In this deeply personal and reflective memoir, the author takes readers on a transformative journey through the tumultuous experience of caring for her husband, Michael, as he battles cancer. Set against the backdrop of their shared life and the profound love they cultivated, the narrative explores themes of faith, resilience, and the discovery of grace in the midst of suffering.

The book begins with the author's poignant recounting of the initial shock and the subsequent trials that come with a cancer diagnosis. A significant portion of the memoir is dedicated to the author's internal journey. Through moments of solitude, prayer, and introspection, she grapples with her faith and the existential questions that arise from witnessing her husband's decline. The narrative is rich with metaphors and vivid imagery, illustrating her spiritual awakening and the profound sense of God's presence in their lives. Her narrative is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of faith to bring healing and hope even in the darkest times.

Ultimately, the book is a celebration of life, love, and the enduring presence of God. It offers readers a heartfelt message of finding beauty and meaning in suffering, the transformative power of faith, and the ever-present invitation to draw closer to the divine.

Doris Stickney and her minister husband were looking for a meaningful way to explain to neighborhood children the death of a five-year-old friend -- an explanation that would satisfy not only the children but adult minds as well. While they were preparing for the child's memorial service, the fable of the water bug that changed into a dragonfly came to mind.

Water Bugs and Dragonflies tells the story of a small colony of water bugs living happily below the surface of a quiet pond. Every so often one of them climbs up a lily stalk and disappears from sight, never to return. Those left behind are faced with the mystery of figuring out what has become of them.

Revealing the miracle that makes shiny dragonflies out of ugly bugs, this graceful story reminds us that God has given us the means of transforming our metaphorical selves into dragonflies capable of winging off contentedly into a new world. Recognizing that the old answers will not satisfy today's children, Stickney presents instead a simple, wise tale that illuminates a difficult reality without pretending to contain all the answers.

This bona fide bestseller -- more than 150,000 copies have been printed -- is presented here in a deluxe gift edition, including newly rendered full-color illustrations. Set in large type so that young readers can enjoy it themselves, Water Bugs also includes accompanying information that offers the author's own insights for explaining how adults can effectively assist children in coping with death.

When Harold Kushner's three-year-old son was diagnosed with a degenerative disease that meant the boy would only live until his early teens, he was faced with one of life's most difficult questions: Why, God? Years later, Rabbi Kushner wrote this straightforward, elegant contemplation of the doubts and fears that arise when tragedy strikes. In these pages, Kushner shares his wisdom as a rabbi, a parent, a reader, and a human being. Often imitated but never superseded, When Bad Things Happen to Good People is a classic that offers clear thinking and consolation in times of sorrow.

A truly healing book. - Glen Lord, President, The Compassionate Friends

Unthinkable. Unbelievable. Heartbreaking. Whatever words we choose, they all fall far short of the reality. The loss of a child is a terrible thing.

Accidents. Disease. Suicide. School shootings. Murder. Natural disasters. War. No matter how or when, the death of a child (no matter what age) can shatter the heart.

How do you survive this? Can you?

Shattered: Surviving the Loss of a Child was written to help.

Bestselling author, hospice chaplain, and grief specialist Gary Roe uses his three decades of experience interacting with grieving parents to give us this heartfelt, easy-to-read, and intensely practical book. In Shattered, Roe walks the reader through the powerful impact a child's death can have - emotionally, mentally, physically, relationally, and spiritually.

Shattered unpacks the depth of this loss, describing how...

• Intense, unpredictable emotions (sadness, anger, guilt, anxiety, fear, depression) can hijack us at a moment's notice.
• Our minds spin. We can't concentrate. We forget things. It feels like we're going crazy.
• Our bodies get hit. Symptoms surface. Our health can be impacted. Illness can invade.
• Our souls feel crushed. Guilt shakes us. What we believe gets challenged.
• Our relationships change. Marriage, family, and friendships feel the impact.
• Our plans and dreams are shattered. The future has changed. We're in uncharted territory.

Yes, the loss of a child affects everything.

In Shattered, you will discover how you can...

• Deal with the volatile, unpredictable emotions assaulting you.
• Manage the massive changes that are occurring in your life and routine.
• Move through feeling overwhelmed and begin to heal.
• Take care of yourself and your health amid all the challenges.
• Honor your child with how you grieve.
• Love those around you, even with a broken heart.
• Navigate spiritual uncertainties and faith questions.
• Turn couple, family, and relational upheaval into personal growth.
• Support your other children in their grief and parent well through this.
• Find the people and resources you need to begin to recover.
• Decipher whether counseling or grief coaching would be beneficial for you.
• Live life as well as possible while in the midst of great pain.
• Make your child's life count in deep and powerful ways.

Shattered is not a magic pill. The death of a child cannot be fixed. But comfort, compassion, guidance, and hope can be found in these pages.

If you are a grieving parent or grandparent, this book was written for you.

We will never be the same, but we can survive. And to some degree, we can heal. Shattered can help.

Open this book, and let the healing continue.

Shattered was a 2017 Best Book Awards Finalist.

Puts into words exactly what my heart felt after the loss of my spouse. - Page Bratcher, Grief and Divorce Recovery Coach

This loss changes everything.

The loss of a life partner can be traumatic. Oblivious to our suffering, the world around us speeds on as if nothing happened. Stunned, shocked, sad, confused, and angry, we blink in disbelief. Our hearts are broken. Our souls shake.

We look for comfort. Our broken, grieving hearts need it to survive.

Multiple award-winning author, hospice chaplain, and grief counselor Gary Roe is a trusted voice who has been helping wounded, grieving hearts find hope and healing for more than three decades. Written with heartfelt compassion, this warm, easy-to-read, and practical book reads like a caring conversation with a friend and will become a comforting companion as you navigate the turbulent waters of grief.

Gary's desire is to meet you in your grief and walk with you there. Composed of brief chapters, Comfort for the Grieving Spouse's Heart is designed to be read one chapter per day, giving you bite-sized bits of comfort, encouragement, and healing over a period of time. You do not have to read it this way, of course. We all grieve differently. Read in the way that is most natural for you.

In Comfort for the Grieving Spouse's Heart, you will discover how to...

• Process complicated grief emotions (sadness, anger, guilt, confusion, guilt, anxiety, depression, feeling overwhelmed, etc).
• Navigate all the relational changes - feeling alone, misunderstood, isolated, and even rejected by those around you.
• Handle the increased stress and uncertainty that this heavy loss can bring.
• Deal with physical and mental health issues, illnesses, and new symptoms that often arise.
• Take care of yourself through diet, hydration, fitness, and rest.
• Deal with a myriad of practical issues (financial challenges, parenting, family activities),
• Handle the intense, deep loneliness that often comes with this loss.

You will also find hope in how to...

• Think through the challenging spiritual and faith questions that frequently surface.
• Relate well to the people around you - those who are helpful and those who aren't.
• Overcome the tendency to run from emotional pain with unhealthy habits or compulsive behaviors.
• Deal well with triggers and the grief bursts that will come.
• Find the support you need for survival, recovery, and healing (safe people, fellow grievers, counseling, etc.).
• Develop a simple, realistic plan for birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays.
• Use your grief for good - for yourself, your family, and others.
• Allow this loss to give you greater perspective and motivate you to live more effectively than ever before.
• Make your life count, one day, one moment at a time.

Please don't grieve alone. Let Comfort for the Grieving Spouse's Heart join you on this arduous, tasking journey. Be kind to yourself. Take your heart seriously.

Death has invaded, but it doesn't have to win. Read on. Comfort awaits you in these pages of this book.

The cofounder of the Zen Hospice Project and pioneer behind the compassionate care movement shares an inspiring exploration of the lessons dying has to offer about living a fulfilling life.

Death is not waiting for us at the end of a long road. Death is always with us, in the marrow of every passing moment. She is the secret teacher hiding in plain sight, helping us to discover what matters most.

Life and death are a package deal. They cannot be pulled apart and we cannot truly live unless we are aware of death. The Five Invitations is an exhilarating meditation on the meaning of life and how maintaining an ever-present consciousness of death can bring us closer to our truest selves. As a renowned teacher of compassionate caregiving and the cofounder of the Zen Hospice Project, Frank Ostaseski has sat on the precipice of death with more than a thousand people. In The Five Invitations, he distills the lessons gleaned over the course of his career, offering an evocative and stirring guide that points to a radical path to transformation.

The Five Invitations:
-Don't Wait
-Welcome Everything, Push Away Nothing
-Bring Your Whole Self to the Experience
-Find a Place of Rest in the Middle of Things
-Cultivate Don't Know Mind

These Five Invitations show us how to wake up fully to our lives. They can be understood as best practices for anyone coping with loss or navigating any sort of transition or crisis; they guide us toward appreciating life's preciousness. Awareness of death can be a valuable companion on the road to living well, forging a rich and meaningful life, and letting go of regret. The Five Invitations is a powerful and inspiring exploration of the essential wisdom dying has to impart to all of us.

Inspiring hope, solace, and courage in living through our losses, author Martín Prechtel, trained in the Tzutujil Maya shamanic tradition, shares profound insights on the relationship between grief and praise in our culture--how the inability that many of us have to grieve and weep properly for the dead is deeply linked with the inability to give praise for living. In modern society, grief is something that we usually experience in private, alone, and without the support of a community. Yet, as Prechtel says, Grief expressed out loud for someone we have lost, or a country or home we have lost, is in itself the greatest praise we could ever give them. Grief is praise, because it is the natural way love honors what it misses.

Prechtel explains that the unexpressed grief prevalent in our society today is the reason for many of the social, cultural, and individual maladies that we are currently experiencing. According to Prechtel, When you have two centuries of people who have not properly grieved the things that they have lost, the grief shows up as ghosts that inhabit their grandchildren. These ghosts, he says, can also manifest as disease in the form of tumors, which the Maya refer to as solidified tears, or in the form of behavioral issues and depression. He goes on to show how this collective, unexpressed energy is the long-held grief of our ancestors manifesting itself, and the work that can be done to liberate this energy so we can heal from the trauma of loss, war, and suffering.

At base, this little book, as the author calls it, can be seen as a companion of encouragement, a little extra light for those deep and noble parts in all of us.

Light Love and Peace: Visits from Heaven is a heartwarming collection of stories from two sisters who spent years caring for patients diagnosed with cancer and other serious illnesses. Through their work, they witnessed profound moments of light, love, and peace that transcended the physical world. This book shares the deeply personal, spiritual experiences of patients and their families as they navigated critical illnesses; many in their final stages of life. From visions of departed loved ones and incredible visits to heaven, to the unquestionable peace that all who had these experiences felt, each story offers comfort and hope to readers looking to be reassured that life goes on...even after it ends.

If you feel lousy about your piles of stuff and the burden that might be left behind, this book is for you! Read it, follow the steps, and feel confident your friends and family won't curse you when you're gone. This book is for everyone considering mortality and what to do about it. Easy to consider when the examples are real, the content is helpful, and there is a chuckle on every page.

One breath. One moment. One foot in front of the other. That's how Patty Gilbride describes her method for surviving the days after losing the love of her life.

In Something More Than Love, the author details the last six weeks of her life with her husband and the impending reality of life without him. Through a series of emotional journal entries, this raw and deeply personal narrative describes the heart-wrenching truths of being an advocate and caregiver for her steadfast partner of 22 years after he was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer. Despite the intense physical trauma that resulted, Dave retained his sense of hope, humor, charm, and dignity, even when it became evident that his aggressive cancer would never be cured.

Uniquely weaving in vivid memories of their life together, Patty captures the essence of their relationship, sharing the ups and downs of their marriage and the enduring strength of their bond. As she struggles with her long-held fear of death, Dave's imminent demise seems unimaginable. Yet even as he neared the end of his life, he continued to be the loving husband he always was, remaining a compassionate listener and a source of comfort that perfectly complemented Patty's self-sufficient yet anxious nature.

Agonizing over the pain of loss, Patty shares her grief-stricken days and the inability to foresee a life without her person. She questions what happens after death and ponders whether there is a God, an afterlife, or just finality when we die. Finding her way through questions without answers, she discovers that eternal love may be the most powerful force there is.

This memoir is a testament to the author's unwavering love for her husband, her immense gratitude for the time they shared, and the lasting impact of his presence on her life. It's also an unflinching account of the pain a caregiver endures during end-of-life and beyond.

Something More Than Love is a must-read for anyone struggling with losing the love of their life and for those who need to be reminded of the kind of love that exists in the world. While grief may seem endless, hope may be the path to healing.

Supportive readings and exercises to help you move through life after loss, one day at a time

Grief is complex; it may present itself differently on any given day. This grief recovery handbook offers daily reflections and practices that address the day-to-day emotions and experiences that accompany the grieving process so you can create a life in which peace--and even gratitude--can coexist with your grief.

Explore the stages of grief with a collection of quotes, musings, meditations, and more that are tied together by a weekly theme, allowing you to reflect on each concept in depth. Work through topics like loneliness, grief attacks, exhaustion, hope, love, and creating meaning. You'll find opportunities to write, draw, meditate, do breathing exercises, and more as you learn to live fully with your grief.

This grief recovery handbook helps facilitate healing with:

• 365 Daily reflections--Find a year's worth of readings that can be revisited as many times as you like as you move through the grieving process.
• Weekly themes--Explore feelings and experiences common to grief, including things left unsaid, unhealthy coping mechanisms, guilt, intimacy, and faith.
• 52 Healing exercises--Discover activities that help you process your feelings at the end of each week and develop skills for coping with grief as it arises.

Make peace with your grief one day at a time with the daily readings and exercises in this standout among grief books.

For a culture that finds it difficult to talk about the end of life, Before All Is Said and Done is the roadmap we all need to navigate the practicalities of death while experiencing shock, loss, and grief. - Lee Woodruff, NYT Bestselling Author

The notion of planning for one's death is intrinsically at odds with our human instinct to avoid considering our own mortality. Although we may contemplate the grief that our life's impermanence would cause to our loved ones, we seldom consider the myriad of emotional and legal issues that can arise afterward.

Before All Is Said and Done begins with the experience of author Pat Miles Zimmerman and her husband, Charles Bucky Zimmerman. Pat and Bucky were fully set for life but, regrettably, not set for death. After Bucky's death from an abrupt and short illness, Pat found herself with a plate full of unanticipated emotions, decisions, and legal problems.

But, as she spoke with other widows, she learned she was not alone in finding herself adrift after losing a spouse. The shock and grief that erupt from such a loss do not create a state of mind fit for navigating the numerous challenges that follow an unexpected death.

Pat Miles Zimmerman will prepare us for the oft-ignored problems that run in tandem with somber situations:

• The shock of loss and what to expect
• Facing a potential cognitive decline
• Finding support and healthy grieving
• Family disputes and blended family issues
• Caring for yourself after the loss

Although we may initially shirk away from the notion of our life's transience, it is powerfully beneficial to ready ourselves and our loved ones for every stage of life - and death. Before All Is Said and Done weaves the definitive path on how to be set for both.

An intimate and uplifting story of one family's journey from tragedy to triumph, inspiring readers to transform life's obstacles into opportunities for growth and change.

Nicole Avant gives a raw and courageous look into how she found the light in her darkest moment. She reminds us that grief is different for everyone, and we have the power to move through it in our own unique way. --Cleo Wade, New York Times bestselling author

A love song to a great woman told through the eyes of the great woman she created. --Tyler Perry

Nicole Avant--diplomat, philanthropist, filmmaker--shares her deeply personal journey of resilience and legacy. Raised in a vibrant home where artists, politicians, and business leaders gathered, Nicole's extraordinary upbringing shaped her into a force for positive change.

Her parents--entertainment mogul Clarence Avant and philanthropist Jacqueline Avant--turned their home into a place of refuge and inspiration for a generation of geniuses, from Ella Fitzgerald to Bill Withers to Quincy Jones. This foundation guided Nicole through a trailblazing career in music, diplomacy, and film. Then, an unthinkable tragedy struck: her mother was fatally shot in December 2021.

In this powerful memoir, Nicole transforms grief into a catalyst for profound personal growth and a renewed commitment to service. Think You'll Be Happy--her mother's final words--becomes a mantra for resilience, guiding readers toward hope, purpose, and positive change, even in life's darkest moments.

In its loving, fierce specificity, this book on how to die is also a blessedly saccharine-free guide for how to live (The New York Times).

Former NEA fellow and Pushcart Prize-winning writer Sallie Tisdale offers a lyrical, thought-provoking, yet practical perspective on death and dying in Advice for Future Corpses (and Those Who Love Them). Informed by her many years working as a nurse, with more than a decade in palliative care, Tisdale provides a frank, direct, and compassionate meditation on the inevitable.

From the sublime (the faint sound of Mozart as you take your last breath) to the ridiculous (lessons on how to close the sagging jaw of a corpse), Tisdale leads us through the peaks and troughs of death with a calm, wise, and humorous hand. Advice for Future Corpses is more than a how-to manual or a spiritual bible: it is a graceful compilation of honest and intimate anecdotes based on the deaths Tisdale has witnessed in her work and life, as well as stories from cultures, traditions, and literature around the world.

Tisdale explores all the heartbreaking, beautiful, terrifying, confusing, absurd, and even joyful experiences that accompany the work of dying, including:

A Good Death: What does it mean to die a good death? Can there be more than one kind of good death? What can I do to make my death, or the deaths of my loved ones, good?
Communication: What to say and not to say, what to ask, and when, from the dying, loved ones, doctors, and more.
Last Months, Weeks, Days, and Hours: What you might expect, physically and emotionally, including the limitations, freedoms, pain, and joy of this unique time.
Bodies: What happens to a body after death? What options are available to me after my death, and how do I choose--and make sure my wishes are followed?
Grief: Grief is the story that must be told over and over...Grief is the breath after the last one.

Beautifully written and compulsively readable, Advice for Future Corpses offers the resources and reassurance that we all need for planning the ends of our lives, and is essential reading for future corpses everywhere. Sallie Tisdale's elegantly understated new book pretends to be a user's guide when in fact it's a profound meditation (David Shields, bestselling author of Reality Hunger).

In this remarkably useful guide, widow, author, and therapist Genevieve Davis Ginsburg offers fellow widows -- as well as their family and friends -- sage advice for coping with the loss of a husband. From learning to travel and eat alone to creating new routines to surviving the holidays and anniversaries that reopen emotional wounds, Ginsburg give guidance on:

• Dealing with anger and guilt
• Maintaining family relationships
• Dating after widowhood
• Handling money
• Responding to others' support
• And more

Widow to Widow walks readers through the challenges of widowhood and encourages them on their path to building a new life.

The author's ability to connect with the those grieving the loss of a parent is so evident. Readers will see themselves on almost every page and find the comfort they need in Gary's compassionate empathy and counsel. - Paul Casale, Licensed Professional Counselor/Marriage and Family Therapist

The loss of a parent is painful.

The loss of a mother or father can be traumatic. Oblivious to our suffering, the world around us speeds on as if nothing happened. Stunned, shocked, sad, confused, and angry, we blink in disbelief. Our hearts are broken.

We've known them all our lives. How could they be gone?

We look for comfort. Our broken, grieving hearts need it to survive.

Multiple award-winning author, hospice chaplain, and grief counselor Gary Roe is a trusted voice who has been helping wounded, grieving hearts find hope and healing for more than three decades. Written with heartfelt compassion, this warm, easy-to-read, and practical book reads like a caring conversation with a friend and will become a comforting companion as you navigate the turbulent waters of grief.

Gary's desire is to meet you in your grief and walk with you there. Composed of brief chapters, Comfort for the Grieving Adult Child's Heart is designed to be read one chapter per day, giving you bite-sized bits of comfort, encouragement, and healing over a period of time. You do not have to read it this way, of course. We all grieve differently. Read in the way that is most natural for you.

In Comfort for the Grieving Adult Child's Heart, you will discover how to...

• Process complicated grief emotions (sadness, anger, guilt, confusion, guilt, anxiety, depression, feeling overwhelmed, etc).

• Navigate all the relational changes - feeling alone, misunderstood, isolated, and even rejected by those around you.

• Handle the increased stress and uncertainty that this heavy loss can bring.

• Deal with physical and mental health issues, illnesses, and new symptoms that often arise.

• Take care of yourself through diet, hydration, fitness, and rest.

• Deal with a myriad of practical issues (financial challenges, parenting, family activities),

• Handle the intense sense of being orphaned that comes with this loss.

You will also find hope in how to...

• Think through the challenging spiritual and faith questions that frequently surface.

• Relate well to the people around you - those who are helpful and those who aren't.

• Overcome the tendency to run from emotional pain with unhealthy habits or compulsive behaviors.

• Deal well with triggers and the grief bursts that will come.

• Find the support you need for survival, recovery, and healing (safe people, fellow grievers, counseling, etc.).

• Develop a simple, realistic plan for birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays.

• Use your grief for good - for yourself, your family, and others.

• Allow this loss to give you greater perspective and motivate you to live more effectively than ever before.

• Make your life count, one day, one moment at a time.

Please don't grieve alone. Let Comfort for the Adult Child's Heart join you on this arduous, tasking journey. Be kind to yourself. Take your heart seriously.

Death has invaded, but it doesn't have to win. Read on. Comfort awaits you in these pages of this book.

Find Hope and Recreate a Good Life After Losing a Spouse

If you are going through the devastating loss of your spouse, read this book. It will truly help. - Catherine P.

Life Reconstructed is written by a widow, for widows and those who love them.

This book has given me new feelings of hope and courage to move forward in my life in a way that many sessions with a grief counselor could not. I am forever grateful to Teresa Beshwate for writing such a profound and meaningful book that made such a difference in my life. -Nancy L.

Are you a widow or widower struggling with grief and moving forward after losing a spouse? The problem isn't you. It's the grief that is changing the way your brain works (or doesn't).

This book is written by a widow, for widowed people trying to navigate the darkness of losing a husband or wife. Many say that grieving the loss of your spouse takes time, but in truth, time, in and of itself, does not heal. What does heal is:

• Understanding that moving forward is not the same as moving on.
• Realizing that there is no requirement to leave your spouse in the past.
• Knowing that you don't have to get over it but you can incorporate your loss.
• Learning how to carry your grief so that it isn't a burden.
• Finding your way forward in a way that honors your late spouse.

Life, Reconstructed is your guide to healing your life after loss. It applies the cutting-edge tools and techniques of life coaching to the uniquely difficult journey of the widowed. It's delivered with depth and compassion from someone who has experienced your struggle firsthand.

There is hope. There is a way to heal and hold on to your love. There is a next version of you -- a person you can become not in spite of your loss, but because of it.

Life, Reconstructed reveals the way, on your terms and on your timeline.

Who better to coach another widow than a widow herself? This book is a MUST-READ MUST-DO guide for building a new life...moving forward without your spouse. Masterfully written and superbly relevant. -Kathleen M Townsend, RN, C, widowed 1 year

Life, Reconstructed has shed a brilliant light on the path Teresa has so expertly navigated. -Roger Landry, MD MPH

After her brother was killed by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan, Annie Sklaver Orenstein was heartbroken and unmoored. Standing in the grief section of her local bookstore, she searched for guides on how to work through her grief as a mourning sibling--and found nothing. More than 4 million American adults each year will lose a sibling, yet there isn't a modern resource guide available that speaks directly to this type of grief that at times can be overshadowed by grieving parents and spouses and made even more difficult by the complexities of sibling dynamics.

In AlwaysaSibling, Annie uses her own story and those of others to create the empathic, thoughtful, practical resource that she sought. Divided into three sections: With, Without, and Within, it creates a framework that enables the reader to ground themselves in order to process and validate this often overlooked grief. Annie guides readers to capture the memories and emotions of life with their now deceased sibling, then moves to addressing the grieving process in detail as they navigate life without them. Ultimately, readers will find ways to experience their sibling's presence within themselves and acknowledge their legacy. With practical strategies rooted in proven grief processing techniques, trauma recovery, and psychoanalysis, Always A Sibling truly supports mourners through the unique experience of sibling loss.