December 15, 2023

When You Feel Hope Is Lost

Emotional Health, Grief, Grief & Emotional Support | 8 minutes of reading | By Charles Foster

When You Feel Hope Is Lost   I heard this story a few days ago and wanted to share it with you as a story of encouragement. What do you do when all hope is lost, the pressure mounts, you lose it all overnight, the foreclosure of your home, the repossession of your car, and the food pantry is your only food source? It did for this lady when you thought it could not worsen. Statistics show that many widows and widowers suffer financially after losing a spouse—especially widows. I believe you will find the

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Emotional Health, Grief, Grief & Emotional Support

The Martha Brasell Story

Life Stories, Stories That Encourage | 10 minutes of reading | By Charles Foster

THE STRENGTH OF ENDLESS LOVE The Dave and Martha Brasell Story Written by Charles Foster   THE STRENGTH OF ENDLESS LOVE… The Dave and Martha Story by Charles Foster Sometimes, you are introduced to people and feel you have known them forever. This unique connection was the case with a special lady named Martha. One of our business partners had been friends with Martha for years, and one day, while looking for a healthier lifestyle, Martha decided to join our company. We met Martha and knew from our first conversation that there was something special

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Life Stories, Stories That Encourage

Lack Of Faith Of The Unknown

Faith, Grief & Emotional Support | 4 minutes of reading | By Charles Foster

Lack Of Faith Of The Unknown We see our biggest problem today as social distancing, or is it? We all feel separated, lonely, isolated, and out of control. We hear of the horrific deaths of our senior citizens and fear leaving our homes or getting within six feet of another person. We are now told to wear protective masks, and gloves sanitize our hands to avoid contact with delivery drivers. The question is, what do we do about this problem, which is causing an isolated America? Are we just looking at the problem we are

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Faith, Grief & Emotional Support

Experience Loss? Not Ready? Now Is The Time.

Emotional Health, Faith, Financial, Grief, Grief & Emotional Support, Life Stories, Relationships | 2 minutes of reading | By Charles Foster

Experience Loss? Not Ready? Now Is The Time. THESE ARE THE STEPS YOU NEED TO TAKE Losing a loved one is tragic, no matter how it happens. Unfortunately, when you experience loss, knowledge is power. There are critical steps to take to ensure protection from the legal system. In my book, “The Surviving Spouse Club,” on page 236, I have written with considerable detail about each of these 39 unique documents you need at hand at the time of loss. Not having these documents could cost you a lot of money in your time of

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Emotional Health, Faith, Financial, Grief, Grief & Emotional Support, Life Stories, Relationships

Father’s Day Is Not Fun When You Have Lost Your Father

Emotional Health, Grief, Grief & Emotional Support | 3 minutes of reading | By Charles Foster

Father’s Day Is Not Fun When You Have Lost Your Father Day-to-day life in America is becoming increasingly disturbing, even with Father’s Day approaching. With all the anxiety and stress revealed on the nightly news, no wonder our sense of normality is all but gone. So many in our country have lost dads and husbands because of unexpected violence that this Father’s Day, there will be a lot of emptiness at the dinner table. Father’s Day, when everyone celebrates Father’s, which represents one-half of the strength of the family unit, will not be a celebration

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Emotional Health, Grief, Grief & Emotional Support

Working From Home

Emotional Health, Grief & Emotional Support | 4 minutes of reading | By Charles Foster

Working From Home How many of you are working from home? What I have found best is to begin each workday early. This is easier said than done when your big, warm, soft bed calls you to sleep in. When you commuted to an office, you knew you had to allow time for traffic, parking, etc, yet you planned it. It was just part of doing your job. Working from home can be more challenging because of a lack of structure. It is less challenging if you plan your tomorrow before the end of today.

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Emotional Health, Grief & Emotional Support

The Anatomy Of A Family Pandemic

Grief, Grief & Emotional Support | 4 minutes of reading | By Charles Foster

The Anatomy Of A Family Pandemic Families around the world today face pandemic situations when a health pandemic sweeps the globe, which for many feels like the unexplainable, uncontrollable emotion a family feels when losing a loved one. The Kubler-Ross model of denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance are all emotions that surface during such situations, yet there is no particular order or timing of these emotions. We have known about these five specific emotional responses since Kubler-Ross published their book on death and dying in 1969. The year 2020 may go down as the

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Grief, Grief & Emotional Support

Creating Calm During Times Like These

Emotional Health, Grief & Emotional Support | 3 minutes of reading | By Charles Foster

Creating Calm During Times Like These Unlike at any other time in our history, we witness extraordinary events. Many of you have lost your spouse, and others are afraid of losing a loved one because of the unknown of what you are being told in the media. Worry and fear are natural reactions, often caused by your lack of control. Information is essential, but the 24/7 news cycle, whose job is to keep you in a state of panic, is causing fear and unrest. If you turn it off, your stress will immediately be reduced.

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Emotional Health, Grief & Emotional Support

The Song, Even If, By “MercyMe” Will Bring You Peace

Emotional Health, Grief & Emotional Support | 2 minutes of reading | By Charles Foster

The Song, Even If, By “MercyMe” Will Bring You Peace Everyone has bad days. Widows and Widowers know this well. Twenty-three years ago, my wife died. Some days, it seems like 23 years have just happened. Other days seem like a lifetime ago. No matter what day you have today, countless others are experiencing bad days. Like you, they experience fear, sleeplessness, anxiety, unbelief, defeat, and hopelessness. I do not know who will read this post and listen to the beautiful words and testimony of “MercyMe.” I don’t know if your faith relies on what

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Emotional Health, Grief & Emotional Support

Tell Your Heart To Beat Again

Grief & Emotional Support, Relationships | 2 minutes of reading | By Charles Foster

Tell Your Heart To Beat Again I heard this song by Phillips, Craig & Dean and read the story behind the song. I thought this story and song would bring comfort to all of us who are hurting and give us hope for the future. Pastors come in all shapes and sizes, and their temperaments are different, this pastor is high adrenaline type A, jumping out of airplanes, bungee jumping, motorcycle riding, and all that. He talked to one of his members, a surgeon, to allow him to be in the room during open-heart surgery.

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Grief & Emotional Support, Relationships

Considering Dating Again? Move Forward With Caution.

Life After Loss, Relationships | 5 minutes of reading | By Charles Foster

CONSIDERING DATING AGAIN? MOVE FORWARD WITH CAUTION A CLIENT ASKED ME THIS? I am a divorced woman dating a widower whose wife was a close friend. Our relationship has moved from friendship to something more personal. We have not said love but enjoy each other’s company and feel comfortable together. I no longer live in the same town, but he called me and asked me to come for a visit. He seemed to be doing well and said he wanted to see me. When I arrived, I noticed he still had all her clothes and

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Life After Loss, Relationships

Three Of The Top Ten Steps To Begin The Grief Process

Grief, Grief & Emotional Support | 3 minutes of reading | By Charles Foster

Three Of The Top Ten Steps To Begin The Grief Process TRUTH TIME – You have suffered a loss; it is okay to admit that fact. You may think this to be a ridiculous comment, but until you can face the truth, you cannot heal. You cannot fix what you have not acknowledged. BUDDY UP – This is your accountability partner, who is critical in the healing process. Someone to help keep you on track. Listen to wise advice. Choose a trusted friend, someone you can trust to place your best interest before their own.

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Grief, Grief & Emotional Support

Valentine’s Day Is Approaching, Some Surviving Spouse Suggestions

Life After Loss, Relationships | 4 minutes of reading | By Charles Foster

Valentine’s Day Is Approaching. Some Surviving Spouse Suggestions We are less than a month away from Valentine’s Day; what is one of the year’s most romantic days according to the calendar? Some discover that just because the calendar, florist, restaurants, and gift shops see Valentine’s Day as romantic, you may dread the word, seeing it on billboards and TV and hearing others talking about it. What was once a special day for you has now become a nightmare. Your Valentine has died, and celebrating now feels out of place. This day only reminds you of

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Life After Loss, Relationships

As A Widow, It May Feel Like A Second Death

Financial, Life After Loss | 5 minutes of reading | By Charles Foster

As A Widow, It May Feel Like A Second Death No one wants to think about losing their spouse. Today, Men and women enjoy their lives and avoid the “What if” question. This becomes a problem because most men or women who find themselves without their spouses may discover they are unprepared mentally, emotionally, and financially. The reality is in today’s world; women are over three times as likely as men to lose a spouse. The average age of a widow is between 55 to 59. Many women marry men much older than themselves, which

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Financial, Life After Loss

Helping Your Child Who Lost A Friend

Grief, Life After Loss, Relationships | 3 minutes of reading | By Charles Foster

Helping Your Child Who Lost A Friend Most adults have experienced a loss of some type during their lifetime. Depending on the relationship, losing friends or family members is very uncomfortable to express. Now, put yourself in the position of a child or young adult. They may have witnessed death on television, but the experience is different when the death is someone they know personally. THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP IS IMPORTANT AT EVERY STAGE OF LIFE When young adults of any age face the death of someone they know, the trauma can shake them to their

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Grief, Life After Loss, Relationships

The View From Here – Is Breathtakingly Beautiful

Emotional Health, Grief & Emotional Support | 4 minutes of reading | By Charles Foster

The View From Here – Is Breathtakingly Beautiful For those of us who have lost a spouse, it is natural to wonder if we are okay as we suffer without them. We can only see the things around us with our eyes, and sometimes, our situation in the middle of our grief and pain distorts our vision. It is hard to know that paradise awaits us when our time in this life has ended, and the wait is the most challenging part. Our minds begin to wonder about them, and our mind starts playing tricks

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Emotional Health, Grief & Emotional Support

International Widows Day Honoring Those Surviving From Loss

Emotional Health, SFL Memories & Past Events | 3 minutes of reading | By Charles Foster

Today, June 23, is International Widows Day Honoring Those Surviving From LossToday, June 23, is International Widows Day and we are honoring those surviving from loss.  The “Surviving From Loss” honors and recognizes those who are left behind by the passing of a spouse.  When you married, you did not plan to become a widow, nor would you have dreamed of such a time as this.  Here are a couple of thoughts for your consideration. It’s a “Catch 22” you have always put your spouse and everyone else first. To survive, you must put yourself

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Emotional Health, SFL Memories & Past Events

3 Months, 15 Days, and 7 Hours, Now What?

Blog, Grief, Grief & Emotional Support | 4 minutes of reading | By Charles Foster

3 MONTHS, 15 DAYS, AND 7 HOURS, NOW WHAT? Grief has no timeline and no defined pathway.   I hear people say, “It’s been three months, 15 days, and 7 hours and I feel lost,” or “What do I do now?”  Others will say, “My spouse died three years and nine months ago, and I still ______?______ all of the time.”  This blank could represent one or many different difficulties a surviving spouse is facing. Most people are not prepared to face the loss of their spouse. When two individuals become one in marriage, they begin

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Blog, Grief, Grief & Emotional Support

Sometimes We Do Not Know How To Understand

Emotional Health, Grief & Emotional Support | 3 minutes of reading | By Charles Foster

SOMETIMES, WE DO NOT KNOW HOW TO UNDERSTAND Life does not make sense for any of us, especially your children. If you have children, the following story will help you to grasp this concept. One Sunday morning, our youngest daughter Katherine began to have pain in her side. We took her to the emergency room, where we waited for over twelve hours before the doctor could see her. Katherine was in extreme pain. Watching your children suffer is almost unbearable, and we would do anything to take away her pain. At about eleven p.m., we

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Emotional Health, Grief & Emotional Support

The Widow, She Is Not A Leper

Emotional Health, Grief & Emotional Support | 3 minutes of reading | By Charles Foster

THE WIDOW, SHE IS NOT A LEPER When you hear the word Widow, what comes to your mind? Throughout history, widows have been considered old, fragile, poor, weak, contagious, helpless, and hopeless. Even though many Widows experience these conditions, it is an unfair label. A widow is not infectious and does not have a disease. She is not a leper and should not be ignored. The very opposite command is for the Christian. The Bible commands Churches in James 1:27 not to neglect the Widows and Orphans. In the 1st century, women were in low

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Emotional Health, Grief & Emotional Support
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