This is the third and last episode in our series for the newly bereaved.

Today we will be hearing from Pam Vredevelt, who has faced both a pregnancy loss, and the death of her 16-year-old son. Not only can Pam share from the personal experience of child loss, she can add the depth of being a licensed professional counselor for over 25 years.

As a bereaved parent, we hear a lot about giving ourselves grace. Pam shares why that is important because of how it affects our brains and bodies in the healing process.

She also shares how the brain will try to reestablish control and does so by blaming ourselves, which causes a defense system to rise up within us, causing the attacked to also be the attacker, blocking our ability to go through the needed healing process.

There are a lot of good things in here that are very helpful to all of us on this unwanted journey, especially for those who are in those early months and years.

 

Pam is a Licensed Professional Counselor, popular conference speaker, and best-selling author. She is married to her best friend, John, and they have four children. Two reside in the United States, two are in heaven. Her grace-filled wisdom, refreshing hope, and practical counsel have guided thousands towards recovery after a deep loss.

 

 

(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:

Pam Vredevelt’s website: pamvredevelt.com

Find out more about My Grief Journey Coloring Book and Journal for Bereaved Parents

Find out more about My Grief Journey Coloring Book and Journal for Kids

 

Don’t forget to give this podcast a rating and review to help other grieving parents find us!

Click here to become a monthly partner, giving hope to other parents, or to give a special gift to keep this podcast going, along with providing  other needed resources to bereaved parents.

(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:

Richie Rudkin was born on January 27 and is forever 27.

Celeste France was born on January 29 and is forever 17.

Robert Lelle was born on January 28 and is forever 26.

 

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!

www.gpshope.org

 

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.

 

 

When my daughter, Becca, died, I thought I was getting early Alzheimer’s because of how forgetful I was, how scrambled my mind felt, and how quickly important information could leave my brain. I had no idea for the first couple of years that it was “normal” for a parent after the death of their child, and it was a relief to find that out.

What else is “normal” for a newly bereaved parent?

First, it is important to know that I consider “newly” bereaved, as anything from the very first day to the first two or three years. It’s also important to know that most experts will say that for a parent who has lost a child, anything under five years is considered fresh grief. Losing a child is also considered traumatic grief – it is a trauma, and PTSD can come with it, depending on the circumstances of their death.

Along with some of my own experiences, I have asked some of my friends who have been on this journey for a while to share a word with those of you who are new on this unwanted path. Last week we heard from four of them. This week we will hear from five more. They are:

• BJ Jensen – Love in Motion Signing Choir (www.signingchoir.com)
• Sara Nelson – Footsteps of Hope (www.hopefootsteps.com)
• Michele Paul – Umbrella Ministries (www.umbrellaministries.com)
• Melanie Delorme – After the Flowers Die (www.melaniedelorme.com
• Pam Vredevelt – Licensed Counselor and author (www.pamvredevelt.com)

As you listen, you will find out that pretty much whatever it is you are experiencing is normal after the death of your child, and it’s such a relief to hear it from others who have been right where you are.

 

(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:

Get a printable PDF copy of “My New Normal” from the GPS Hope free library along with many other free downloads. (If you have not accessed the library before, you will need to create an account by simply give yourself a name and a password.)

See information to join us for the weekend retreat in Texas.

See information to join us on The Grief Cruise.

Don’t forget to let me know what to do for the 100th podcast. Email me at laura@gpshope.org

 

Don’t forget to give this podcast a rating and review to help other grieving parents find us!

Click here to become a monthly partner, giving hope to other parents, or to give a special gift to keep this podcast going, along with providing  other needed resources to bereaved parents.

(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:

Jeanette Marie was born on January 19 and is forever 36.

Hugh Brown was born on January 19 and is forever 18.

 

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!

www.gpshope.org

 

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.

 

There is no training for being a bereaved parent. It is a very dark place, and we can feel utterly alone, as if no one understands. But those of us who have lost a child do understand, and we want to walk with you, especially through the darkest part of your grief.

In this episode there will be things shared that are important for you to know. Not in the way of a “to do” list, but more of a “give yourself grace” list.

I asked some of my friends who have been on this journey for a while to share a word with those of you who are new on this unwanted path. This week we will hear from:

• Anne Moss Rogers – Emotionally Naked (www.emtionallynaked.com)
• Mitch Carmody – Heartlight Studios (www.heartlightstudios.net)
• Joy Ware Miller – H4: Helping Hurting Hearts Heal (ijoyinspirations.com)
• Linda Findlay – International Grief Institute (www.internationalgriefinstitute.com)

 

I know at the beginning, it doesn’t seem like it at all, but…

It is possible to have hope in the midst of your intense pain.

It is possible to have light break through the darkness.

It is possible to laugh and have joy in your life in a new way.

It is possible to live a life of meaning and purpose again.

Not only is it possible, but it is probable, if you stay connected with bereaved parents who are living in that place, including those who are here at Grieving Parents Sharing Hope.

I pray that after listening to these discussions about being a newly bereaved parent, you can have a glimmer of hope that it is possible to not stay stuck in the event of your child’s death, but to find a way to live again that honors his or her life.

 

(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:

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

Listen to Laura’s songs she is the process of rerecording for a CD: Together Forever   and  I Remember Well

 

Don’t forget to give this podcast a rating and review to help other grieving parents find us!

Click here to become a monthly partner, giving hope to other parents, or to give a special gift to keep this podcast going, along with providing  other needed resources to bereaved parents.

(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:

Jake Kalicki was born on January 12 and is forever 17.

Matthew Cole was stillborn on January 15.

Joshua Caldwell was born on January 16 and is forever 28.

Tate Kwiatkowski was born on January 16 and is forever 69 days.

 

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!

www.gpshope.org

 

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.