As Christmas draws near and a new year approaches, this episode is a gentle pause; a sacred moment set aside to pray over grieving parents who are carrying love and loss side by side.
The heart of the episode is a heartfelt Christmas prayer, spoken just two days before Christmas, acknowledging the unique pain this season holds for parents who are missing a child. Rather than forced cheer, this prayer invites God’s presence, Emmanuel, God with us, into the quiet, heavy and complicated moments of grief.
Listeners are reminded that:
- God sees every tear, every memory, and every ache
- Love does not end with death
- Our children are known, seen, and held by God
- Peace is not the absence of pain, but the presence of Christ
This episode closes with reflections on love, hope, and purpose; how the love we have for our child, when wrapped in God’s love for us, can become a powerful force in this world, even after profound loss.
Links Mentioned in this episode:
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As the new year approaches, many grieving parents feel the weight of moving forward without their child. Reflections of Hope: A Daily Reading for Bereaved Parents, written specifically with that reality in mind. Learn more: gpshope.org/reflections
Birthdays:
We lovingly remember and celebrate the lives of:
Carissa Perkins was born on December 21 and is forever 29.
Megan Tryphaena Petkau was born on December 23 and is forever 8.
John Ferreira Jr. was born on December 24 and is forever 32.
Diane Holt (Laura’s sister) was born on December 25 and is forever 62.
Isaiah Key was born on December 25 and is forever 13.
Ryan Durkin was born on December 27 and is forever 19.
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.
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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.
Thank you for remembering Carissa and God Bless you for all you do for the pareavors 💝✌️
Hi Heidi,
You are so very welcome. Obviously I never got to meet Carissa, but I know she was a very special young lady. Hugs!