While We're Waiting® - Hope After Child Loss

Bereaved parents tend to be "keepers" ... keepers of time, keepers of lists, and keepers of our child's legacy.  But all that keeping can sometimes make us grow weary.  Thankfully, God also takes on the role of "keeper", and in today's episode, Jill shares some ways He keeps those who grieve close to His heart.    For more information about the While We're Waitin...

One of the most common topics that arises during our While We’re Waiting Weekends for Bereaved Parents is how we as bereaved parents can help our surviving children.  When we are grieving so deeply ourselves, we can feel very ill-equipped to parent our children through their grief.  Surviving siblings deal with a whole host of issues that we as their parents generally know nothing about.  So today...

For those of us who have experienced child loss, life hasn't turned out like we planned.  We face great disappointment and overwhelming sorrow.  Like Job, we may feel abandoned and alone.  But we have hope because we have a living Redeemer! For more information about the While We're Waiting ministry and the free retreats we host for bereaved parents, click HERE .   If you'd like to...

The loss of a child can leave us feeling very alone ... like time has marched on and left us behind, like we've grown old before our time, like we'll never have joy again, like our opportunity to make good memories is gone forever, like the sun has set on our lives ... like even God has abandoned us.  Today Jill shares some encouragement for those times when we're feeling a bit fors...

When Kristin Naylor walked into her OB appointment three days before her scheduled C-section, she did not know that her precious daughter Abby was already in the arms of Jesus.  In today's episode, Jill talks with Kristin and her husband Dan about life after stillbirth, pregnancy after loss, the immense value of a life no matter how brief, and holding on to hope and joy. To visit the Naylor&a...

In today's episode, Jill considers the things we may be missing because we miss our children and concludes that she does not want to miss the life God has given her because she misses her daughter.  For more information about the While We're Waiting ministry, please visit our website by clicking HERE .    I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! (T...

Jacob Laney was a young man with lots of interests -- cooking, traveling, athletics -- who was a self-described "Mama's Boy".   He and his mom Lisa enjoyed an exceptionally close relationship and when his stepdad Miles came into his life at age seven, Jacob quickly accepted him as "Dad".   When he died by suicide at the age of 19, it was completely unexpected, and left Lis...

When a parent experiences the loss of a child, they usually develop a thirst for learning about Heaven.  In today's episode, Jill shares eight truths about Heaven from Scripture.  She also shares a portion of a blog post from Tim Challies, whose 21-year-old son recently went to Heaven, titled "The Only Tears in Heaven".  The full article is available HERE .    For more information a...

Every bereaved parent has experienced that moment when life split in two, as if a massive earthquake has permanently separated "before" from "after".   Carol Brown's earthquake occurred in September of 1996, when her daughter Jackie suddenly went home to Heaven.  Join Jill and Carol for a conversation filled with the wisdom that over two decades of grieving well can bring....

Jill recounts some special "gifts" her family received during the year that her 16-year-old daughter battled cancer as a reminder of what God can do with the loaves and fish we have to offer others.  For more information about the While We're Waiting ministry and the retreats we offer for bereaved parents, click HERE .  I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to s...

Trevor was a remarkable and gifted young man who knew Jesus but battled drug addiction, which ultimately took his life.  In today's episode, Jill talks with his mom and dad, Lee and Heather Fox, about Trevor's unique personality, his passion for music, and his struggles with addiction.  They share their own story of coming to faith in Christ and their assurance that Trevor is enjoying ye...

29.  For many bereaved parents, going back to church after their child's death is very difficult.  In today's episode, Jill discusses a few of the things that made church hard for her and concludes with some encouragement to "push through the hard" and return to fellowship with a group of believers.  For more information about the While We're Waiting ministry and our berea...

Ryan Franklin was a guy who enjoyed getting up every morning and being himself ... from his aviator sunglasses to his shoestring belts.  A faithful husband and loving dad, he was committed to his family and his Lord.  Today, Jill talks with his parents, Mark and Margaret, about their son's remarkable life, his sudden death, God's faithfulness in their journey, and "sterkte" ......

The loss of a child can leave us feeling lost, empty, and broken ... wondering why we are still here when our precious child is gone.  In today's episode, Jill shares some thoughts about the great value God places on our lives and how we can still have purpose, even in the wake of child loss.  For more information about the While We're Waiting ministry and the retreats for bereaved paren...

When Mike and Kim Canania were raising their children, they did not know the Lord, and were caught up in lifestyles of drug and alcohol addiction.  Then their teenage son "Bubba" was involved in a fatal car accident and everything changed.  Listen in as they share with Jill the story of Bubba's decision for Christ in his final moments and the eternal impact that decision has had on...

As bereaved parents, we know that some dates will be difficult -- Christmas, our child's birthday or Heaven Day, Mother's Day and Father's Day -- but we are often completely caught off guard by how difficult it is to turn the calendar to a new year for the first time after our child goes to Heaven.  In this episode, Jill shares some resolutions that may be helpful as we step into th...

After the loss of a child, a holiday like Christmas that once brought so much joy can become  deeply painful.  The family gatherings, brightly-lit decorations, and the gift giving make the absence of our child's presence all the more real.  In today's episode, Jill encourages bereaved parents to view the holiday with a slightly different perspective.  "A Brokenhearted Night Before C...

Hannah Wathen was a high school senior with a bright future ahead of her.  She was a natural introvert with a brilliant sense of humor and an innate ability to identify and befriend those on the fringes.  Her life's goal was to become a doctor, and she was just days away from graduation and heading off to college when she made an impulse decision to take her own life.  Jill talks with her par...

The Christmas season is typically one of the most difficult times of the year for parents who have experienced the loss of a child ... and this year, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is compounding it even further.  In today's episode, Jill helps us unwrap five gifts that were given when Jesus was born in Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago.  Hopefully it will bring some encouragement during this har...

Dominic DeSimone was a young man with a smile that could light up a room.   He was an active, athletic child who grew into a talented musician with the ability to play any stringed instrument and had a special gift for percussion.  He was nearing the end of his second year of law school when he ran ahead to Heaven as a result of a motorcycle accident.  In today's episode, Jill talks with his...

After the loss of a child, the holiday season is incredibly difficult.  Family gatherings magnify the absence of the child, holiday traditions that once brought joy are now fraught with pain and loss, tensions may arise among extended family members as everyone's emotions are raw, and Christmas shopping with one less person on the list is unspeakably painful.  There is a certain expectation o...

Jeremiah Solhjem was a sweet and imaginative little boy who loved his family, his Action Bible, and his Legos.   He was a kid who was content to stay in the background and let others take center stage.   He had a lot of wisdom for a nine year old -- Just a week before he went to Heaven in an ATV accident, he told his sister, "Ya know, life is better when you do it well."  In today's...

Kari-Lee Venning was a young woman who loved Jesus, dancing, swimming, and spending time at the beach.  She traveled the world seeking adventure, visiting 38 countries in six years after she completed high school.  Many of those who saw her living life to the full were not even aware of her daily battle with cystic fibrosis.  In today's episode, Jill talks with Kari's mum, Rhyl, about he...

Jeff Foxworthy rose to fame by performing a comedy routine titled, "You Might Be a Redneck."  In today's solo episode, Jill expands on that theme with a list of things that indicate "You Might Be a Bereaved Parent."  The list starts out with negatives, but ends on a hopeful note.  For more information about the While We're Waiting ministry and the retreats and service...

Zac and Shelby Snow were thrilled to discover that they were expecting  their son Landon just a few months after their wedding.  They prepared a nursery, purchased a car seat, and even bought a larger vehicle to accommodate their growing family.  But a prenatal test revealed some issues with Landon's development, and rather than bring him home to that new nursery, they had to release him to H...