Table of Contents
Introduction xi
1 Final Gifts
A Timeless Gift Gloria Givens 2
A Rose for Mother Maria E. Sears 6
Mom's Last Laugh Robin Lee Shove 10
I'm Okay, Mom and Dad Lark Whittemore Ricklefs 13
Meant to Be Cindy Midgette 16
A Surprise Gift for Mother Sarah A Rivers 20
A Gift of Faith Kelly E. Kyburz 23
I'll Make You a Rainbow Linda Bremner 27
Seven White, Four Red, Two Blue Robert P. Curry 31
Joseph's Living Legacy Kathie Kroot as told to Heather Black 35
To Remember Me Robert N. Test 40
The Pencil Box Don's Sanford 42
2 The Power of Support
When No Words Seem Appropriate: Written by a Pediatric Nurse to Ann Landers 46
What You Can Do for a Grieving Friend Jo Coudert 48
Lot's Wife Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D. 56
One So Young Diane C. Nicholson 59
Being There Debi L. Pettigrew 65
A New Strength Kara L. Dutchover 67
The Wisdom of a Child Kevin D. Catton 71
A Light in the Darkness Nina A. Henry 74
3 Coping and Healing
Sorrow Abraham Lincoln 78
Love and Water Emily Sue Harvey 79
Garrit Molly Bruce Jacobs 84
Ashley's Garden Candy Chand 92
Two Answers to One Prayer Allen Klein, MA, C.S.P 95
Laugh and Let Go Ted Menten 98
My Grief Is Like a River Cynthia G. Kelley 101
Legacy of Love Ed Sandra Kervin 102
Chris's Funeral Scott Michael Mastley 107
Grieving Time, a Time for Love Barbara Bergen 110
The Letter Jim Schneegold 111
A Firehouse Christmas Aaron Espy 115
Grief Helps Others Heather Black 120
Let the Body Grieve Itself Ken Druck 124
4 Those We Will Miss
Father's Day Ruth Hancock 130
The Nickel Story Hana Haatainen Caye 134
Bubba's Secret Life Natalie "Paige" Kelly-Lunceford 137
My Son, a Gentle Giant, Dies Michael Gartner 141
Going On Walker Meade 144
Opening Day in Heaven Mike Bergen 149
Never Good at Good-Bye Amanda Dodson 152
5 Special Moments
Trailing Clouds of Glory Paul D. Wood 156
The Beach Trip Dawn Holt 161
I Still Choose "Mom" Connie Sturm Cameron 1163
Ballerina Feme Kirshenbaum as told to Bill Holton 169
Mom's Stained-Glass Window Katherine Von Ahnen 173
I Still See Him Everywhere Richard Morsilli Jo Coudert 177
I Don't Want to Walk Without You Joyce A. Harvey 184
I Wish You Enough Bob Perks 188
The Quickening Monica Kiernan 190
The Horizon Henry Scott Holland 194
6 Insights and Lessons
Chocolate-Covered Cherries Dawn Holt 198
Remember with Courage Janelle M. Breese Biagioni 202
My Father's Voice Walker Meade 205
Missing Pa Am Hood 209
What Death Has Taught Me Barb Kerr 214
Keep Your Fork Dr. Roger William Thomas 217
7 Living Again
Lilyfish Bill Heavey 222
Hope Is Stronger Than Sorrow Duane Shearer as told to Janice Finnell 226
The Miracle of Gary's Gift Sandy Allinder as told to Dianne Gill 231
Choosing to Live Chris Thiry 236
The Mother Box Linda Webb Gustafson 242
Evolution Stephanie Hesse 245
Who Is Jack Canfield? 247
Who Is Mark Victor Hansen? 248
Contributors 249
Permissions 257