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Grief & Emotional Support

Why Grief Can Feel Different in the Second Year

Emotional Health, Grief, Grief & Emotional Support | 5 minutes of reading | By Charles Foster

Why grief can feel different in the second year Many widows and widowers enter the first year after the death of a spouse believing that if they can just make it through the first twelve months, life will somehow begin to get easier. Sometimes it does. But for many people, the second year brings its own unexpected challenges. That does not mean you are going backward. It does not mean you are grieving incorrectly. Grief changes as life changes, and sometimes the realities of loss become clearer only after the shock of the first year

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Emotional Health, Grief, Grief & Emotional Support

Father’s Day Message for Moms, Widows, and Grieving Hearts

Blog, Grief, Grief & Emotional Support, Life Stories, Relationships | 3 minutes of reading | By Charles Foster

Father’s Day Message for Moms, Widows, and Grieving Hearts As Father’s Day approaches, we recognize how heavy this day can be. In a world that often feels overwhelming—filled with news of tragedy and loss—your personal grief may feel even more intense, and your sense of normalcy even more distant. This year, at many dinner tables, there will be an empty seat. For you, that seat represents more than absence—it represents love, partnership, and the irreplaceable presence of a father and husband. Father’s Day is traditionally a celebration of strength, guidance, and fatherly love, the very

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Blog, Grief, Grief & Emotional Support, Life Stories, Relationships

A Different Kind of Mother’s Day

Grief, Grief & Emotional Support, Relationships | 5 minutes of reading | By Charles Foster

A Different Kind of Mother’s Day A Father’s Journey in Grief and Love For many, Mother’s Day is a time for flowers, cards, and family gatherings. But for families who have lost a mother, it can be a day filled with aching hearts and unanswered questions. For a father raising children alone, this day can become a delicate balancing act between honoring the mother who is no longer there and supporting the children who still need her presence in their lives. When a mother passed away, her absence was felt in every corner of the

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Grief, Grief & Emotional Support, Relationships

Will I Still Be Married to My Spouse in Heaven?

Grief & Emotional Support, Relationships | 5 minutes of reading | By Charles Foster

Will I Still Be Married to My Spouse in Heaven? Christians can get excited knowing they will one day spend eternal life in Heaven. They will be united with God and spend eternity in His beautiful kingdom. As Christians, we all question what Heaven will be like. For some, an important question lingers: Will we be married? A spouse might not top everyone’s questions about the eternal kingdom, but it is a valid worry for many. They may have lost a beloved spouse and are fearful they will not be able to reunite with them

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Grief & Emotional Support, Relationships

What To Do When Someone Is Dying

Emotional Health, Grief & Emotional Support, Holidays | 6 minutes of reading | By Charles Foster

All thoughts below must be weighed with compassion and common sense.  Put yourself in the place of the receiver.  Weigh your words carefully.  Remember, receiving a handwritten, heartfelt card is very powerful to the person you are writing to, but when possible, always make part of your support in person.  It is better to be present and say nothing than to fill the silence with words.  The thoughts below are just guidelines, and your relationship with the receiver of your kindness must be considered. What to Say to Someone Who Is Terminally Ill What do

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Emotional Health, Grief & Emotional Support, Holidays

You Made it Through The Holidays, Now What?

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

“You Made it Through The Holidays, Now What?” Coping with loss during the holidays and special occasions is an immense challenge, particularly for those who have lost a spouse. While you may have successfully navigated the recent holiday season, it’s crucial to recognize that the journey through grief is ongoing. Your first year, marked by the absence of the person you shared these special moments with, can be particularly poignant. This article reflects on the challenges faced and suggests constructive ways to cope. During the holiday season, the absence of a loved one becomes acutely

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Emotional Health, Grief, Grief & Emotional Support, Relationships

Was it love of just bad timing?

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

Was it love or just bad timing? Approximately six months after Cindy died, I visited Abilene to visit my kids at college. I received a call from Cindy’s mother on my return trip home. She told me she felt it was time I moved on with my life and informed me she was at my house, cleaning out Cindy’s clothes and had cleaned out the bathroom cabinet of all her perfumes, makeup, etc. In horror, I had no words and somehow remained in control of my car as I pulled over to understand what was

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Emotional Health, Grief, Grief & Emotional Support, Relationships

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

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

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

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

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
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