The Death of a Child: Reflections for Grieving Parents

by Elaine E. Stillwell

Book Overview

There is perhaps no more excruciating pain than the loss of a child. It is a life-changing event that will forever scar a parent. When a child dies, bereaved parents face the challenge of rebuilding their lives, a daunting task that may often seem overwhelming.

The Death of a Child is filled with stories of people who have lost a child and how they dealt with the reality of that event. This collection of life-giving lessons touches on a wide...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0879462604
• ISBN13: 9780879462604
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: Saint Mary's Press
• Length: 159 Pages
• Weight: 0.54 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

She knows what I'm going through

This is an amazing book that says everything I am currently feeling after the death of my 16 month old son in April 2004. She has a wonderful ability to cut to the heart of the matter- the insensitive comments from others, the unbearable-ness of your loss. Yet she offers hope for the future. She knows the second most horrible thing would be to have others forget your child, and offers ways to lovingly keep their song alive. My favorite part was the simple prayer she offers, those who have read the book know which one. The one that starts, Father, forgive them for they know not what they do, etc. Thank you Elaine for those five minutes of healing laughter. If you have to read this book, I am sorry for you, and I hope it helps you as much as it did me.

Help and Hope

This book is filled with insight,practical advice, and inspiration. I think it will help me be a better friend to my friends who have just suffered this terrible loss.

The Death of a Child -Capturing All Emotions

I am a Bereaved Mom whose 26 year old Son/Sun Paul was killed by a drunk driver. This Book Brought Me Face to Face with Life!God sends the Bereaved to Touch the Lives of Others in order that we Become Touched. I loved the Key Points highlighted in large print boxes on many of the pages. I felt it Set a Mood of Vision and Inspiration. As Elaine so eloquently shows us, there is a constant Periphery of Life After the Death of a Child. We have endured Great Grief and Sorrow, yet we Tap into Our Courage and find out who we really are. Hope is great and this book Validates and Motivates us toward Circles of Community. We are held in Deep Moments reading this book in that Sacred Silence of Unconditional Love. The words teach us that we have the Skills to Give Our Suffering a Sense of Meaning and Purpose by the way we Embrace the Death of Our Child and Life's Adversities in general as a result of their death. This Wonderful Book is a Proof Positive Journey that those who 'Lose A Child' do not lose sight of the big picture.Some parts of our Life Are Treacherous Arduous Passagewaysbut Communication moves us toward Communion with one another. Grief has no agenda. The very Wisdom of Elaine's words Purges and the reader is Purified within the furnace of Grief. Each chapter enters into a place of wounded souls and this integrates us into the Fabric of Who We Are. Each paragraph has a Musical Quality and Ecumenical Tone as it Rhythmically flows in Reality that there is Faith in all of our own 'Ground Zero'. Our thought process focuses on how to Honor our child through Our Own Life.Our Emotional Energy now is 'Who We Become' in our new life without our child. Reading the stories of others reveal also an inner strength that we didn't know was there. The Scripture Quotes at the beginning and end of each chapter set a Mood of Celebration and Holiness, wrapping us in an imaginary blanket of Sacred Warmth and Security. 'We Have Not Chose Loss' but Loss Opens Up Alternatives. Healing is enhanced because as Elaine teaches us ...we can all assign Meaning and Purpose to the death of our child. We can also Give meaning and purpose to our own life. The fruits of Elaine's tears speak volumes of Courage in the Aftermath and give brighter light to the Eye of the bereaved.Read Elaine's words out loud! To lose her precious children, Peggy and Denis so suddenly, is the very thing that plunders hope. Yet her broken heart was able to accomplish so much of God's work embracing others in their brokenness and that seems so fit and divine. How wonderful that a Wounded Soul when transformed, emerges as Suffering Embraced! It then becomes Celebration and Resurrection! The inviting cover of the book is beautifully designed and the flowers sizzle with the color of God's glory and promise in Life. The Gift of the Book hold's another profound pain. Like music of the heart, it transcends all barriers and languages. We grow and realize that the Gifts before us become unwrapped with sheer fai

An Outstanding Book for ALL Grievers

As a Pastoral Bereavement Educator and Companion, I had stopped recommending books because there are so many good ones being offered.With Elaine Stillwell's book, I have changed my thoughts and will now recommend "The Death of a Child" to anyone suffering a loss of any kind.A truly outstanding aid for grievers and their caregivers!

Hope and Help for Grieving Parents

As a bereaved parent I know only too well the pain and suffering associated with the death of a child. Elaine Stillwell has written a magnificent book filled with understanding, hope, encouragement, and the power of healing for bereaved parents. Starting with her three reasons to get up in the morning, moving to her suggestions about surrounding the bereaved with "loving listeners", and finally ending with her description of the love and affection afforded to her by her loving dog Mickey, Stillwell's writing gives voice and validation to the special needs of bereaved parents and reflects her keen desire to tell her children's stories to the world. This is a "must read" for all bereaved parents and is destined to become one of those rare books that provide comfort as they are read again and again.