Grieving the Loss of a Loved One: A Devotional of Hope

I am barely surviving the loss of my mother to cancer last Spring as well as additional grief that has surfaced from past unresolved, amibiguous losses and a currently strained marriage. This is the forth or fifth book I have read in the past month on bereavement, none of which escaped the "clinical" third person approach to grief keeping this deeply human experience merely at the level of the intellect. As a survivor herself of deep loss, Kathe reveals the process deep beneath the outer layers of shock, denial, sadness, etc. Her words are forcing me from the shadows of personal loss and betrayal into realm of healing as I confront my true emotions, not the least of which is anger, pain from the past and anxiety about the future. I am filling every line meant for personal journalling with the truth of my personal journey. I will be buying several more for others in the process themselves.

I grew up in a small rural town in the midwest and always enjoyed writing. As a child, I used to dream about becoming an author so that I could encourage people I would never meet...but I NEVER planned that my first book would be about grief, but it is. I wrote Grieving The Loss of A Loved One as a fellow-griever still in the journey of losing my three children through miscarriage and an infant son, being married to a man who lost both of his parents as a child and out of the pain of experiencing many other life losses.After my son died, I went to the bookstore and found (and read) many good books about grief (I list several of them in the back of my book) but I yearned for a book that would give me permission to grieve, be a companion in my journey and include a Scripture, short reading, prayer, and place to journal my thoughts and feelings. I searched but didn't find this book, so I wrote it. Although my loss may be different than yours and I may not understand exactly how you feel, I can relate to some of your pain. I encourage you, the reader,to think of my book as a personal friend with whom you can laugh, cry,vent, question and share your deepest thoughts and feelings. Think of the table of contents as a compass and choose the section that best meets your needs: Denying, Venting, Questioning, Bargaining, Crying, Surrendering, Accepting, Praising, Being, Celebrating, Relating or Living. Each section contains five short readings and carry the theme of "being on a journey" throughout the book. I also created a special readings for special days section to point you to specific devotions to read on birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and special events when the pain of losing your loved one can trigger your memory and emotions. Sooner or later you will suffer the loss of someone you love. It may be a parent, child, spouse, friend, or co-worker. When that time comes for you or others you know, I pray my book will be a comforting companion of hope that points you to the One who understands and can heal your hurts. I would love to hear from you! E-mail me at [email protected] Wunnenberg, Author, Grieving The Loss of a Loved One, A Devotional Companion

When you are at a loss to communicate, much less comfort a friend who has experienced a death, this book can speak for you! Consider giving it as a gift, more personal and more everlasting than flowers. If you have lost a loved one, take this book as your own companion to help you move through your grief. Someone who understands is waiting in this book to support your journey. It will help.

Kathe writes the book in a manner that enables the reader to pick and choose the right devotional resource to fit the moment. This approach provides a flexible, sensitive resource that speaks to a variety of circumstances when one may face the journey of grief. The book truly is a helpful lifetime resource. -- Carol A. Poore, author, writer and speaker specializing in topics of personal purpose, leadership and career/life direction.

I know this author and can honestly tell you she lives and breathes every word she has written. I found Kathe's book to be the loveliest gift for hurting people I have seen in years. What a gift she has given us out of her own multiple painful journeys! The chapters are short but meaty, there is room after each chapter for our own journaling, the quotes she includes are succinct and insightful, and the content takes you step by step to healing. I highly recommend this book and highly recommend Kathe as a speaker, author, friend, and mentor. 5 Stars!