Mourning Song

This book was a fabulous book for me to read as I felt I was drowning in my sorrow after losing my child. What a joy!

I have just finished reading the older hard copy of this book, loaned by a friend. I have just lost my 37 year old son in a tragic death. I have cried my way through this insightful book. Because it belongs to a friend I could not underline all the passages that meant so much. If I had it would be greatly marked. To know in a new way that I am never alone, I will make it and there are lessons to be learned in this tragedy if I will be open to His leading was such a reinforcement for my faith. I have read several books in the last 3 months and this one has been the most practical and useful to me.

Joyce is an excellent communicator and knows how to speak to women's needs. In this book she tells in many different stories how to deal with death and dying; what to say and sometimes what not to say. Joyce knows because she has been there. I have given this book as a gift to those who have lost a loved one many times and always it is said, "What a help it was."

This book gives the stages of grief. (This may be grief over death or any serious and tragic loss. I found help in it when I first read it over 25 years ago, in dealing with some emotional situation other than death.) Joyce shares how a person may effectively reach out to loved ones who are experiencing grief, in ways that are truly helpful in comforting them. She also includes some EXCELLENT ideas on what N0T TO DO OR SAY!!! If you are the one experiencing the grief, this is a good book for you. It helps to know that the strange things you are feeling (and/or doing) are normal and will one day go away. Through this book a person can learn that healing of grief will come in time, for God will not desert us. The book offers insight and comfort on a topic which we so often try to ignore, but will experience. Over the years I have bought the book for many friends who were experiencing grief. Each one has said how much they were helped by Joyce's sharing what God taught her in this sad time in her life. I think it is an excellent and well written book, by a person who has been there!

I recently read the 1974 hardcover edition which is no long in print. The author deals with the death & dying issues with specific, heartfelt, insightful, and real-life circumstances. You will come to know and recognize your grieving process through the author. She examines the horror and reality of disease and death, but continues on the journey that leads to healing and hope. She states, "without God's positive reinforcement of love, death is a long tunnel ending with a brick wall instead of a bright opening to a glorious new life." I have purchased this new paperback edition to help a loved one attend to their grief so that healing can take place. It is as helpful now as it must have been 20 years ago.