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July 25, 2025 by Laura Diehl Leave a Comment

When Life Stands Still after the Death of Your Child

A quiet park bench rests beneath a large tree, surrounded by fallen autumn leaves—symbolizing the stillness after child loss. The text reads, “When Life Stands Still After The Death of Your Child.” This visual comforts grieving parents during moments when time feels frozen. An uplifting reminder: “Even when life stands still, love keeps moving.” Created by GPS Hope to offer support, hope, and healing for pareavors walking through deep grief.Many grieving parents I talk to share how hard it is that their life has come to a screeching halt after the death of their child. And they don’t understand how everyone else just keeps going like nothing happened—when life stands still after the death of your child.

I remember feeling that way myself.

I still remember sitting in my car at a stoplight. I was numb—barely functioning. I was doing the bare minimum outside my home just to survive. I looked around and saw people walking, laughing, driving, talking… living. It was so hard not to get angry and scream at everyone for acting like life was still normal.

Eventually (and by “eventually,” I mean two to three years) I realized I could go about life’s routines without constantly feeling like the world should still be frozen in time because of Becca’s death. I started to accept that life was moving forward, and I was starting to move with it. Until it came to another unexpected stop a few years later…

Life Stood Still Again

A solitary figure stands motionless while blurred people rush by in an urban setting—visually capturing the emotional dissonance grieving parents feel after the death of a child. The text says, “It can be hard not to get angry and scream at everyone for acting like life is still normal.” A powerful reflection on child loss and grief’s isolation. “The world may move on, but your pain is seen—your love remembered.” Shared by GPS Hope to support pareavors on their grief journey with compassion and hope.Dave got a phone call from his dad. He was in intense pain, so bad it was making him vomit, and needed to go to the ER. Just eight hours later, the family was called to his bedside to say goodbye. His aorta had ruptured, and it was inoperable.

Just like that, the first of our four parents were no longer with us, and Dave and I became full-time caregivers for his mom, who had dementia and other health issues. She needed someone with her 24/7. 

We could not take her in, because we had just purchased a motor home to live in full-time and were in the process of selling our house to our son.

For nearly two months, Dave and I took turns living with her as we worked through the exhausting process of getting her placed in an assisted living facility. Once again, my world stopped—learning to cope when life stands still after the death of your child.

Watching Life Go On Without Me

A rain-splattered car windshield creates a soft, blurred view of a road lined with trees, evoking a sense of emotional heaviness and uncertainty. The graphic’s text reads, “And it came to pass…” can be some of the most encouraging words in the Bible. This visual reminds grieving parents that storms do not last forever. “Even when your journey feels clouded with pain, hope waits just ahead.” Shared by GPS Hope to bring comfort and faith to those navigating child loss.I watched others continue their lives while mine came to a halt. (Not like losing a child, for sure, but it did come to a standstill.) 

My middle son and his family had just bought their first home, but we couldn’t help them move or get settled. Our youngest son also moved, and we couldn’t help him either.

As I said, Dave and I had recently bought the Hope Mobile, a motor home we planned to live in full-time so we could travel and minister to grieving parents across the country. We were in the process of downsizing and moving out of our home. That came to a full stop. I even found myself bringing things back to the house that I had already moved into the RV.

Our oldest son buying our house came to a standstill too, since we couldn’t move out while also caring for Mom.

Even my writing of emails and blogs, and things like putting out weekly podcast episodes became inconsistent and hard to keep up with. Our marriage started feeling distant as one of us was always at her small apartment and the other at home.

But I Know Something Now That I Didn’t Know Then

A woman in a black dress stands with her back to the viewer, gazing toward a cloudy sky—symbolizing grief and reflection. The graphic’s text reads, “Because I’ve already faced the unthinkable of the death of my daughter, and somehow came out the other side, I know something very important: It won’t always be like this.” This powerful image brings hope to grieving parents. “Even in the darkest clouds of child loss, light will one day break through.” Shared by GPS Hope to support the pareavor journey.Because I’ve already faced the unthinkable of the death of my daughter, and somehow came out the other side, I know something very important:

It won’t always be like this.

That phrase in the Bible, “And it came to pass…” are some of the most encouraging words to me. Some translations say “in time…” or “after that…” In other words, no matter what you’re going through, it won’t last forever.

If You’re Feeling Stuck, You’re Not Alone

Three silhouetted figures sit on a bench beneath a glowing sunset sky, symbolizing quiet reflection and shared grief. The image includes the message: “Seeing life go on around you might actually be a good thing. It’s proof that people who also once had their world come to a screeching halt have eventually been able to move forward.” A reminder from GPS Hope that healing is possible. “You’re not behind—you’re on your own sacred timeline.”If you’re frustrated that your world is standing still while everyone else just keeps going, I want to gently shift your perspective.

Seeing life go on around you might actually be a good thing. It’s proof that people who also once had their world come to a screeching halt have eventually been able to move forward. And that includes other bereaved parents, like Dave and me, who were once right where you are now.

No, life never goes back to what it was before your child died. That’s impossible. But if you keep going one day, one hour, one breath at a time, you will reach a point where you feel something stir again. A tiny flicker of life. A glimpse of hope—learning to navigate when life stands still after the death of your child.

You may not believe that right now. But one day, you might look up and realize that you’ve made it further than you thought you ever could.

You Are a Future Source of Hope

I’m now honored to be someone others can look at and wonder, How did she make it through Becca’s death and still find life again? And I truly believe a few years from now, people will be asking the same thing about you.

And more importantly, you’ll know that if you could get through the loss of your precious child, you can get through anything this world throws your way.

A Final Word of Comfort

Let me leave you with this passage from 2 Corinthians 1:3–4, 7 (TLB):

“What a wonderful God we have—He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of every mercy, and the one who so wonderfully comforts and strengthens us in our hardships and trials. And why does He do this? So that when others are troubled, needing our sympathy and encouragement, we can pass on to them this same help and comfort God has given us… In our trouble God has comforted us—and this, too, to help you: to show you from our personal experience how God will tenderly comfort you when you undergo these same sufferings. He will give you the strength to endure.”

And He will.

I’m walking proof. And you can be, too—learning to move forward even when life stands still after the death of your child.


NOTE: This was partially taken from the Grieving Parents Sharing Hope podcast episode 306. Click here to listen to the full discussion, or look for the Grieving Parents Sharing Hope podcast on your favorite listening app.

If you would like to join thousands of other bereaved parents receiving a weekly word of hope delivered to your inbox, let us know below.


Award-winning grief support books by Laura Diehl, including “When Tragedy Strikes,” “Reflections of Hope,” and “Hope for the Future,” shown with Illumination Book Awards.

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.

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​

July 22, 2025 by Laura Diehl Leave a Comment

306: When Life Stands Still After the Death of Your Child

In this raw and heartfelt episode, Laura Diehl shares what it’s like when the death of your child causes your life to come to a complete standstill—while the rest of the world just keeps going. She opens up about deeply personal moments from her own grief journey, including the recent reminder of that paralyzing feeling when her father-in-law suddenly passed away and caregiving responsibilities took over her life once again.

Laura gently reminds grieving parents that even though life may feel stuck right now, healing is possible. She shares hope through Scripture, personal experience, and the powerful truth that “this too shall pass.” With compassion and authenticity, Laura speaks directly to pareavors who feel like they’re frozen in time while everything around them keeps moving.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:
  • What it feels like when life stops after child loss
  • Laura’s vivid story of sitting at a stoplight, frozen in grief
  • How a sudden family death brought those feelings back years later
  • The difficult season of caregiving and halted plans
  • Encouragement from 2 Corinthians on finding comfort and strength
  • A hopeful reminder: if others have made it through, you can too
  • A heartfelt invitation to be someone others will look to, for hope
Links Mentioned in this episode:

Pareavor with Hope Apparel Line
Wear your grief and hope with courage. Browse the new GPS Hope merchandise featuring a shattered heart pieced back together with the words Pareavor with Hope.
🛍️ Shop now: gpshope.org/store

📘 Reflections of Hope: August Edition
Need daily encouragement? The August volume of Reflections of Hope for Bereaved Parents is available, or you can get the full-year edition.
📖 Learn more: gpshope.org/reflections

Birthdays:

Tony Crane was born on July 23 and left us at age 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!

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.

July 18, 2025 by Laura Diehl Leave a Comment

When There Are No Answers: Finding Hope After Child Loss

When Closure Doesn’t Come

I was recently listening to a podcast where the guest was talking about being in that extremely uncomfortable place of transition—finding hope after child loss.

I guess one word for that might be hopeless.

He talked about getting closure after a crisis that brings intense grief, and how we long to dot our I’s and cross our t’s. We want answers.

One statement he made really stood out to me and prompted this blog:
“The reality is you won’t always get closure. You can get closure, or you can move on, but you can’t have both.”

The “Why” That Keeps Us Stuck

A warm golden sunrise filters through tall trees in a quiet forest. The quote reads, “If we constantly live from that place of why, we stay stuck.” This inspirational message encourages grieving parents to move beyond the pain of unanswered questions. Designed by GPS Hope, this image offers faith-based support and hope for pareavors navigating life after child loss.

Of course, my mind went to all of us pareavors. We know there will never be what the world considers “closure.” Even if there’s an investigation surrounding your child’s death, even if someone is found guilty and sentenced—there’s no sense of closure, like everything is okay now.

For us, I think what we want—what we mean by closure—is answers to the “why”:
Why didn’t God stop this from happening?
Why my child?
Why my family?

But if we constantly live from that place of why, we stay stuck. Always looking back. And I know some of us feel it’s impossible to move forward… how could we live life without our child? Finding hope after child loss can help us take one step at a time.

When Breathing Feels Impossible

A dandelion puff against a clear blue sky, with the text: "I didn’t know how it was possible to live out the rest of my life with pain so deep, it made it hard to even breathe at times. If that’s where you are right now, please hear me: You are not alone." This image offers comfort and support for grieving parents facing child loss. Inspirational message from GPS Hope, a ministry supporting pareavors and offering healing after loss.

I personally didn’t know how it was possible to go on, to live out the rest of my life with that kind of pain. Pain so deep it made it hard to even breathe at times.

If that’s where you are right now, please hear me:
You are not alone.

So many of us have been in that same place. That place of suffocating pain where even existing feels impossible. Where you wonder if you’ll ever smile again, or if you even want to.

Why Closure Feels Like Betrayal

A peaceful blue sky with a single seagull in flight, symbolizing hope and freedom. Overlaid is the comforting message: “Moving forward doesn’t mean closing the door on our child. It means choosing to live again while still carrying their memory, their love, their presence inside us.” This uplifting visual is created by GPS Hope to encourage grieving parents facing child loss, reminding them it’s possible to heal while honoring their child.

For us, closure feels like betrayal. It feels like saying, “Okay, that chapter is done,” when we know deep in our souls it will never be done. Our child will always be a part of us. Always.

But moving forward doesn’t mean closing the door on our child. It doesn’t mean forgetting them or being okay with what happened. It means choosing to live again while still carrying their memory, their love, their presence inside us.

It’s not about “moving on,” like the world so often expects.
It’s more about moving forward, with our child still with us, deep inside.
And sometimes, it’s not even a step forward. It is just standing up again. Or sitting in God’s presence, simply breathing. That, too, is part of healing.

A Peace That Surpasses Understanding

A powerful sunset scene featuring towering reddish-orange rock formations beneath a dramatic sky, creating a sense of awe and reflection. The image includes the words: “I don’t have to understand to be held. I don’t have to know why, to know I’m loved.” This message from GPS Hope offers gentle encouragement to grieving parents facing child loss, reminding them that comfort and love are still present even in the absence of answers.

We may never get our answers to the “whys” on this side of eternity. But I do believe God invites us to exchange our desperate need for answers with His peace that surpasses understanding.

I know that’s easier said than done. I wrestled with it. Some days, I still do. But it’s in that wrestling that I’ve discovered something powerful:

I don’t have to understand to be held. I don’t have to know why, to know I’m loved.

You Can Begin Again

So, if you’re in that messy, painful place of not knowing how to go on… please know this:
It may not seem like it right now, but it is possible to move forward without answers.

It’s okay to not have closure.
It’s okay to not be okay.
And it’s okay to begin to hope again.
To take tiny steps.
To begin breathing again without guilt.
To let your child’s legacy be part of the reason you live, not just the reason you hurt.

You can live again.
No, it won’t be the same life, or the one you thought it would be.
But it can (and I truly believe it will) be a life shaped by deep loss, deep love, and yes… even deep hope.

A Prayer for You

Father God, for every grieving parent reading this, wrap them in Your presence right now. Let them know that You are near. Bring comfort to the questions that don’t have answers. Bring peace into the chaos. And bring hope, Lord, even if it’s just a flicker. Help them know they are not alone. Not ever.
In Jesus’ name… Amen.

You Still Matter

A vibrant sunrise or sunset illuminates a silhouetted treeline and open field, evoking peace and hope. Overlaid text reads: “Your life can have meaning and purpose again, even without the answers to your why questions. Not in spite of your child’s death, but because of their life.” A heartfelt reminder from GPS Hope to grieving parents that healing and purpose can emerge from loss.

Your life can have meaning and purpose again, even without the answers to your why questions.
Not in spite of your child’s death—but because of their life.

“I would have despaired, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of God in the land of the living.”
Psalm 27:13

I believe with all my heart, that just like me and thousands of others on this path ahead of you, you will once again see the goodness of God… right here, in the land of the living.

Your life can have meaning and purpose again, even without the answers to your why questions.
Not in spite of your child’s death, but because of his or her life.

Your child’s life still matters. And so does yours. Finding hope after child loss is possible, even in the smallest moments.


NOTE: This was partially taken from the Grieving Parents Sharing Hope podcast episode 305. Click here to listen to the full discussion, or look for the Grieving Parents Sharing Hope podcast on your favorite listening app.

If you would like to join thousands of other bereaved parents receiving a weekly word of hope delivered to your inbox, let us know below.


Award-winning grief support books by Laura Diehl, including “When Tragedy Strikes,” “Reflections of Hope,” and “Hope for the Future,” shown with Illumination Book Awards.

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.

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​

July 15, 2025 by Laura Diehl Leave a Comment

305: Waiting for Answers After Child Loss

Have you found yourself stuck in the endless questions of why after your child died? Why did this happen? Why my child? Why didn’t God stop it? In this raw and tender episode, Laura gently explores what it means to live in that painful space between loss and healing—where answers often never come, and “closure” feels like a betrayal.

Drawing from a powerful quote, “You can get closure, or you can move on, but you can’t have both”, Laura speaks directly to grieving hearts. She reassures us that moving forward does not mean letting go of our child, but instead carrying their love with us into a life that can still have purpose, even without answers.

Through honest reflection and Scripture, you’ll be reminded that:

  • It’s okay to not have closure.
  • It’s okay to not be okay.
  • And it’s okay to begin hoping again.

Laura also prays a heartfelt prayer of comfort, peace, and a gentle nudge toward hope, even if it’s just a flicker.

Whether you’re barely breathing or beginning to take tiny steps, this episode is a heartfelt reminder that you are not alone—and you can be a pareavor with hope.

Links Mentioned in this episode:

New “Pareavor with Hope” Merchandise Line
Every item in this new collection is designed for grieving parents—featuring a shattered heart lovingly pieced back together, with the words “Pareavor with Hope” across the front. It’s not just apparel—it’s a sacred statement of who we are. 

Click here to see the full line of “Pareavor with HOPE” shirts, hoodies, ball caps and stocking hats.

Birthdays:

Join us as we honor the precious children being remembered this week.

Jack Crean was born on July 16 and left us at age 18.

Hayden Beck was born on July 17 and left us at age 16.

Jimmy LaPlante was born on July 19 and left us at age 39.

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!

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.

July 11, 2025 by Laura Diehl Leave a Comment

Getting Through the Grief of Child Loss, One Step at a Time

A single tree standing in a foggy landscape, symbolizing the quiet, uncertain journey of grief. Graphic text reads: “Getting Through the Grief of Child Loss, One Step at a Time.” Image includes gpshope.org, offering support, faith-based encouragement, and hope to grieving parents and pareavors navigating the slow path toward healing.Grief doesn’t come with a roadmap. Sometimes all we can do is focus on the next small step.

Lisa Espinoza, author of First, Just Brush Your Teeth, lost her son, Chandler, after being hit by a car while riding his bike. He was 25 years old. Recently, Lisa and I talked about those first days, the heaviness that comes with each moment, and what it looks like to simply keep moving forward when nothing makes sense anymore.

As we all know, it is hard to get out of bed each day, so Lisa came up with a simple motivation: First, just brush your teeth. That’s where she began. Not with big goals or a full schedule. Just that one small act of showing up for the day. And if she could do that, maybe she could get dressed, and then maybe walk downstairs—taking one step at a time toward getting through grief.

When It Becomes Your Story

A bird flying freely across a soft sky gradient of blue to peach, with a distant tree branch in view—symbolizing movement, gentle progress, and new beginnings. Graphic text reads: “Don’t begin with big goals. Just do that one small act of showing up for the day.” Image includes gpshope.org, offering daily hope and encouragement to grieving parents and pareavors walking through the journey of child loss.We all seem to come to a moment when we are somewhat forced to realize, “I’m one of those people now.” The ones we all refer to when we say, I can’t imagine losing a child. It’s something we never expect to be part of our own lives, and when it is, nothing feels the same again. 

Life suddenly splits into “before” and “after.” 

I knew I could not live out the rest of my life with this intense suffocating darkness and pain, but I didn’t know how to climb out of this horrible pit I had been hurled into, causing me to cry out to God for help. 

Faith Without the Formulas

A faint light shining in deep darkness, symbolizing God’s quiet presence in the midst of grief. Graphic text reads: “When everything feels dark, the idea of a God who is with us is what we need most. Not answers. Not explanations. Just His presence.” Image includes gpshope.org, offering comfort and faith-based support to grieving parents and pareavors walking through the darkness of child loss.Child loss affects our faith. For a few, it almost immediately deepens. For most, it brings deep questions. But for all of us, it reshapes our relationship with Him in some way. Lisa’s foundation didn’t really shake, but her understanding of faith did change. The neat and tidy beliefs she had grown up with started to fall away, and what remained was simple: Emmanuel—God with us.

I remember having that same phrase hit me during a particularly difficult holiday season after Becca died. Christmas had always been her favorite season, full of decorations and music and giving gifts. The joy around me once again felt so out of place. Deep in my spirit, I felt an explosion in me saying: Emmanuel—God with us. I need You to be with me! 

I ended up pulling out our old advent wreath, lighting a candle, and writing something as a reminder of how He was with me, every evening leading up to Christmas (which was eventually turned into the book Hope for the Future: An Advent Book for Bereaved Parents).

Lisa and I agreed that, especially in those seasons when everything feels dark, the idea of a God who is with us is what we need most. Not answers. Not explanations. Just His presence.

And often, that “God with us” comes through people. A friend checking in. A comforting text. A small act of kindness. Listening to a podcast or reading a blog. These may not feel dramatic or miraculous, but they’re real. They’re reminders that we’re not walking this road alone.

Finding Light in Gratitude

A tiny beam of light breaking through dark clouds above a calm sea, symbolizing gratitude as a glimmer of hope in grief. Graphic text reads: “Naming even one small thing you are thankful for becomes a way to let in a pinpoint of light.” Image includes gpshope.org, offering gentle encouragement to grieving parents and pareavors navigating child loss with small steps toward healing and light.Before Chandler died, Lisa had started something she called her “God Moments Gratitude Journal.” While she couldn’t keep it up every day during the most intense parts of grief, it helped her shift her focus when she could. Naming even one small thing she was thankful for became a way to let in some light.

That is something I was encouraged to do as well. And like Lisa, I started small, each night writing down three to five things I was thankful for, like noticing someone’s smile, or the smell of freshly baked bread. It doesn’t change what happened, but it can soften the edges of the pain just enough to keep going.

I love how Lisa described gratitude as “pinpoints of light in the dark.” And that’s what it feels like. Not a floodlight that suddenly makes everything bright again—but small flickers of hope that show up as we recognize and name the good that is still around us.

The Bittersweet Blend of Life After Loss

Gradient sky with soft hues of orange, pink, and purple, representing the emotional mix of grief and beauty. Graphic text reads: “Life is rarely just bitter or just sweet. It’s almost always a mix. We can learn how to take some time to accept the pain of the bitter… but then lean into the sweet.” Image includes gpshope.org, offering gentle encouragement to grieving parents and pareavors navigating the bittersweet journey of child loss.Life is rarely just bitter or just sweet. It’s almost always a mix. We can be at a wedding, smiling and dancing, while feeling a deep ache inside for the child who isn’t there. That contrast can be hard to carry, but it’s real. We can learn how to take some time to accept the pain of the bitter… but then lean into the sweet. 

Choosing to smile or feel joy again isn’t dishonoring to our child. Lisa shared how it is really the opposite. To live with meaning, to laugh again and to let moments of joy return, is how she is continuing to honor her son’s life.

Being Open to Hope

Toward the end of our conversation, Lisa said something simple that I think is worth repeating. If you’re in the thick of grief, she encourages you to be open to the possibility of hope. Not to force yourself to feel hopeful. Not to pretend. Just to leave the door cracked open.

Some days, that openness might look like brushing your teeth. Or getting dressed. Or making a short phone call. And that’s enough.

The path ahead may be unclear, but it’s not unclear to the One who walks with us. You don’t have to take the whole journey today. Just take the next step. Whatever that looks like for you. 


NOTE: This was partially taken from the Grieving Parents Sharing Hope podcast Getting Through the Grief of Child Loss, One Step at a Time episode 304. Click here to listen to the full discussion, or look for the Grieving Parents Sharing Hope podcast on your favorite listening app.

If you would like to join thousands of other bereaved parents receiving a weekly word of hope delivered to your inbox, let us know below.


Award-winning grief support books by Laura Diehl, including “When Tragedy Strikes,” “Reflections of Hope,” and “Hope for the Future,” shown with Illumination Book Awards.

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.

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​

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