondering how we’ll get through the day. As a bereaved parent myself, I know how real and raw this can be. The anniversary of my daughter, Becca’s, transition to heaven comes up in less than a week, and even after many years, I still find that some anniversaries are harder than others.

I don’t share that to discourage you, but to encourage you. Because even though the pain is real, there can also be years where it’s more bearable. But that first one? That one-year mark after losing your child is usually the most brutal.

Why the Days Leading Up Can Be Harder

Close-up of hands gently holding a glowing candle in remembrance, symbolizing reflection and love during the one-year anniversary of losing a child. The soft, warm light offers hope and comfort for grieving parents. GPS Hope – Grieving Parents Sharing HOPE.

What many parents don’t expect is that the weeks and days leading up to the one-year anniversary can be even harder than the day itself. Our minds replay all the “last times,” such as the last hug, the last meal together, the last phone call, the last photo. These memories cut deeply, and they can make us dread the actual day.

But you can make it through. You have already survived these first weeks and months, and that is no small thing.

Release the Pressure of Expectations

Person in a red jacket walking alone on a cobblestone path through a dark forest, symbolizing the personal journey through grief and healing during the one-year anniversary of losing a child. A visual expression of hope and endurance for grieving parents. GPS Hope – Grieving Parents Sharing HOPE.One of the most important things I want you to hear is this; release yourself from other people’s expectations. Some may think that after a year you should be “getting better,” but grief doesn’t follow a timeline.

All that the one-year mark means is that you have somehow survived the impossible for 365 days without your child. That’s huge. Many of us never thought we could, and if we’re honest, many of us didn’t even want to. Yet here you are.

There Is No “Right Way” to Grieve

Silhouetted person standing with arms slightly outstretched before a calm lake at sunset, reflecting trees and warm pink and orange light. The image symbolizes reflection, surrender, and peace during the one-year anniversary of losing a child, offering hope and comfort to grieving parents. GPS Hope – Grieving Parents Sharing HOPE.Some bereaved parents want to be alone on this day. Others gather with friends or family. Some spend it crying, while others feel numb. Some find ways to celebrate their child’s life. However your grief shows up, it’s okay.

When I asked parents in the GPS Hope community what they did on that first anniversary, the answers varied widely:

  • Holding a birthday “party” for a stillborn son
  • Visiting a gravesite and releasing butterflies
  • Friends gathering to share stories and memories
  • Planting flowers or orchids in memory of a child
  • Quietly journaling, coloring, or simply praying
  • Writing letters to organ recipients 
  • Honoring their child with acts of kindness

Your way doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. What matters is that it’s meaningful for you.

What to Expect

A woman stands indoors, gazing out a large window toward a bright lake with boats, her posture reflecting quiet grief and contemplation. This image represents the deep emotions felt around the one-year anniversary of losing a child, offering comfort and hope for grieving parents. GPS Hope – Grieving Parents Sharing HOPE.

I also want to gently prepare you for something many parents discover; the second year of grief can feel even harder in some ways than the first. The first year we’re often in a fog, bracing ourselves for each “first.” But in the second year, that fog lifts, and the pain can hit hard.

By the third year, many pareavors begin to find life a little more livable. We slowly start accepting that our child won’t be with us at birthdays, holidays, or family gatherings. And for some, glimmers of hope and even joy begin to break through.

But remember: there is no set timetable for grief. Your journey is your own, and it’s not wrong if you’re still in the fog or in deep pain years later. Please release yourself from guilt or shame that you’re “not where you should be.”

“Each season can bring its own measure of healing, and at The One-Year Anniversary of Losing a Child God tenderly meets us, often beginning to teach us how to live with love and hope intertwined.”

Grief Is Love: Finding Meaning Beyond The One-Year Anniversary of Losing a Child

A softly blurred sunset sky transitions from warm oranges and pinks to cool blues and whites, symbolizing peace after sorrow. This image reflects the emotions surrounding the one-year anniversary of losing a child—moving from pain toward gentle hope and light. GPS Hope – Grieving Parents Sharing HOPE.When Becca’s one-year mark came, some of my family wanted to gather and celebrate her life, while others didn’t. I was torn, and honestly, I don’t even remember what we ended up doing that year. And that’s okay.

What I do know is this; your grief is love. The reason this anniversary hurts so deeply is because your love for your child is so deep. That love will never fade.

A Final Word of Hope

The anniversary of a child’s death is sometimes called their “heavenly birthday.” For Becca, that means her body is whole and strong, with a brand new heart that will never fail again. Painful grieving? Yes. But without hope? No.

Whether it’s the one-year mark for you or years later, remember this: your love is real, your tears are valid, and your child is still a part of you. So Hold On, Pain Eases, there is HOPE.


A horizontal row of colorful butterflies in different sizes and positions, appearing as if in flight. The vibrant wings symbolize hope, healing, and remembrance after child loss. GPS Hope - Grieving Parents Sharing HOPE.

NOTE: This was partially taken from the Grieving Parents Sharing Hope podcast episode 317. Click here to listen to the full discussion, or look for the Grieving Parents Sharing Hope podcast on your favorite listening app.

📖 Find out more about Laura’s newly released book The Bible’s Grieving Parents: Finding Comfort, Hope and Faith from Their Stories.

If you’ve been struggling with questions like “Where is God in this pain?” or “How do I keep living with a broken heart?” I wrote this book for you. My prayer is that these biblical stories will remind you that you are not alone, and that God’s goodness and mercy are still at work in your life, just as He was in the lives of those we read about in the Bible. – Laura

👉Click here for the Kindle edition on Amazon (Affiliate link – GPS Hope will receive a small portion of the purchase price)

👉Click here for a PDF download from GPS Hope

Help other pareavors find this book by leaving a rating and review here.

If you would like gentle support as you navigate life after child loss, I’ve created a free guide to walk with you. Sign below and get your copy.

Four award-winning grief support books by Laura Diehl for bereaved parents. Top-left: When Tragedy Strikes, black cover, subtitle “Rebuilding Your Life with Hope and Healing After the Death of Your Child,” with an Illumination Book Awards sticker. Top-right: Reflections of HOPE, ocean and sun cover, subtitle “Daily Readings for Bereaved Parents,” next to a wooden Illumination Book Award plaque (2024). Bottom-left: Hope for the Future, white cover with three lit candles, subtitle “An Advent Journey for Bereaved Parents,” with three gold Illumination Book Awards stickers. Bottom-right: My Grief Journey coloring book and journal, colorful intricate designs, with a Christian Book Award Winner sticker. GPS Hope – Grieving Parents Sharing HOPE.

AWARD WINNING AUTHOR, LAURA DIEHL, has written several impactful books that provide comfort and guidance to those navigating the painful journey of child loss, after the death of her own daughter in 2011. Her most acclaimed work, When Tragedy Strikes: Rebuilding Your Life with Hope and Healing After the Death of Your Child, has received multiple accolades, including the 2017 Gold Medal Centauri Christian Book Award for Non-Fiction and a Silver Medal in the 2018 Illumination Awards. Several of her other books have won awards as well.

Podcast cover for “Grieving Parents Sharing Hope” with Laura Diehl, offering faith-based encouragement for grieving parents after child loss. Background shows a dramatic sunset over the ocean with a lighthouse on the right, symbolizing hope in darkness. Laura Diehl’s headshot is in the bottom left corner. A gold seal in the center reads “Winner, AmericanWritingAwards.com, Podcast of the Year 2025,” with a smaller version of the seal in the bottom right corner. GPS Hope – Grieving Parents Sharing HOPE.In addition to her writing, Laura is an ordained minister and has an extensive background in international children’s ministry. She is a sought-after speaker and singer at grief conferences and churches, known for her compassionate approach and deep understanding of the grieving process, especially the unique loss of a child. Through her weekly award-winning podcast, her writings, and other resources provided by GPS Hope, Laura and her husband, Dave, continue to provide hope and healing to thousands of parents worldwide, helping them find light in the midst of profound loss and darkness.

For more information about Laura’s award-winning books go to gpshope.org/books.
To find out more about Laura Diehl and the ministry of Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) visit gpshope.org.

The link to Hope for the Future is an affiliate link, allowing part of the purchase price to go to GPS Hope. 

Filed Under: Expressions of Hope Tagged With: bereaved parents, bereaved parents awareness month, bereaved parents day, dreaming of your child's death, grief, grief and loss, grief anxiety, grieving parents, how to cope with the death of a child, how to deal with grief and loss of a loved one, how to deal with losing a son, how to handle grief at work and beyond, Laura Diehl, losing a daughter quotes, losing a daughter to death, loss of child, pareavor, prayer for bereaved parents, what to say on anniversary of child's death​

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 109
  • Next Page »

Get Laura’s Newest Award Winning Book!

Click Image for More Information!


Get Your Copy of This Award-winning Book Now!

Click Image for More Information!

Get Laura’s Music CD

Click Image for More Details.

Get Your Copy Now!

Click Image for More Information!

Get your Copy Now!

Click Image for More Information!

What is a Pareavor?

Click to find out.

Get Your Copy Now!

Click Image for More Information!

Recent Posts

  • Healing After Pregnancy Loss: A Mom’s Story of Hope
  • Keep Walking One Step at a Time Through Your Grief
  • The One-Year Anniversary of Losing a Child: Hope and Help
  • A Father’s Story of Losing a Child and Finding God



LIKE US ON FACEBOOK

GPS Hope Page (for bereaved parents)

Events & Itinerary

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

BROWSEOUR STORE

Contact Us

guidestar

GPS Hope is a 501c3 not-profit Christian Ministry

Privacy Policy