Hey friends –
A few weeks ago I mentioned I’d be participating in a project with the gifted GriefShare team from Wakeforest, NC. I was humbled to have been selected to join their amazing group of grief experts. I loved every minute of my time with this warm, Christ-centered, passionate team. And your prayers made a huge difference as I prepared for and participated in the interview! Thank you! 🙂
Here’s a picture of me right before the two hour interview began. I could tell y’all were praying! 
I can’t wait to see the finished product, and most importantly, how God will use my heartbreak and pain for His redemptive purposes. Only God!
During my GriefShare interview, I shared a bzillion stories (or so it seemed). One of the questions I was asked was to share some of the important life lessons I’ve learned from David’s death. Here are two of the lessons I shared –
1. In Christ, we are stronger than we think.
After David’s death, I didn’t think I could go on. I was done. And for sure I would NEVER EVER trust my heart with someone again. My best hope was that my son Jake would care for me into my old age, and then send me to a “good home” where I could play Bingo or something. 🙂
But I soon learned, in Christ, when we are weak, He really is strong. We are overcomers. We will get through the grief. It may not be easy. It may not be quick. It may not be without tears, or fits, or pits, or intense, can’t take a breath, pain. But God did not bring us “this far” to abandon us. We can lean on Him, His strength, and HIs Word.
In Christ, we are strong and can overcome more than we ever thought possible.
2. People want to help, but sometimes we have to let them know how to help us.
I’ve shared some of the things I’ve learned about what to say or how to help when someone you love is faced with deep loss here on my blog. Through my painful experiences, I learned people really mean well and want to help, sometimes they’re just not sure how. It’s ok to share with them what you need and/or don’t need. Let them help you.
Lastly, a lesson I learned (AGAIN) during this GriefShare experience is that God really is amazing! Unbelievably so.
I’d been praying for weeks about this opportunity. Oh God, what stories do I share? What should I not share? What if I start blubbering on camera and can’t stop? Lord, what if I don’t cry at all – then will I seem non-emotional? I need You to help me!
You get the drift….
I begged God to reveal Himself to me and remind me that He was with me.
Julie & Cindy in NC
Would you believe that the same two days I was going to be in North Carolina, God also had my bff Julie fly from Michigan to North Carolina on business?!
How have you seen God use your broken pieces to encourage or strengthen others? Do you have any GriefShare stories to share? I’d love to hear from you!
Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*!
Sweet blessings –
P.S. GriefShare has encouraging, Christ-centered emails that go out each day. If you’d like to be on their list, you can learn more here. I’d highly recommend them. 🙂
Love this testimony, Cindy! I especially love it that the Lord SENT Julie to be there then. Not another city, not another week, but there and then. Only God! He is so kind. I just shared a bunch of the Grief Share books today in a post. What awesome resources, and I know your story will add to the ministry they have to so many. And I’m sure you blubbered JUST the right amount 😉
Hi Cindy ~ I think GriefShare is a great opportunity for those grieving. My husband & I went through the series after the loss of our 16 yo son. It was a small group, but we still keep in touch. We have that bond, sharing our deepest sorrow, that only those going through it, can truly understand (the loss of a child).
It’s something I hope I can get our church participate with sometime.
Blessings, Loni
(participated with you at Carol Kent’s book video tapping seminar in GR several years ago)
so glad it went well! you are reaching so many people with a message of hope. i know when my nephew died that a set of parents who had walked the same road met my brother and his wife at the hospital and really shored them up – walking, living, breathing hope. and just one month later, as i sat at the funeral for one of my students, my brother, who had become walking, living, breathing hope stood and spoke. and sat with the parents for hours afterward. it means the WORLD to people to have someone stand beside….
I never cease to be amazed at how God shows up in the most beautiful ways.
I needed something like GriefShare when my daughter died. I had so many people tell me how strong I was–that they could never go through losing a child. I learned that we don’t get the strength until we need it. And your second point is so true, too.