(An updated version of an earlier post) I received a very sad call one evening informing me that the son of a friend had died unexpectedly, apparently from a stroke or an aneurysm that caused him to collapse and crash his car. He was 41 and left a wife and four small children. My heart…
A post about judgemental attitudes towards our loved one, particularly when their life choices did not match expectations or wishes. Criticism could come from outside – from other people – or from within ourselves. Managing our grief in this situation can be complex. I recently participated in a very useful conference organised by Bereaved Parents…
UPDATE 27/1/19: The retreat explained below has now passed. We had a small group of people, all of whom had experienced one or more suicides amongst their close family, and I believe everyone gained something from our time – as one lady wrote, “A very special time. … I have been looking forward to this…
(A personal commentary about the challenges of being a bereaved parent, mother, father) Another day, another loch. We are almost at the end of our two week summer break in Scotland. It has been a lazy “be kind to yourself” time, with the simplest of meals and the simplest of pleasures – amazing scenery, long…
This post is a follow on to the previous article on depression, treatment, and the depressed Christian. Celebrity deaths by suicide often precipitate another round of public discussion about depression, mental illness, and the importance of talking about our problems and not just keeping everything inside. There are other topics that come out too, such…
This blog is primarily about coping with grief, and just because someone is grieving, does not mean that they are depressed. However, recently I’ve met more than a few people whose grief intersects with depression, and I think it’s worthwhile writing about depression in general, and dealing with it as Christians. Mental health problems…
Longterm visitors to this blog will know that I love to walk. Walking in countryside or along the coast brings is just about my favourite activity. I tend to set myself goals for walking that push me a bit harder than I am able… so much so that finding my way and/or putting one step…
