While We're Waiting® - Hope After Child Loss

Maci Harris was a ten-year-old girl with an affinity for horses, a heartfelt love for Jesus, and a courageous spirit.  Her earthly life ended on January 1, 2013, due to the poor choices of an intoxicated driver.  Shannan Petrocelli joins me today to share Maci's story, including the details of what happened that day and the legal process that followed.  She also talks about the abuse and trau...

After losing two of her sons to suicide, Grace found herself in a state of rage, and realized she liked it there.  In today's episode, we discuss how she worked through that by taking her thoughts captive and focusing on the sovereignty of God.  We also talk about issues related to spiritual warfare, dealing with PTSD, coming to a place of submission, and the new battle Grace is facing with h...

Levi Whitnah was a talented artist, musician, and athlete, who loved bringing his friends to church.  At the age of 14, with no warning signs or indications of what he was considering, he took his life.  Thirteen years later, his brother Kole, who was also artistic, athletic, compassionate to the downtrodden, and known for giving the most amazing hugs, also took his life.  Today I talk with their...

My friends Joe and Carolyn Bunker join me on the podcast again today.  If you missed last week’s episode, you’ll want to go back to hear the story of their son Matthew, who died during a backcountry skiing incident on Mount Rainier in June of 2020 … and to hear about the quitclaim deed the Bunkers had signed two decades earlier committing all they owned to the Lord, including their precious son. ...

Matthew Bunker was a deep thinker with an affinity for C.S. Lewis, a graduate of West Point, a talented photographer, and a man who loved God and enjoyed His creation.  In the first half of this two-part episode, his parents Joe and Carolyn share the story of their remarkable son, who went missing 2 ½ years ago doing something he loved, descending Mount Rainier on a backcountry hike and ski descen...

Today's episode is a continuation of my chat with Laura Granger, mom of Luke, who went to Heaven with rhabdomyosarcoma cancer at the age of 17 a little over five years ago.  We pick up where we left off last week with a discussion of the things people say, the holidays, the "before" and "after" of child loss, anger towards God, and how complicated prayer can be when your c...

I’m so pleased today to introduce you to my friend Laura Granger.  We first met two years ago when she attended our first While We're Waiting Weekend in Illinois, and I was so touched by the story of her son Luke.  I suppose that’s because it’s somewhat similar to my own, but also because of the incredible attitude her “sunshine boy” had throughout his cancer journey.  Luke was diagnosed with...

Eight years ago this week, Randy and Katrina Stevens received the devastating news that their healthy, vibrant, 21-year-old daughter Rachel had suddenly and inexplicably died in her sleep while away at college.  In last week's episode, they shared Rachel's story and discussed the impact her homegoing has had on their family and their faith and offered some advice for moms and dads who fi...

In the first half of this two-part episode, my friends Randy and Katrina Stevens share the story of their 21-year-old daughter Rachel, who went to sleep one night and woke up in Heaven. They honestly and candidly discuss the impact her unexpected death eight years ago has had on their family and their faith and share some advice for moms and dads who find themselves at the very beginning of their...

Gary and Laura House join me today to share the story of their son Nathan, a remarkable young man with a gift for fixing things, a zest for adventure, and an entrepreneurial spirit.  Nathan began to struggle with depression after puberty, and ultimately took his own life at the age of 25. The Houses are the founders of a nonprofit organization called “Our Hearts are Home”, which offers several ave...

I remember breathing a huge sigh of relief after getting through our first Christmas after Hannah went to Heaven in 2009.  I figured that other than the one-year mark which would be that next February, I had at least survived all the really hard “first year” stuff.  I had no idea how difficult stepping into the new year without her was going to be.  How could I start a new year without Hannah in i...

"Death is stronger than John and it's stronger than me, but it's not stronger than Jesus, who's the champion of heaven, who rose from the dead and defeated death" ... these are powerful words from Hal Barge, father of John, who battled mental illness for nine years, ultimately culminating in his death by suicide.   Today's episode picks up where we left off last week,...

Hal and Elizabeth Barge's son John was a remarkable young man with a great sense of humor ... an Eagle Scout, a natural percussionist, and an enthusiastic backpacker.  But after high school, they began to see a change in him, which led to a 9-year battle with mental illness, and ultimately to his death by suicide.  Today we discuss navigating the difficult journey of mental illness, dealing w...

Today's episode is a continuation of my conversation with Leslie Harder, who joined me for this interview on what would have been her son William's 39th birthday.   I hope you'll listen in for a rich discussion of issues faced by bereaved parents ... Including how the loss of her son has changed her, how  we can choose to build a wall or a road in our grief,  and the fact that she h...

I’m pleased today to introduce you to my friend Leslie Harder.  Leslie joined me to record this episode on what would have been her son William’s 39th birthday.  William went to Heaven suddenly and unexpectedly in August of 2016, just five days after the death of Leslie’s mother.  In our conversation today, she shares about that experience and how God walked with her through those early days of gr...

On this, our fourteenth Thanksgiving season since Hannah left us for Heaven, I wanted to share some thoughts about the early years of my grief and how God has brought healing over time.  Sometimes offering thanksgiving is a sacrifice ... Actually, I believe it's always a sacrifice for a grieving parent.   When you've been deeply, deeply hurt and disappointed with life, it costs something...

I’m pleased today to introduce you to my new friend, Moria Rooney, also known as Mother of Wilde.  Moria has a beautiful testimony of “praising Him anyway” even in the midst of loss. Settle in and listen as she shares the stories of her precious babies … two in Heaven and one with her here … and how she has grappled with deep questions of faith on her journey.  We also discuss pregnancy after loss...

"Wherever you are, be all there."   This was the motto of Kim's son Timothy, and he truly lived it out ... traveling to countries all over the world, parachuting, scuba diving, and flying his airplane.  All these things could have combined to make his mom nervous, but she rested in the knowledge that Timothy was indestructible until his purpose was finished.  When she got the news t...

My friend Kim Allison is the mother of nine children ... five "on the ground", as she likes to say, and four in Heaven.  She joins me on the podcast today to share the stories of her three babies, Benjamin, Jeremiah, and Jordan.  We discuss the struggles she experienced as she endured these multiple losses, including guilt, bargaining, anger, and the desperate trust in God that developed...

Becky Carpenter joins me again today for a rich discussion of issues faced by bereaved parents, including parenting surviving children, navigating grief as husband and wife, dealing with the dreaded "things people say", and how to face the holidays, as well as our children's birthdays and Heaven Days.  She also shares how God called her to start One Day Closer ministries and how He...

My friend Becky Carpenter likes to introduce herself as a "dysfunctional servant for Jesus".   She joins me on the podcast today to share how the sudden loss of her 15-year-old daughter Skylar jarred her from a place of complacency in her faith to a Christian who seeks God's face.  She describes how He met her at the scene of Skylar's accident and assured her of His presence, a...

Steve and Heather Colvin are my guests again today as we continue our discussion of infant loss and its impacts on a family.  When their daughter AnnaJoy was born at 27 weeks gestation and went to Heaven one short week later, they found themselves on a journey they never would have chosen.  Today they share some thoughts for other moms and dads who have recently experienced infant or womb loss, in...

October is pregnancy and infant loss awareness month, and I’m joined on the podcast today by my new friends Steve and Heather Colvin, the founders of AJ’s Place, a nonprofit organization that works to bring healing and hope to families who have been struck by the tragedy of infant and womb loss.  In the first half of this two-part episode, they share the story of their precious daughter AnnaJoy, w...

Today’s episode is a continuation of my conversation with Ron and Nan Deal.  Ron is a Director with FamilyLife, the author of more than a dozen resources, and a licensed marriage and family therapist. Nan is a teacher with over 25 years of experience in public and private schools and she also volunteers in a recovery ministry. Ron and Nan travel and speak all over the country on marriage and the l...

One of the topics that frequently arises at our While We’re Waiting Weekends is the impact that child loss can have on the marriage relationship … so we’ve brought some folks who are very knowledgeable about that subject onto the podcast today!  My friends Ron and Nan Deal have been married since 1986 and have three sons. Ron is a Director with FamilyLife, the author of more than a dozen resources...