Monday, March 21, 2011

The Journey to Finding Hope

The Journey to Finding Hope

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

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

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

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