Five Cries of Grief: One Family's Journey to Healing after the Tragic Death of a Son

by Irene A. Strommen

On August 12, 1986, 25-year-old David Strommen was struck and killed by a bolt of lightning. The tragedy sent his parents reeling with grief. Out of that grief came a long journey toward healing-a journey that is chronicled in this extraordinary book.

Genres: Spirituality

128 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 1993

Reviews

[Manette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Merton and Irene Strommen take the reader through their personal story of the tragic death of their son and their journey through grief. You get a glimpse of how a husband and wife grieve the loss in different ways. The book is an easy read and well written with alternating perspectives.

I’ve survived the sudden and tragic death of a son too. When I read a book such as this, I usually mark nuggets that inspire, encourage, or provide me some level of understanding to my own grief, things that I may refer back to. Everything I marked or noted was something the authors had gleaned from elsewhere. The authors quote a lot of other people and literature that was beneficial to their healing. There are two pages of cited notes. These are helpful but not original to the authors therefore, I rated the book with four of five stars.

[Billie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful? Maybe, but far what I expected or truly needed. I need more than this book had to offer, but I commend the authors for being able to write it.

[Greg Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew David as a child. His death at such a young age hit me quite hard. I feel that if I would have stayed close friends with him (we moved out of state at 13), that I would have been a better person. This book takes you through a touching journey of healing.

[Vickie Skinner]

I thought the book was very helpful by showing us the huge difference in how mothers grieve versus how fathers deal with the awful pain.
I also loved how the authors shared scripture so that I could go to my bible and read more.

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

sad story

[Andy Hickman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful.
Addresses how many people have described feeling “bowed down in grief”.