Many of us struggle with our faith in God after He didn’t answer our prayers for our children.
We may have prayed daily for protection, but he or she was in an accident that took their life. We may have prayed for healing from an addiction, or a mental illness like being bi-polar or manic depressive, but our child is no longer here because they were not freed from their struggle and even died by their own doing.
Then there are those children who had a long-term illness, and hundreds of prayers went up by many people for their healing.
Today’s discussion is with one of those parents. Rhyl Venning’s daughter, Kari-Lee, was born with cystic fibrosis, giving her a short lifespan. Over the years, multitudes of people prayed for her healing. Some even “spoke” over her, declaring that God was going to heal Kari. Rhyl was a mom who walked in faith for that healing, whether it was miraculous, or through a medical breakthrough.
This is similar to Laura’s situation with her daughter, Becca, which made for a very interesting conversation in how they both overcame the hurt and disappointment when God did not step in with the healing miracle they both thought was coming for their daughters.
Rhyl Venning lives on the Sunshine Coast 
of Queensland, Australia, and had the privilege of being Kari-Lee’s mother. She is married to Peter and has one remaining daughter, Tiana. Rhyl currently works as a nanny, but before Kari-Lee went to Heaven, she worked as an Occupational Therapist, spending the last twenty years working with children who had moderate to severe disabilities.
She facilitates a support group for bereaved mums, is the Volunteer Care Coordinator for the local Make-A-Wish group, and is a puppy carer for Seeing Eye Dogs. Rhyl is also writing a memoir about Kari-Lee’s life and how she has managed to survive without her daughter. In her free time, she loves to walk on the beach, scrapbook, swim, grow veggies, read, and catch up with friends and family for a cuppa and chat.
(Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)
This podcast episode was sponsored by Dave and Kathi Crean in honor of their son, Jack.
Links Mentioned in this episode:
Email Rhyl at: pven2000@yahoo.com
Click here to take a look at the GPS Hope website where you will find a memory wall to have your child added, a free members library with resources to download, a store with Hold On Pain Eases shirts, books by Laura, and other helpful resources.
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(GPS Hope is a 501c3 nonprofit and runs on the financial support of those who believe in passing along the hope they have received to others.)
Birthdays:
Madeline Youngdahl was born on July 16 and is forever 14.
Jack Crean was born on July 16 and is forever 18.
Duy Leo Weigert was born on July 16 and is forever 8 months.
Jimmy LaPlante was born on July 19 and is forever 39.
James Nesrsta was born on July 19 and is forever 8.
Charlotte Gray Perry was born on July 20 and is forever 26 days.
Logan Bauer was born on July 20 and is forever 20.
If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.
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!
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.
This is a perfect example of how your beliefs drive your thoughts. If you believe that staying in your pain will keep the memory of your child alive, then you will continue in that emotional state of despair. You will not be able to live a life of peace, hope, and fullness (which includes living a life of meaning and purpose again, not in spite of your child’s death, but because of his or her life).
When God created us, He did an amazing thing. One of the ways He made us in His image is by allowing us to think our own thoughts. He does not control our thoughts, even though He could. He allows us to think He is the evil one.
pain and darkness you have ever faced and turn it into a lie that God doesn’t love you, or that He has turned His back on you.
What you focus on is what you will grow. So, if you continue to focus on the pain and loss, it will grow until it is ready to consume you and overtake you. But if instead you think about, focus on, and give thanks for what or who you still have, that is what will begin to grow, and eventually it will bring you out of that deep dark place.
Sharing Hope (
There are so many bittersweet events now. Almost one year to the day of Becca’s death, we had the blessing of a new little granddaughter coming into this world. She was given the name of Becca as a second middle name. And since then, we’ve had several more grandchildren come into this world, who will never know their Aunt Becca. Like I said, bittersweet.
grief trying to come in, I will pause and think of my beautiful Becca inheaven. She is experiencing the greatest celebration of all. I will remind myself that this earth is not my permanent home. “For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18). At some point, life on this earth won’t matter, and we will all be united for eternity. What a glorious day that will be!
I’m not saying those things are not painful and that there is not a level of grief involved. I also know from others, as well as my own personal experience, that we can (and do eventually) get to a place where memories can warm our hearts instead of causing a stabbing pain. However, this article seemed to be saying that after you grieve the right way, you can move on with life and put the past behind you.
Lazarus died, it was only temporary. And yet we know Jesus wept. If you want to cry, go ahead and cry as hard as you need to. Park your car in the garage and have a good cry. Let your tears be the gift God gave them to be, allowing them to wash away some of the pain.
