When my grandma lost her husband of 53 years to cancer, she said, “nobody understands what I am going through”. We tried to encourage her to go to support groups but it was not something she was comfortable with. Oh, how she loved to read. How I wish I was able to give her a copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul Grieving and Recovery.
I said she loved to read, as she has recently passed away. How I admired my grandma for so many reasons. Her faith in God and her love for her family and others was unshakable. She was a foster parent when I was a kid, she was “mom” to more than 100 kids. She knew how to love.
I’ve talked about my grandma before, how she was my biggest support when I lost my first baby to a miscarriage, she was my rock.
When my grandpa died, part of my grandma died. She was so lonely, so sad, yet she continued to love others and her God. Her faith in God grew, as did her love. She was an inspiration.
On her death bed, as I was saying goodbye to a weak, thin woman who could no longer eat, drink, talk, or even open her eyes, she still loved us and God. When I tried to say words of encouragement to this struggling woman who was in pain from cancer, I reminded her of the love she had for her family, for more than 100 kids that she loved and cared for, how she got me through my miscarriage, how she was a testament to everyone she met about God’s love. She scrunched her forehead in a way that said she was grateful for the reminders and that she knew she was loved.
She wasn’t able to say goodbye that day or open her eyes or hug me, we had done that during several other visits before. I knew though that she was ready to go be with her God and with her husband in Heaven. I’m sure she is holding and loving the 3 babies she lost to miscarriage and my angel as well. I was at peace knowing that I was able to say goodbye and tell her how much she meant to me, her family and so many people.
Chicken Soup for the Soul Grieving and Recovery Review
Chicken Soup for the Soul Grieving and Recovery is all about people going through the grief of losing their friends, parents, siblings, kids, and loved ones. It is a peek into the journey that ties the entire human race together, dying. It is about treasuring today’s moments with your loved ones. It is a collection of 101 inspirational and comforting stories about surviving the loss of a loved one. Just as I have shared my experience with losing my grandma, this book is a tear jerker with hope as you read through others’ stories.
One story really gripped me. She author realized that “in order to heal, to move on, I had to let go, not forget, but refuse to cling to what might have been.” “The awful pain and emptiness declined as I persisted in enjoying the memories of the occasions we’d spent together – not dwelling on the lives we’d never have.” What a realization!
Another quote that stroke me was, “The walls we build around us to keep sadness out also keeps out the joy”. Everyone grieves, heals, and recovers on their own terms, in their own way, and in their own time. Chicken Soup for the Soul Grieving and Recovery may be the book that helps you along that difficult journey that each of us will face in this lifetime.
I hope that Chicken Soup for the Soul Grieving and Recovery will help you or someone you love that is going through the dark valley of grieving and recovery.
Buy Chicken Soup for the Soul Grieving and Recovery
You can buy Chicken Soup for the Soul Grieving and Recovery nationwide at local retailer or on Amazon.com for about $10.
Win Chicken Soup for the Soul Grieving and Recovery (3 prizes) (Cl0sed)
Updated: 5-13-11 Winners Announced: Congratulations, Kim, Elizabeth Ray, and Stephanie Eagle. Chicken Soup for the Soul is offering 1 book each to 3 AkronOhioMoms.com fans.
30 Day Winning Rule does NOT apply to this contest. For complete contest rules, please see our Contest Statement and Blog Disclosure.
Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on May 7, 2011 when a winner will be drawn at random and announced the next day. When commenting, please include your email address (not visible to public). I will notify the winners and they will have 36 hours to respond!
This was not a paid post. My own opinions were used based on my perceptions and experience. Thank you to Chicken Soup for the Soul who provided the products for review & giveaway.
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Us too, we were able to see the signs and know that when she went through different stages, it wasn’t the real end yet. She would get awful bad, then the next day be better than ever. She did this 3 or 4 times. She was a fighter.
I guess generally just being around friends and family helps me. With my Grandmother we were given a book on the process the body takes before death and it helped because we knew exactly what was happpening. Knowledge is the best key
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I would love to win this book for myself and then to share with my family. We lost my Uncle in January, one of 3 siblings that owned a small business together that has been in the family since the 1950s. He was my Uncle, my cousins dad, my cousins daughter’s grandpa, my moms and uncles brother, my grandparents son, a friend, a coworker to my husband and many others at the store. We have found help from God through the grief process. Some of our family has taken grief counseling at my church, which has been such a blessing and such a huge help to all of us. They read books from my church’s bookstore and that friends have given to them. Grief can be such a long process, and we are only at the beginning. I feel horrible for my mom, my grandparents, my two cousins and their beautiful 4 daughters that absolutely adored their grandpa. Our family will never be the same, and every bit helps.
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I lost my mom and real dad 1 month apart i was not close to my real dad but my moms death hit me hard i wish i had a book like this then my health is ailing and i have 6 children i would hope if i won this book would help them deal better
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So sorry to hear that, Stephanie. I can’t imagine what you are going through. Give your baby extra lovin’.
I would love to have this book…I just lost my husband Richard July 12,2010 when our baby was 2 weeks old..I found him dead in his sleep after me & baby woke up…It has been very hard….Thanks
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Oh, Kim, I’m so sorry to hear about your newborn son. I wish I had words to comfort you. You are right about your boy, he is being taken care of by the best person ever, Jesus Christ. The most comfort I received when I lost my baby to a miscarriage was from my mother-in-law. She said that my baby was so precious that only Jesus could take care of him. That’s one precious baby! And I’m sure your newborn baby boy was beyond precious and he is being taken care of by the best of the best. Oh, and yes, my grandma was an amazing woman, although she wouldn’t have ever thought or said so. She was so humble.
I’m so sorry to hear this, Elizabeth. My heart goes out to you. I know what you mean about feeling like you should have been able to do something as a mom. That’s what we moms do. There was nothing you or anyone could have done. I’m glad that your doctor was able to explain this to you too, to give you peace of mind. Again, I’m so sorry to hear about your terrible loss. Thanks for sharing with us what has helped you.
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My son dies unexpectedly in his sleep last June. He was 28. Four months later, we finally got the coroner’s report, that listed an enlarged heart as cause of death. We had no idea. One thing that has helped (somewhat) was when I talked to our doctor about it. He said that with no symptoms, there was no reason to test his heart, and there was therefore no way I could have known. He further added that even if I had known, there was no way to have reversed it, or to either predict or prevent his death. As a mother, you always feel that “I should have been able to do something.” It feels marginally better to be told, in effect, that being unable to prevent this was no failing on my part.
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I lost my newborn son recently and have been reading so many books about grieving. However I have found the most peace in the truth of the bible and knowing that my little guy is with Jesus now..healed:) Loved hearing about your grandma…sounds like a wonderful woman!
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