When a loved one dies it can seem like life will never be normal
again. The world can become a blur of flowers, relatives, cards,
and well-meaning visitors; and the griever may feel that he or she
cannot come up for air. But there is normalcy after death, say
authors Zonnebelt-Smeenge and De Vries; it just takes some
time--and help--to get there.
Traveling through Grief takes readers on the journey toward
life after death, focusing on five common tasks of grief: accepting
the reality of death, embracing all the emotions associated with
death, storing memories, separating oneself from the deceased, and
reinvesting fully in one's own life. This book is the perfect gift
for a grieving friend or tool for a loved one in need.
"It is refreshing to find a resource that has both a strong
spiritual component as well as an abundance of practical and useful
suggestions for the grief journey. This is a welcomed
resource."--H. Norman Wright, grief and trauma counselor
"In a culture that prefers grievers 'get over it' and 'move on' as
quickly as possible, two authors, well acquainted with grief,
challenge such thinking. You will find grief-changing wisdom on
every page: wisdom that can help you and can help friends and
family members traveling through grief."--Harold Ivan Smith, grief
educator, author of Grieving the Death of a Friend
"The dynamic duo has given us yet another fine book by grabbing
hold of the fracturing impact of grief. This book will inform,
equip, comfort, shield, nudge, and hug you."--Richard B. Gilbert,
executive director, the World Pastoral Care Center
Susan Zonnebelt-Smeenge is a licensed clinical psychologist
working for Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services.
Robert C. De Vries is emeritus professor of church education at
Calvin Theological Seminary and an ordained pastor.
They are the authors of Getting to the Other Side of Grief,
The Empty Chair, and Living Fully in the Shadow of
Death. They live in Grand Rapids, Michigan.