While We're Waiting® - Hope After Child Loss

My friend Donna Eller is my guest on the podcast today.  In the first half of this two-part episode, she shares the story of her independent, funny, and faith-filled daughter Julie, who went to Heaven following a fierce battle with cancer in 2015.  But there’s more to her story, as Donna has also experienced the loss of her 8-day-old grandbaby (Julie’s son Noah) as well as her husband Tim more rec...

When we first formed the While We're Waiting ministry back in 2011, we were advised by a ministry consultant to change the name.  "While We're Waiting", he said, "It sounds like you're sitting kicked back in a recliner just waiting to go to Heaven."  Of course that's not at all the concept we had in mind when we chose the name, but I really didn't have...

On July 31, I received a text from my friend Terry Young, letting me know that his wife Joy had laid down for a nap that day & woke up in Heaven.  At first I couldn’t believe it -  my dear friend Joy was much too full of life to be gone - but she was.  Joy was known for exclaiming at every opportunity, “The best is yet to come!" & for her the best had come.    When Terry found Joy tha...

Lisa Thacker joins me once again on the podcast today.  If you missed last week’s episode, you’ll want to go back and listen to hear the story of her son Dalton, who took his own life at the age of 16 with absolutely no warning signs or indications of what he was about to do. Today we extend our conversation to cover a wide range of very practical issues faced by bereaved parents, particularly tho...

Dalton Thacker was a vibrant young man with an infectious smile and a passion for sports and history.  He loved to tell jokes and make people laugh, and in 2020, he chose "grit" as his word for the year.  He was a goal setter with a desire to score 1,000 points in basketball over his high school career, and to make it to state in track and field.  On May 14, 2020, Dalton took his own lif...

"Trauma lies to you, and pain lies to you, and it makes you think:  This is always how I'm going to feel, and this is always how it's going to be.  And the truth is, if you're still alive, God has a plan for your life, and your life has purpose and meaning."   Encouraging words from Dr. W. Lee Warren, neurosurgeon and author of the new book "Hope Is the First Dose: A...

"You have to do what you know to do, even when you don't feel like doing it. Persevere, pray, read the Bible, and surround yourself with a supportive community" ... Good advice from Tommy and Susan Cartwright, whose son Chad died following an accidental heroin overdose in 2011.  Today we extend our conversation from last week and discuss the sometimes unhelpful things people say, de...

We had the incredible privilege of hosting two While We're Waiting events in Botswana, Africa, a couple weeks ago, and today's episode opens with a brief summary of our time there.  The bereaved parents we met there were gracious and kind, and we are so grateful that we were able to play a small role in assisting them to find community with others who truly understand the journey of chil...

In last week’s episode I shared a panel discussion from the Discerning Biblical Truth for Bereaved Parents Conference on “Ten Truths About Child Loss” … and if you missed it, I hope you’ll go back and listen … especially if you find yourself wondering if what you’ve been experiencing after the loss of your child is “normal”.   Today, I’d like to share another panel discussion from that conference...

As you listen to this episode today, our WWW team is getting on an airplane heading home from our first-ever While We’re Waiting Weekend for Bereaved Parents in Botswana, Africa.  So instead of my typical interview format, I’m will be presenting panel discussions from the recent “Discerning Biblical Truth for Bereaved Parents” conference  hosted by the Our Hearts Are Home ministry over the next tw...

"Eat the fruit of sorrow, even if it's bitter, because this fruit that you can only eat now at this time has nutrients in it that you can't get any other way. "  ~John Piper This quote is just part of my discussion with Joyce Toups today, as we talk about some very practical aspects of life after child loss.  Many of her insights are related to the loss of a child to suicide, b...

Cody Rainwater was described by his kindergarten teacher as “the kind of child you remember.”  He grew into a young man with a big heart, a quiet disposition, and someone who always rooted for the underdog.  His mom, Joyce Toups, was in her church parking lot in November of 2010, when she received word that Cody had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, launching her on a journey she really di...

"Through all of this chaos, you are writing a symphony" ... these song lyrics from Switch are an apt description of Linda Brown's life.  In last week’s episode,  Linda shared about the abuse she endured as a child, some of the poor life choices that led to, the loss of her adult daughter Jessica two years ago, and how God has taken the chaos in her life and is writing a symphony wit...

Sometimes "Jesus, Help Me!" is the deepest cry of your heart.  That's where Linda Brown found herself after the sudden loss of her adult daughter Jessica a little over two years ago.  Linda has dealt with some very difficult circumstances in her life, beginning with sexual abuse as a child, a series of failed marriages as a result of that, and then the tragic death of Jessica.  But...

"We may not always be on the same page, but we are on the same team ... We are on Team Fowler."   These wise words from Lou-Ann Fowler are a great description of how we can face the grief of child loss as husbands and wives.  We discuss the marriage relationship in today's episode, along with the “things people say”, dealing with the holidays and other special days, the “before” and...

Chuck and Lou-Ann Fowler describe their son Aaron as "unflappable, methodical, and competent" and someone who loved a challenge ... exactly the character traits needed to work in explosive ordnance disposal with the Navy!  Aaron was also a young man of strong faith, which became sight when he died in a training accident on Easter Sunday in 2022. They join me today to share the story of h...

Fifteen years ago I faced my first Mother's Day just three months after my 17-year-old daughter Hannah went to Heaven  ... and I honestly did not know if I would survive it.   Over the years, this holiday has softened quite a bit, and I'm so grateful for that.  In today's episode, I share ten thoughts that I hope will encourage another hurting mom facing this incredibly difficult da...

Katie Thornhill and I continue the conversation we began last week about the aftermath of her son Marcus's diagnosis with DIPG brain cancer and his homegoing just shy of his eighth birthday.  We address issues related to lack of control, surrender, finding peace, and the importance of vulnerability in our journeys.  Katie also shares about her own podcast and how we can truly be "anchore...

Katie Thornhill is a bereaved mom, fellow podcaster, and professional Christian Life coach, and she joins me today to share the story of her son Marcus, a rowdy and resilient boy who once described himself as “the luckiest kid in the world”.   In 2018, he was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor, and fought as a fierce warrior for almost two years before he went to Heaven.  I believe you'...

Author, speaker, and grief coach Shirley Thiessen joins me on the podcast again today.   If you missed last week’s episode, you’ll want to click HERE to hear the story of her 23-year-old son Jordan, who was killed in a workplace accident in 2012.  Today we extend our conversation to talk about how, after the loss of a child, we can find ourselves completely frozen in grief and unable to move forwa...

Jordan Thiessen was a disciplined, introverted young man who enjoyed reading his Bible, the encyclopedia, and National Geographic every evening.  He also kept a prayer journal  where he recorded some of his deepest conversations with the Lord.  On October 6, 2012, he married the love of his life, and less than two weeks later, he was killed in a workplace accident.  His mom, Shirley, joins me toda...

Easter, like all holidays, can be a painful time after the loss of a child.  Memories of carefully-posed Easter photos,  colorful baskets overflowing with candy-filled eggs, and worship services shared as a family, can make the "missing" seem even more intense.  Today I share some reflections from the blog of Karen Harmening, the mother of Sarah, who died in a church bus accident just a...

In last week's episode, Chris and Tina Howton shared the story of their 19-year-old son, Garrett, who was killed in a tragic boating accident in 2014.  Today we extend our discussion to include issues often faced by bereaved parents, including the sometimes inappropriate things people say, dealing with the holidays and other special days, anger with God, the profound life changes that result...

Garrett Ward was a country boy who loved to hunt and fish and always had a smile for everyone he met.  He was 19 years old and boating with friends on the Ohio River when he lost his life in a tragic incident.  His mom and stepdad join me today to share his story, and to talk about the impact his death has had on their relationship with God and with each other. Click HERE for more information abou...

Shannan Petrocelli joins me again today to discuss life in the aftermath of child loss, exploring sensitive issues like blaming yourself, believing that you’re being punished, and wondering if you’re worthy of healing.   If you missed last week’s episode, you’ll want to go back to hear the story of Shannan's beautiful 10-year-old daughter Maci, whose life was taken by a drunk driver and the j...