Friday, September 16, 2016
Monday, March 21, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
The Journey to Finding Hope!
Do you have a copy of the book Silent Grief? You can order your copy today by visiting the store at www.silentgrief.com . Why not donate a copy to your church and hospital, too? Grief from child loss is one of the most misunderstood griefs of all! –Clara Hinton
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When we are suffering intense grief, we find it difficult, if not impossible, to remember what it felt like to be happy. We do not remember that feeling of energy and zest for living. We cannot recall how much fun it was to plan out the agenda for the day. We forget the small things like the background noise of happy chatter and laughter. We forget joy. We forget the wonderful feeling of waking up each new day with hope!
Grief and loss send us to a new place. A foreign land where we are forced to learn a new language and adapt to new feelings and circumstances. We have been uprooted from what felt safe and secure and happy, and have been sent to a place that is unknown and so very frightening. This is our grief journey, and we do not know how we’ll make it!
What has helped most of us who have been called on this journey is knowing that we never have to travel alone. We have others beside us who have led the way, and they have found their new places in life and have begun to smile again. You, too, will find a new joy, and a new peace, and a new way to look at all of life again. You will find HOPE with the unfolding of each new day! --Clara Hinton
“At first I was lost in the dark, then I looked upward and saw the sun peeking through the clouds and I knew with certainty that I was on the right path to call home!” --Clara Hinton
“The Lord is for me; I will not fear.” --Psalm 118:6
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When we are suffering intense grief, we find it difficult, if not impossible, to remember what it felt like to be happy. We do not remember that feeling of energy and zest for living. We cannot recall how much fun it was to plan out the agenda for the day. We forget the small things like the background noise of happy chatter and laughter. We forget joy. We forget the wonderful feeling of waking up each new day with hope!
Grief and loss send us to a new place. A foreign land where we are forced to learn a new language and adapt to new feelings and circumstances. We have been uprooted from what felt safe and secure and happy, and have been sent to a place that is unknown and so very frightening. This is our grief journey, and we do not know how we’ll make it!
What has helped most of us who have been called on this journey is knowing that we never have to travel alone. We have others beside us who have led the way, and they have found their new places in life and have begun to smile again. You, too, will find a new joy, and a new peace, and a new way to look at all of life again. You will find HOPE with the unfolding of each new day! --Clara Hinton
“At first I was lost in the dark, then I looked upward and saw the sun peeking through the clouds and I knew with certainty that I was on the right path to call home!” --Clara Hinton
“The Lord is for me; I will not fear.” --Psalm 118:6
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
When All Feels Lost, Hope is Still Alive!
Grief from child loss is a difficult journey. Do you know someone who is grieving and in need of some help? Why not give them a gift to help in this most difficult walk? Order a copy of “Silent Grief” by Clara Hinton today. Visit the bookstore on www.silentgrief.com for details or visit your local bookstore and order a copy today.
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Grief is so common among all people, yet it is something that makes us feel so terribly alone in our pain. Even when members of a family share the same loss, the type of grieving we do can be so uniquely different. We each experience the pain of our loss in different ways that make grief so hard to understand.
Is there a common thread in grief that we can each see and feel? Yes! That one thing we long for, that one thing we each understand is that we need hope when feeling such despair. We need to find a way to move forward in life and not stay stuck in the lonely prison of grief.
How do we do this? How do we find this hope that we so desperately need? The only true and lasting hope can be found in our faith. When we know with full assurance that our Shepherd is watching over us, we can rest in Him. When our faith stretches to the point of understanding that if He calmed the stormy seas He can also calm my storm-battered heart, then I can find hope and strength in Him.
Walk among nature and experience the mighty presence of God. Read His word and allow Him to comfort your hurting heart. Look to the heavens and be filled with awe as you know He is always with you. Cling to the promise of the rainbow – our visible promise of hope! Grief is real, but hope is eternally alive! –Clara Hinton
“Without hurry or fear I will dwell in the house of my grief and wait for the promise of my hope to return!” --Clara Hinton
“…in quietness and trust is your strength.” – Isaiah 30:15
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Grief is so common among all people, yet it is something that makes us feel so terribly alone in our pain. Even when members of a family share the same loss, the type of grieving we do can be so uniquely different. We each experience the pain of our loss in different ways that make grief so hard to understand.
Is there a common thread in grief that we can each see and feel? Yes! That one thing we long for, that one thing we each understand is that we need hope when feeling such despair. We need to find a way to move forward in life and not stay stuck in the lonely prison of grief.
How do we do this? How do we find this hope that we so desperately need? The only true and lasting hope can be found in our faith. When we know with full assurance that our Shepherd is watching over us, we can rest in Him. When our faith stretches to the point of understanding that if He calmed the stormy seas He can also calm my storm-battered heart, then I can find hope and strength in Him.
Walk among nature and experience the mighty presence of God. Read His word and allow Him to comfort your hurting heart. Look to the heavens and be filled with awe as you know He is always with you. Cling to the promise of the rainbow – our visible promise of hope! Grief is real, but hope is eternally alive! –Clara Hinton
“Without hurry or fear I will dwell in the house of my grief and wait for the promise of my hope to return!” --Clara Hinton
“…in quietness and trust is your strength.” – Isaiah 30:15
Monday, February 21, 2011
Hope Arrives When We Least Expect It!
**********Silent Grief Retreat 2011***********
Have you registered for the Silent Grief Retreat being held in Warm Springs, GA this March 18 – 20, 2011? Please visit http://www.clarahinton.com to register. I can’t wait to see you there! --Clara Hinton
*********Silent Grief Retreat 2011**************
It happens so gradually that most often we don’t realize it is taking place. We wake up one morning with the sun shining brightly and we smile and welcome the day. We go through twenty four hours without crying. We join in on a conversation and there is laughter minus any guilt. And we realize that we have finally reached our new destination.
The journey wasn’t easy. In fact, we experienced every storm and hardship imaginable. We had many setbacks along the way. But, finally we have found that new place that we can call home. It is different from what we knew as our happiness before, but there is a joy here, too, and we know that we can peacefully settle in and call this new land our home.
Yes, without really know it, we have settled into our new place. There will be setbacks and reminders of our loss, but the pain will no longer take precedence over all that we think and do. Instead, we will have gentle and fond remembrances, and we will shift most of our thoughts to loving gratitude for today. And, most importantly, we will know that the dark side of our grief is no longer our landscape. Instead, we can live in the quiet, serene beauty of hope and peace. –Clara Hinton
“I will walk through this pain of grief one day at a time until I reach my new home of peace and hope.” --Clara Hinton
“I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry…….And, He put a new song in my mouth.” -- Psalm 40: 1 and 3
Have you registered for the Silent Grief Retreat being held in Warm Springs, GA this March 18 – 20, 2011? Please visit http://www.clarahinton.com to register. I can’t wait to see you there! --Clara Hinton
*********Silent Grief Retreat 2011**************
It happens so gradually that most often we don’t realize it is taking place. We wake up one morning with the sun shining brightly and we smile and welcome the day. We go through twenty four hours without crying. We join in on a conversation and there is laughter minus any guilt. And we realize that we have finally reached our new destination.
The journey wasn’t easy. In fact, we experienced every storm and hardship imaginable. We had many setbacks along the way. But, finally we have found that new place that we can call home. It is different from what we knew as our happiness before, but there is a joy here, too, and we know that we can peacefully settle in and call this new land our home.
Yes, without really know it, we have settled into our new place. There will be setbacks and reminders of our loss, but the pain will no longer take precedence over all that we think and do. Instead, we will have gentle and fond remembrances, and we will shift most of our thoughts to loving gratitude for today. And, most importantly, we will know that the dark side of our grief is no longer our landscape. Instead, we can live in the quiet, serene beauty of hope and peace. –Clara Hinton
“I will walk through this pain of grief one day at a time until I reach my new home of peace and hope.” --Clara Hinton
“I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry…….And, He put a new song in my mouth.” -- Psalm 40: 1 and 3
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Rest in Him for Your Strength!
For details about the March 18 - 20, 2011 Retreat, please visit http://www.clarahinton.com. Register today and give yourself the gift of hope! I look forwardto seeing you in Warm Springs, Georgia! -Clara Hinton
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There are times when we grow so weak from the sorrow and pain of this life that we think we can't go on. We die just a little bit more when others tell us to "buckle up and be strong." How can we be strong when we are so weak we cannot even open our eyes or lift our weary heads from bearing so much pain?
How greatly we are tempted to become depressed and to feel lost in this big world of ours during our moments of heartache and aloneness. This is when we most need to remember the kindness and gentle caring of our Father. He gently and tenderly reminds us to simply trust Him and "be still." Being still during our weakest moments is necessary so that we can be revived. Rest. Be still! Lean completely into the arms of our Father who intimately knows our pain, and allow Him to dry our tears.
By trusting and resting in His strength, we will gain new strength and hope. If today finds you feeling totally lost and depleted, if you are wondering how much longer you can go on, you are in need of complete rest in Him. That's all God really asks of us. Don't try to be strong; just be still and allow His deep love, His tender caring, and His strength to transfuse you with hope and new strength once again! -- Clara Hinton
"God reserves His best medicine for our times of deepest pain." --Clara Hinton
"Be still and know I am God." --Psalm 46:10
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There are times when we grow so weak from the sorrow and pain of this life that we think we can't go on. We die just a little bit more when others tell us to "buckle up and be strong." How can we be strong when we are so weak we cannot even open our eyes or lift our weary heads from bearing so much pain?
How greatly we are tempted to become depressed and to feel lost in this big world of ours during our moments of heartache and aloneness. This is when we most need to remember the kindness and gentle caring of our Father. He gently and tenderly reminds us to simply trust Him and "be still." Being still during our weakest moments is necessary so that we can be revived. Rest. Be still! Lean completely into the arms of our Father who intimately knows our pain, and allow Him to dry our tears.
By trusting and resting in His strength, we will gain new strength and hope. If today finds you feeling totally lost and depleted, if you are wondering how much longer you can go on, you are in need of complete rest in Him. That's all God really asks of us. Don't try to be strong; just be still and allow His deep love, His tender caring, and His strength to transfuse you with hope and new strength once again! -- Clara Hinton
"God reserves His best medicine for our times of deepest pain." --Clara Hinton
"Be still and know I am God." --Psalm 46:10
Monday, February 7, 2011
Finding the New Normal
“When does this pain of loss end? Is there no relief?” This is often the cry of a parent who has lost a child. The grief seems too big and too hard at times. And, there seems to be no end in sight for the pain and isolation. And, yet we know that somehow, some way life must continue on.
We keep trying; keep reminding ourselves that we must take life one day at a time. In fact, sometimes we take life one hour at a time, giving ourselves the time we need to adjust to our new world, our new way, this life that now is labeled “the new normal.”
And, so we train our minds daily to look for the good, to listen for the song, and to watch for the sunshine and blue skies. We force ourselves to move forward into this world knowing that it will never be the same again, but also understanding that we must choose to move forward into this
new land beyond our grief journey. And, so we do!
Hope is amazing as it teaches us that the very same sun is still shining and waiting to warm us. Nature is still painting the world with beauty beyond words. Our Father is still giving us comfort and help in order to help fill the void. And, so we slowly move forward knowing that one day the curtain of grief will be pulled back and we will be able to see life with new eyes and a heart filled with hope! --Clara Hinton
“There is no way out, but there is a way that goes forward.” --C. Hinton
“Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” --Isaiah 40:31
We keep trying; keep reminding ourselves that we must take life one day at a time. In fact, sometimes we take life one hour at a time, giving ourselves the time we need to adjust to our new world, our new way, this life that now is labeled “the new normal.”
And, so we train our minds daily to look for the good, to listen for the song, and to watch for the sunshine and blue skies. We force ourselves to move forward into this world knowing that it will never be the same again, but also understanding that we must choose to move forward into this
new land beyond our grief journey. And, so we do!
Hope is amazing as it teaches us that the very same sun is still shining and waiting to warm us. Nature is still painting the world with beauty beyond words. Our Father is still giving us comfort and help in order to help fill the void. And, so we slowly move forward knowing that one day the curtain of grief will be pulled back and we will be able to see life with new eyes and a heart filled with hope! --Clara Hinton
“There is no way out, but there is a way that goes forward.” --C. Hinton
“Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” --Isaiah 40:31
Monday, January 31, 2011
Which Blue are You?
Blue is such an interesting color! It can take on the meaning of so many different things, feelings, moods, and traditions. There is sky blue, ocean blue, true blue, blue ribbon, blue moon, feeling blue, singing the blues, and having the blues. You get the picture. Sometimes blue is associated with springtime, and nature, and wonderment. Often blue is used synonymously with peaceful and tranquil, and serene.
Blue can also take on the meaning of feeling sadness and sorrow. Blue can mean bemoaning our circumstances in life. And, having the blues can even be related to feelings of depression. What numerous contrasts of meanings found just in the simple word, “blue.”
When we are going through a loss, we will often use “blue” to describe the state of our emotions. We are feeling sad, lonely, isolated, and depressed. We don’t see the world as a place of peace and quietness, but rather our world is mixed up and out of sync. Nothing feels right or in place. We feel displaced and upset. We are sad blue. And, oh how we long for the time when we will see life as “sky blue” once again! With a heavy heart we wonder if that time will ever arrive!
If you are in a place of sad blue right now, hold on! Remember that blue is an ever-changing color! Your time of springtime and newness will arrive again! Today your world might look blue etched in the darkness of black. Your world may feel as though it is crashing apart. But, hope is alive, and will return to bring you back to a place of blue calmness just as sure as the sun rises and sets each day.
How do you know when your sad blue will take a turn for the hopeful blue? You will know when your eyes see the shades of blue differently. What looked dark and frightening will appear warm and inviting. What looked lonely and angry will look complete and filled with peace. You will once again see the sky as an expanse of blue with billowy white clouds, rather than seeing the sky dark blue filled with angry storm clouds.
Hope will color your blue with springtime! Hope will bring new life to your blue! Hope will ignite your heart and allow you to love life once again! Hold on! Keep looking upward and believe that your day of “new blue” will arrive! And, most assuredly it will! --Clara Hinton
“Who can resist the feelings of hope when staring at the expanse of the beautiful blue sky?” --C. Hinton
“Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, who is the help of my sad countenance, O my God.” --Psalm 43:5
Blue can also take on the meaning of feeling sadness and sorrow. Blue can mean bemoaning our circumstances in life. And, having the blues can even be related to feelings of depression. What numerous contrasts of meanings found just in the simple word, “blue.”
When we are going through a loss, we will often use “blue” to describe the state of our emotions. We are feeling sad, lonely, isolated, and depressed. We don’t see the world as a place of peace and quietness, but rather our world is mixed up and out of sync. Nothing feels right or in place. We feel displaced and upset. We are sad blue. And, oh how we long for the time when we will see life as “sky blue” once again! With a heavy heart we wonder if that time will ever arrive!
If you are in a place of sad blue right now, hold on! Remember that blue is an ever-changing color! Your time of springtime and newness will arrive again! Today your world might look blue etched in the darkness of black. Your world may feel as though it is crashing apart. But, hope is alive, and will return to bring you back to a place of blue calmness just as sure as the sun rises and sets each day.
How do you know when your sad blue will take a turn for the hopeful blue? You will know when your eyes see the shades of blue differently. What looked dark and frightening will appear warm and inviting. What looked lonely and angry will look complete and filled with peace. You will once again see the sky as an expanse of blue with billowy white clouds, rather than seeing the sky dark blue filled with angry storm clouds.
Hope will color your blue with springtime! Hope will bring new life to your blue! Hope will ignite your heart and allow you to love life once again! Hold on! Keep looking upward and believe that your day of “new blue” will arrive! And, most assuredly it will! --Clara Hinton
“Who can resist the feelings of hope when staring at the expanse of the beautiful blue sky?” --C. Hinton
“Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, who is the help of my sad countenance, O my God.” --Psalm 43:5
Friday, January 14, 2011
Thirty Days to Finding Your Heart
A new year has begun, and yet we find ourselves feeling the same pangs of emptiness and loss as we did the year before. And, so we ask, “How does one begin anew when the heart has been taken out of life?” That is the question every parent asks when a child dies. “How? How does one begin anew?”
When our heart has been broken, we don’t have answers – at least not answers that make any sense. And, so in our desperation and brokenness, we turn to God for our help. We look to the only One who can give us the hope and the reason to go on.
Practice this exercise faithfully for the next 30 days and you will begin to notice small, subtle changes that will eventually give you back your heart. Say “thank you” aloud for five blessings each day. Take ten minutes to experience nature – listen to the birds singing their morning praises, experience the miracle of the rising sun, gaze at the twinkling stars in the moonlit sky. Memorize five verses from the Psalms – healing verses that tell of God’s mighty power and His infinite love for you.
At the end of 30 days, you will desire to continue this practice for another 30 days, and another, and another all throughout the year as this is your way of feeding your soul and bringing life back into your once empty heart! -- Clara Hinton
“Life has a way of bringing you back to places you thought were forever forgotten.” --Clara Hinton
“Cease striving and know that I am God.” -- Psalm 46:10a
When our heart has been broken, we don’t have answers – at least not answers that make any sense. And, so in our desperation and brokenness, we turn to God for our help. We look to the only One who can give us the hope and the reason to go on.
Practice this exercise faithfully for the next 30 days and you will begin to notice small, subtle changes that will eventually give you back your heart. Say “thank you” aloud for five blessings each day. Take ten minutes to experience nature – listen to the birds singing their morning praises, experience the miracle of the rising sun, gaze at the twinkling stars in the moonlit sky. Memorize five verses from the Psalms – healing verses that tell of God’s mighty power and His infinite love for you.
At the end of 30 days, you will desire to continue this practice for another 30 days, and another, and another all throughout the year as this is your way of feeding your soul and bringing life back into your once empty heart! -- Clara Hinton
“Life has a way of bringing you back to places you thought were forever forgotten.” --Clara Hinton
“Cease striving and know that I am God.” -- Psalm 46:10a
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Hope is Alive!
The pain of loss is something that cannot be explained by words alone. How does one explain a pain that runs so deep that it makes the heart bleed? How does one tell others what it feels like to have a cloud always hovering above with reminders of the life that no longer exists as we once knew it? How can we possibly share the personal pain we feel to the extent that others understand? It cannot be done. Grief is too personal.
How then do we move forward? How do we find our place in our new world – the world that has been created by our loss? How can we find a way to bring joy back into our hearts that hurt so much each day? Is it even possible to reclaim joy?
This world is full of pain and grief. That is a fact. But, it is also brimming over with joy and blessings. When we are in the pits of grief, we feel alone and abandoned by all blessings. But, as we allow hope to ignite within us, it acts as a magnet drawing the blessings of life closer and closer to us until finally we reach that point where we can see joy again. No longer does grief rule our lives. It is there. We will always feel that sting of loss, but no longer will it govern our every thought and action.
Hope is alive, and it is bigger than any pain we are feeling right now! Cling to hope and it will ignite a fire within your heart so that you can find your way out of the darkness into light! –Clara Hinton
“Be still and allow the hope within to warm your heart with joy.” --Clara Hinton
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer.” -- Psalm 18:2:a
How then do we move forward? How do we find our place in our new world – the world that has been created by our loss? How can we find a way to bring joy back into our hearts that hurt so much each day? Is it even possible to reclaim joy?
This world is full of pain and grief. That is a fact. But, it is also brimming over with joy and blessings. When we are in the pits of grief, we feel alone and abandoned by all blessings. But, as we allow hope to ignite within us, it acts as a magnet drawing the blessings of life closer and closer to us until finally we reach that point where we can see joy again. No longer does grief rule our lives. It is there. We will always feel that sting of loss, but no longer will it govern our every thought and action.
Hope is alive, and it is bigger than any pain we are feeling right now! Cling to hope and it will ignite a fire within your heart so that you can find your way out of the darkness into light! –Clara Hinton
“Be still and allow the hope within to warm your heart with joy.” --Clara Hinton
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer.” -- Psalm 18:2:a
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Healing and Hope Come One Day at a Time
Grief is a journey, and every person experiencing grief knows that. What we don’t always know, and cannot fully grasp, is the phrase, “one day at a time.” Wow! That’s so hard! How do you only look at this day – today – when so much of yesterday and so much of tomorrow has been taken away?
Living in the “today” is often the griever’s biggest heartache. Learning to grab hold of today and enjoy something about it without sorrowing about the future – the things that will never become part of our today – is often the most draining part of loss. Yet, we know that it’s a necessary part of our healing. Living just for today is hard work, but we must learn how to do it if we choose to live this life with renewed joy.
At first, one thinks only of making it through the lonely days and nights. Then, our walk becomes a bit more “normal” as we call it in the world of grieving. We come to understand that our normal is a new normal. Things will never totally be the same again. Then, our final step in this journey of grief is the total understanding of what has happened, and learning to live just for today and grasp the joy and renewed hope of today.
This change doesn’t come right away. It may take many long months, which reach into years. But, you will know with full certainty when you are living in the joy of this day.
When you can hear the birds singing their morning song and your heart whistles along, you are beginning to heal. When you can see the sunrise and smile with assurance knowing this is going to be a good day, you have begun to heal. When you hear laughter from others and you give yourself permission to join in, you will absolutely know that you are beginning to learn to live in the joy of this day!
Joy will return. It will be different than before your loss, but your new hope and joy will be deeper, more meaningful, and you will live in the presence of the gift of this day! -- Clara Hinton
“I will not try to bypass the pain of grieving. I will take it one day at a time until hope and joy return!” -- Clara Hinton
“Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.” --Psalm 37:7
Living in the “today” is often the griever’s biggest heartache. Learning to grab hold of today and enjoy something about it without sorrowing about the future – the things that will never become part of our today – is often the most draining part of loss. Yet, we know that it’s a necessary part of our healing. Living just for today is hard work, but we must learn how to do it if we choose to live this life with renewed joy.
At first, one thinks only of making it through the lonely days and nights. Then, our walk becomes a bit more “normal” as we call it in the world of grieving. We come to understand that our normal is a new normal. Things will never totally be the same again. Then, our final step in this journey of grief is the total understanding of what has happened, and learning to live just for today and grasp the joy and renewed hope of today.
This change doesn’t come right away. It may take many long months, which reach into years. But, you will know with full certainty when you are living in the joy of this day.
When you can hear the birds singing their morning song and your heart whistles along, you are beginning to heal. When you can see the sunrise and smile with assurance knowing this is going to be a good day, you have begun to heal. When you hear laughter from others and you give yourself permission to join in, you will absolutely know that you are beginning to learn to live in the joy of this day!
Joy will return. It will be different than before your loss, but your new hope and joy will be deeper, more meaningful, and you will live in the presence of the gift of this day! -- Clara Hinton
“I will not try to bypass the pain of grieving. I will take it one day at a time until hope and joy return!” -- Clara Hinton
“Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.” --Psalm 37:7
Monday, October 4, 2010
The Newness of Grief
Facing change under the best of circumstances is difficult and a bit frightening, to say the least. What will it be like? How can I be prepared? When wills this awful feeling leave? How long will it take me to get to a place of feeling normal again? Change brings about many new things for us, and the loss of a child is perhaps the worst change one can ever go through! We no longer can find the ground beneath us, much less travel the road of grief we have now been placed upon!
Mercifully, the sharp edges of pain that accompany grief will not always be there. With each passing day, we are making progress in finding our way through all of the new grief – even if it doesn’t feel like it. Time stops being our enemy and actually begins to help give us what we need to help navigate through this dark, winding path called grief.
If you are in the newness of grief right now, life is not at all routine for you. Everything is different from the rising of the sun to the close of the day. Hold on! Millions have walked this path you are now on, and they, too, struggled. They searched. They fell down. They suffered battle fatigue. They asked hard questions. They cried millions of tears, but they made it. And, you will make it, too!
Hope is stronger than the grief you are experiencing today. Hope will eventually help you begin to feel alive again. Hope will emerge strong. Hope will light your path. Hope will brighten your journey. Hope will calm your fears. Hope will give you purpose again. Hope will carry you through! -- Clara Hinton
“Hope is stronger than any grief, and when my aching soul surrenders to hope, I will begin to see light once again!” –C. Hinton
“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” --Psalm 23:1
Mercifully, the sharp edges of pain that accompany grief will not always be there. With each passing day, we are making progress in finding our way through all of the new grief – even if it doesn’t feel like it. Time stops being our enemy and actually begins to help give us what we need to help navigate through this dark, winding path called grief.
If you are in the newness of grief right now, life is not at all routine for you. Everything is different from the rising of the sun to the close of the day. Hold on! Millions have walked this path you are now on, and they, too, struggled. They searched. They fell down. They suffered battle fatigue. They asked hard questions. They cried millions of tears, but they made it. And, you will make it, too!
Hope is stronger than the grief you are experiencing today. Hope will eventually help you begin to feel alive again. Hope will emerge strong. Hope will light your path. Hope will brighten your journey. Hope will calm your fears. Hope will give you purpose again. Hope will carry you through! -- Clara Hinton
“Hope is stronger than any grief, and when my aching soul surrenders to hope, I will begin to see light once again!” –C. Hinton
“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” --Psalm 23:1
Monday, September 20, 2010
Autumn's Grief
Grieving has its seasons, and autumn seems to be a particularly difficult season for those who have gone through loss. Maybe it’s the visual of seeing the flowers stop blooming and the leaves falling off of the trees. Perhaps it’s feeling the warm summer sunshine fading and suddenly feeling the lingering chill in the air. For most of us who have experienced loss, autumn is a time of reflection and bracing ourselves for the days of winter that lie ahead.
What if – what if we viewed autumn a bit differently this year? What if we reminded ourselves of how beautiful spring will be when it arrives again? What if we took the time to plant flower bulbs in the fall so that we can look for our spring following the dark days of winter? What if we promise ourselves to keep focused on the beauty of spring and summer rather than facing autumn with fear and dread?
Many years ago, following the loss of a baby boy, I went through a terrible autumn of grief. Winter was even worse, and I was not certain that springtime in my life would ever again return. I’m not sure what moved me to plant daffodil bulbs that fall, but I did. As I planted them, they were watered with my tears. The more I dug into the chilled, barren earth, the more my tears fell. Yet, I continued to dig and plant. Dig and plant. Dig and plant.
Autumn passed, the ground lay frozen and covered in snow for months in the mountains of Pennsylvania. And, my sorrow remained heavy. Little did I know how much spring would awaken my soul that year! Little did I know how much my grief would be lifted when I saw the first signs of those daffodils breaking through the ground that was now beginning to thaw! Little did I know how much of my grief would be lifted as I saw those first springtime blooms of daffodils! Hope returned! MY hope returned!
Are you facing autumn with dread and fear? Why not buy a bag of flower bulbs and plant them now? And, then wait……patiently and knowingly wait for your spring to return! And, when it does, I can assure you that it will be more beautiful than ever! –C. Hinton
“Grief endures for a season, and spring always returns!” --C. Hinton
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matt. 5:5
Love,
Clara Hinton
Mom of 11 living children
Mom of 1 stillborn son
Mom of 6 angel babies
Author of Silent Grief
What if – what if we viewed autumn a bit differently this year? What if we reminded ourselves of how beautiful spring will be when it arrives again? What if we took the time to plant flower bulbs in the fall so that we can look for our spring following the dark days of winter? What if we promise ourselves to keep focused on the beauty of spring and summer rather than facing autumn with fear and dread?
Many years ago, following the loss of a baby boy, I went through a terrible autumn of grief. Winter was even worse, and I was not certain that springtime in my life would ever again return. I’m not sure what moved me to plant daffodil bulbs that fall, but I did. As I planted them, they were watered with my tears. The more I dug into the chilled, barren earth, the more my tears fell. Yet, I continued to dig and plant. Dig and plant. Dig and plant.
Autumn passed, the ground lay frozen and covered in snow for months in the mountains of Pennsylvania. And, my sorrow remained heavy. Little did I know how much spring would awaken my soul that year! Little did I know how much my grief would be lifted when I saw the first signs of those daffodils breaking through the ground that was now beginning to thaw! Little did I know how much of my grief would be lifted as I saw those first springtime blooms of daffodils! Hope returned! MY hope returned!
Are you facing autumn with dread and fear? Why not buy a bag of flower bulbs and plant them now? And, then wait……patiently and knowingly wait for your spring to return! And, when it does, I can assure you that it will be more beautiful than ever! –C. Hinton
“Grief endures for a season, and spring always returns!” --C. Hinton
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matt. 5:5
Love,
Clara Hinton
Mom of 11 living children
Mom of 1 stillborn son
Mom of 6 angel babies
Author of Silent Grief
Monday, September 13, 2010
How Will I Get Through the Next Day?
How will I do it? How will I get through the next day when I can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel? Who really understands? Does anyone want to sit down beside me and help me through this mess in my life? I feel so alone, so broken, and so helpless!
Every person who has experienced loss has felt those same feelings of helplessness and abandonment. Life feels shattered and it seems to us that we will never be
put back together again. Our burdens seem far too big for us, and so many times we give up searching for hope.
Hold on! Take a moment to stop and breathe slowly. Close your eyes and reflect on the moment. Listen to your own heart beating and know that as long as you have life inside of you, you have HOPE!
We each have had deep moments of pain and darkness, and during those times it is hard, if not impossible, to imagine ever seeing the light of day again. But, God designed us in His image, and He has not left us alone. Our Creator has sent us the sun, the moon, and the stars to shed light even during our darkest hours.
Take a walk outside for a moment every day just to listen to the sounds of nature. Do you hear the gentle breeze blowing through the trees? Can you hear the songbird singing a song of thanks and praise in the distance? Look to the heavens and follow the clouds. Stare at them until you can see beyond the misty blue to find the breaking of a new dawn. These are gifts of hope for us! These are our daily reminders that each day brings new hope and new strength! We have not been left alone in our pain! Rather, our heavenly Father has wrapped us in His arms of love and will never let go! --Clara Hinton
“Every sunrise is a personal reminder of new hope!” -- C. Hinton
“Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.” -- Matthew 5:4 (From the Sermon on the Mount)
Every person who has experienced loss has felt those same feelings of helplessness and abandonment. Life feels shattered and it seems to us that we will never be
put back together again. Our burdens seem far too big for us, and so many times we give up searching for hope.
Hold on! Take a moment to stop and breathe slowly. Close your eyes and reflect on the moment. Listen to your own heart beating and know that as long as you have life inside of you, you have HOPE!
We each have had deep moments of pain and darkness, and during those times it is hard, if not impossible, to imagine ever seeing the light of day again. But, God designed us in His image, and He has not left us alone. Our Creator has sent us the sun, the moon, and the stars to shed light even during our darkest hours.
Take a walk outside for a moment every day just to listen to the sounds of nature. Do you hear the gentle breeze blowing through the trees? Can you hear the songbird singing a song of thanks and praise in the distance? Look to the heavens and follow the clouds. Stare at them until you can see beyond the misty blue to find the breaking of a new dawn. These are gifts of hope for us! These are our daily reminders that each day brings new hope and new strength! We have not been left alone in our pain! Rather, our heavenly Father has wrapped us in His arms of love and will never let go! --Clara Hinton
“Every sunrise is a personal reminder of new hope!” -- C. Hinton
“Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.” -- Matthew 5:4 (From the Sermon on the Mount)
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