What do you think?
Rate this book
Living Through Grief: Love Revealed
If you like to be captivated and inspired by stories from real life, you will be happy to learn that the Love Revealed series is expanding to include the 3rd volume, Living Through Grief: Love Revealed.
Many people are uncomfortable when the topic of grief surfaces. This book challenges assumptions about grief and shows how people find ways to survive it with their hearts open. We hope you will read these amazing stories through the inner eyes of your heart.
From the book’s Preface, here are brief glimpses of the true stories that await you:
* “Recognition” – Years after her son’s death, Marie observes a young mother’s fear that she might lose her own precious child.
* “A Place Beyond” – tells of Marcia’s concerns and denial of losing her mother and the
transforming glimpse into a deep connection with her at the Source.
* “Drawing Grandmother Home” – Nancy supports her grandmother through her fear of death as she develops dementia, bringing an extraordinary moment of clarity and connection.
* “Two Mothers” – Lindi shows us that when a mother dies and leaves behind a young daughter, the pathway through grief can lead to boundless love.
* “One Word, Ten Years” – Irene traverses paths of darkness and light through her husband’s dying time and ten years of widowhood.
* “Leah’s Gift, A Mother’s Story” – Nancy investigates the changes that took place at each year mark as she met those milestones of her daughter’s death.
* “Leah’s Gift, A Father’s Story” – A father’s grief finds expression as Dan shares from his heart.
* “Trampled by Elephants” – Recalling the shock of her beloved uncle’s death, Sheila looks beneath the surface of time at the tender care and tutelage this father figure bestowed on her as a small child.
* “Decisions” – Barbara shows that each possession of a lost loved one is a treasure and letting go can be so difficult, even if it is just one paper clip.
* “A Silver Lining” – Moo balances her grief over her brother’s murder with the joyful acceptance that a puppy brings into her home.
* “Absence” – Corby shares her experiences of losing her grandmothers and her fears of the unknown regarding her children and husband.
* “Magic, at Last” – Susan asks, “What magic is left after the death of a daughter? How can the worst day of the year be remade?”
* “The Decision to Love” – Two years after her husband’s death, Beverley looks back at choices and transformations during his illness and in her new life.
* “Nana’s Divine Love”- Nana’s love and devotion quietly helped Linda walk through the door to Divine Love.
* “Let’s Change the Subject” – Years after her death, the unfinished conversation with her mother continues to haunt Anita until her own daughter clarifies why it had to wait until now.
* “A Mother-in-Law’s Love” – Diane recalls herself as a young woman who grows in awareness as her mother-in-law expands her definition of love.
* “An Unexpected Grief” – Alison explores the layers of her grief after the unexpected deaths of her sister and a close friend
Many people are uncomfortable when the topic of grief surfaces. This book challenges assumptions about grief and shows how people find ways to survive it with their hearts open. We hope you will read these amazing stories through the inner eyes of your heart.
From the book’s Preface, here are brief glimpses of the true stories that await you:
* “Recognition” – Years after her son’s death, Marie observes a young mother’s fear that she might lose her own precious child.
* “A Place Beyond” – tells of Marcia’s concerns and denial of losing her mother and the
transforming glimpse into a deep connection with her at the Source.
* “Drawing Grandmother Home” – Nancy supports her grandmother through her fear of death as she develops dementia, bringing an extraordinary moment of clarity and connection.
* “Two Mothers” – Lindi shows us that when a mother dies and leaves behind a young daughter, the pathway through grief can lead to boundless love.
* “One Word, Ten Years” – Irene traverses paths of darkness and light through her husband’s dying time and ten years of widowhood.
* “Leah’s Gift, A Mother’s Story” – Nancy investigates the changes that took place at each year mark as she met those milestones of her daughter’s death.
* “Leah’s Gift, A Father’s Story” – A father’s grief finds expression as Dan shares from his heart.
* “Trampled by Elephants” – Recalling the shock of her beloved uncle’s death, Sheila looks beneath the surface of time at the tender care and tutelage this father figure bestowed on her as a small child.
* “Decisions” – Barbara shows that each possession of a lost loved one is a treasure and letting go can be so difficult, even if it is just one paper clip.
* “A Silver Lining” – Moo balances her grief over her brother’s murder with the joyful acceptance that a puppy brings into her home.
* “Absence” – Corby shares her experiences of losing her grandmothers and her fears of the unknown regarding her children and husband.
* “Magic, at Last” – Susan asks, “What magic is left after the death of a daughter? How can the worst day of the year be remade?”
* “The Decision to Love” – Two years after her husband’s death, Beverley looks back at choices and transformations during his illness and in her new life.
* “Nana’s Divine Love”- Nana’s love and devotion quietly helped Linda walk through the door to Divine Love.
* “Let’s Change the Subject” – Years after her death, the unfinished conversation with her mother continues to haunt Anita until her own daughter clarifies why it had to wait until now.
* “A Mother-in-Law’s Love” – Diane recalls herself as a young woman who grows in awareness as her mother-in-law expands her definition of love.
* “An Unexpected Grief” – Alison explores the layers of her grief after the unexpected deaths of her sister and a close friend
Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2013
1 person is currently reading
9 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 13, 2013
With death being an inevitable, it is always so amazing how it never ceases to catch us all off guard. And grief can paralyze us if we do not work through it and see that our grief is a reliving and bonding to that loved one. This book comes at a time when I think our society has too many molds and time schedules for how we grieve for our loved ones. Reading through each story brought similar feelings out in myself. I think this is a healthy, good read not only for anyone who has lost a loved one but for everyone because sooner or later, we all face this inevitable.
The book is a compilation of several personal stories of grief, the losing of a loved one. In the first story, 'A Place Beyond,' I really liked a quote about a mother who was dying with Alzheimers and the daughter finally realizes "She was waiting for me to catch up and meet her where she was, not where I wanted her to be."
Another story, "One Word, Ten Years," shows an entirely different glance at how one can reach some sort of closure by events that are significant to our loved one's passing. "A Mother-in-law's Love" also gives closure through the family seeing the loved one in another form.
"The Decision to Love," touched on a topic that is also important in understanding the grieving process...that of “anticipatory” grief.
One story in particular, "Silver Lining," surprised me and touched my heart. It dealt with both the passing of a loved one and a loved dog. This is a form of grief that is too often suppressed by animal lovers and should be included in any book on grief.
Two of the stories, one by a mother and one by the father, are of the loss of their teenaged daughter to a car accident. This kind of loss is probably the hardest to work through. The mother's story, "Leah's Gift, a Mother's Story," was beautiful but she lost me a bit with her verbose description of the Samyama method of grief, touching nonetheless. "Leah's Gift, a Father's Story," brought me to tears. He talks of relapses in the healing process and giving permission to let go.
"Nana's Divine Love," speaks to me of a passed loved one's memory coming to one just at a time when you need them the most. Very comforting.
In another story, "Magic at Last," for me at least, I believe the author was dealing with her grief through this writing of the story of losing her daughter.
"Trampled by Elephants" deals, in my opinion, with a different kind of grief; death can bring a certain catharsis and summing up feelings never dealt with in life.
"Decisions" depicts the grieving family making decisions about what to keep of the loved one and when to let go.
"Absence" did not at first resonate with me as any type of meaningful look at grief until I read a sentence near the end that really summed it up..."The absence I feel happens because of my humanness, my struggle with negating myself and depersonalizing my experiences, and the need for familiarity. Somehow we must reinvent ourselves and move forward, be ready in our dreams and wakefulness for signs and reminders of their love." How true.
Each story is different. Each circumstance different. But the grief is still there. And the closure can be obtained. I can't imagine anyone reading this book and not at least glimpsing some similarity or helpful insight for the future. Someone is going to identify with one of these stories.
"Please note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review."
The book is a compilation of several personal stories of grief, the losing of a loved one. In the first story, 'A Place Beyond,' I really liked a quote about a mother who was dying with Alzheimers and the daughter finally realizes "She was waiting for me to catch up and meet her where she was, not where I wanted her to be."
Another story, "One Word, Ten Years," shows an entirely different glance at how one can reach some sort of closure by events that are significant to our loved one's passing. "A Mother-in-law's Love" also gives closure through the family seeing the loved one in another form.
"The Decision to Love," touched on a topic that is also important in understanding the grieving process...that of “anticipatory” grief.
One story in particular, "Silver Lining," surprised me and touched my heart. It dealt with both the passing of a loved one and a loved dog. This is a form of grief that is too often suppressed by animal lovers and should be included in any book on grief.
Two of the stories, one by a mother and one by the father, are of the loss of their teenaged daughter to a car accident. This kind of loss is probably the hardest to work through. The mother's story, "Leah's Gift, a Mother's Story," was beautiful but she lost me a bit with her verbose description of the Samyama method of grief, touching nonetheless. "Leah's Gift, a Father's Story," brought me to tears. He talks of relapses in the healing process and giving permission to let go.
"Nana's Divine Love," speaks to me of a passed loved one's memory coming to one just at a time when you need them the most. Very comforting.
In another story, "Magic at Last," for me at least, I believe the author was dealing with her grief through this writing of the story of losing her daughter.
"Trampled by Elephants" deals, in my opinion, with a different kind of grief; death can bring a certain catharsis and summing up feelings never dealt with in life.
"Decisions" depicts the grieving family making decisions about what to keep of the loved one and when to let go.
"Absence" did not at first resonate with me as any type of meaningful look at grief until I read a sentence near the end that really summed it up..."The absence I feel happens because of my humanness, my struggle with negating myself and depersonalizing my experiences, and the need for familiarity. Somehow we must reinvent ourselves and move forward, be ready in our dreams and wakefulness for signs and reminders of their love." How true.
Each story is different. Each circumstance different. But the grief is still there. And the closure can be obtained. I can't imagine anyone reading this book and not at least glimpsing some similarity or helpful insight for the future. Someone is going to identify with one of these stories.
"Please note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review."
March 30, 2013
Having lost my own husband just a few years ago, I've read quite a few books about grief, the death of a loved one, and similar topics. When I sat down to read the essays that make up "Living Through Grief" Love Revealed", I fully expected to read more of the same. I couldn't have been more surprised. Editor Dena Clayton has put together a group of essays that are, on one hand, connected by the common thread of the loss of a loved one; on the other hand, each writer showcased in this book brings to the discussion a different perspective, a different voice, and a different experience.
Each of the essays resonated with me in one way or another. In "A Place Beyond", for example, Marcia Davies shares her frustration with the social worker who, like the social worker who spoke with me after my husband was diagnosed with cancer, attempted to assume a role that Davies was not comfortable with. Additionally, Davies' realization after her mother's death that although they had shared a good relationship and spent considerable time together she didn't really know her mother all that well was a poignant reminder of my feelings after my own mother died shortly after my husband.
In "Decisions", Barbara Carle recounts the painful process of sorting through her adult son's possessions after his death. When she contemplates the box of items from his office, she finds it difficult to discard anything because, as she said, "What if he wrote with this pencil or touched this paperclip?" Anyone who has lost a loved one, who has been faced with the enormity of going through their each item their loved one once owned and touched and used knows all too well why Carle is so torn.
At first read, the writing instructor in me wished a few of the essays had been more tightly written. Then I realized that just as those who mourn the loss of a loved one move through the grieving process at their own pace and rarely in a linear fashion, these essays move at their own pace and develop in their own way. The end result is a very nice collection of essays on grief and the love that shines through it.
Please note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Each of the essays resonated with me in one way or another. In "A Place Beyond", for example, Marcia Davies shares her frustration with the social worker who, like the social worker who spoke with me after my husband was diagnosed with cancer, attempted to assume a role that Davies was not comfortable with. Additionally, Davies' realization after her mother's death that although they had shared a good relationship and spent considerable time together she didn't really know her mother all that well was a poignant reminder of my feelings after my own mother died shortly after my husband.
In "Decisions", Barbara Carle recounts the painful process of sorting through her adult son's possessions after his death. When she contemplates the box of items from his office, she finds it difficult to discard anything because, as she said, "What if he wrote with this pencil or touched this paperclip?" Anyone who has lost a loved one, who has been faced with the enormity of going through their each item their loved one once owned and touched and used knows all too well why Carle is so torn.
At first read, the writing instructor in me wished a few of the essays had been more tightly written. Then I realized that just as those who mourn the loss of a loved one move through the grieving process at their own pace and rarely in a linear fashion, these essays move at their own pace and develop in their own way. The end result is a very nice collection of essays on grief and the love that shines through it.
Please note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 21, 2013
Each story in Living Through Grief has its own flavor. I enjoyed and found all of the stories meaningful. Many of the writers reflected my own experiences with grief in various ways, sometimes lending words or meaning to my experiences. Differing ways of dealing with grief and processing the loss of loved ones are validated within the stories of this book, as well as the acknowledgment that we do not necessarily “get over” grief. All of the stories related to loss through death, but the natures of the relationships of the lost loved ones cover a wide range. I appreciated the inclusion of close encounters with animals in relation to loved ones who had passed, as well as a sprinkling of other phenomena related to communication from lost loved ones in ways society doesn’t consider “normal” or even possible. The power of prayer is particularly strong in one story. Some of the authors mentioned strong ties to their particular religions, while much of what I perceived as spirituality was expressed in the book within the depths of the writers’ sharing. I found the book to be profound, especially when taking all of the stories together. I highly recommend this book for people who want to prepare for grief, are grieving or would like a tool for reflection for past grieving.
April 12, 2016
Having recently lost a friend to cancer, I was ready to read a book that talked about how others had dealt with grief. This was the right book. Dena Clayton brings together stories by people who have lost spouses, children, parents and others. As in most anthologies, the writing is uneven, but that leads to an honesty about the impact of death that is refreshing. The writers do not sugar coat the impact of loss, nor do they wallow in grief. They write with a refreshing candor about the unsettling journey no one wants to, but everyone has to, take. Whatever loss brings readers to this book, they will leave stronger for having shared their loss with others who understand.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews