by Gary Roe | Anxiety, Death and dying, Faith, Fear, Grief and Loss, Healing from the past, Hospice stories, Loneliness, Peace, Physical illness, Purpose and meaning, Relationships, Stress Management, Suffering and Pain
We’re made for relationship. No wonder loss hurts. It crushes our hearts. As a hospice chaplain, I believe one of our greatest fears is feeling alone, left behind, or abandoned. I’ve felt it myself, and I’ve heard it from the hearts of hundreds of others. Steven’s...
by Gary Roe | Anxiety, Courageous Living, Death and dying, Decision-making, Depression, Emotional pain, Fear, Grief and Loss, Grief recovery, Healing, Healing from the past, Healing from trauma, Honesty and Transparency, Hospice stories, Peace, Relationships, Stress Management, Suffering and Pain, Trauma recovery
I once asked a hospice patient what his favorite season was. Without hesitation, he responded, “Football season!” It’s that time of year. You can sense it. The atmosphere is permeated with that unique Friday-night-lights, Saturday-tailgating,...
by Gary Roe | Death and dying, divorce recovery, Emotional pain, Grief and Loss, Grief recovery, Healing, Healing from the past, Holiday grief, Hospice stories, Loneliness, Love, Relationships, Suffering and Pain
There’s nothing quite like someone’s voice. It’s a signature of sorts. Some voices are like music to our ears. They announce the presence of someone we love and delight in. Just the sound of their voice brings a smile of joy. When someone exits, their voice goes...
by Gary Roe | Abuse Recovery, Anger management, Anxiety, Communication, Courageous Living, Death and dying, Depression, divorce recovery, Emotional pain, Faith, Forgiveness, Grief and Loss, Grief recovery, Guilt, Healing, Healing from the past, Healing from trauma, Hospice stories, Peace, Regret, Relationships, Stress Management, Suffering and Pain, Trauma recovery, Worry
In grief, we sometimes carry extra baggage we’re unaware of. Wounds from the past can exert their influence and complicate the present. Grief is tough enough, without this extra weight. A mountain of regret Years ago, I had a serious conversation with a...
by Gary Roe | Abuse Recovery, Anxiety, Courageous Living, Decision-making, divorce recovery, Fear, Grief and Loss, Grief recovery, Guilt, Healing, Healing from the past, Healing from trauma, Hospice stories, Peace, Regret, Stress Management, Suffering and Pain, Worry
Fear. Worry. One leads to the other, and then back and forth. Life is tough. Our hearts get hit. Losses abound. If we’re not careful, fear can take up residence. Worry can paralyze us. We can’t afford that. Worry can gobble a life Larry was diagnosed with MS in...
by Gary Roe | Death and dying, Grief and Loss, Grief recovery, Healing, Healing from the past, Hospice stories, Loneliness, Love, Peace, Suffering and Pain
Missing someone is painful. Will the hurt ever end? “I kept waiting for the pain to stop. Some things got easier with time, some didn’t. Right now, there is this deep, dull ache in the recesses of my heart,” Noel confided. She paused and looked at her hands in her...
