6 Grief Books For Parents
By Alyice Edrich

Losing a child is difficult. Its pain is so deep that no "pep" talk
will ever suffice. Yet, well-meaning individuals often give pep talks
because they don't know what else to do. They don't understand that
pep talks cut like a knife. They don't realize that grievers see pep
talks as hurtful and inconsiderate attempts at forcing the griever to
move on—as if to say "Your child didn't matter enough for you to
carry on this way."

If you've put your foot in your mouth when trying to console a
grieving parent, or if you're desperately seeking ways to show that
you truly do care, consider the simple jester of giving a small gift
basket filled with love. In your gift basket, include a box of
tissues, a blank journal, a pen, a coupon for one shoulder to cry on,
a coupon for one ear to listen and a grief book that matches the
needs of the griever.

Books written by parents who've already lost a child offer comfort
because they tell grievers that they are not alone; that someone out
there truly does understand the exasperating, tiresome, and
overwhelming pain they are experiencing; and that while you don't
understand how deep the loss is yourself, you are attempting to
understand—to provide a safe haven to rest their weary bodies.

Below are six books on grief that deal with death, loss, and grief—
from a parent's perspective.

Don't Take My Grief Away
By Doug Manning

This handbook, written by Doug Manning, is meant to give you an
overview of what happens when someone dies, and the choices that need
to be made. It is a very easy read that is meant to help you prepare
for the funeral and deal with people who do not understand your loss.

I especially love his story on how the book was named and how he
developed a new compassion for those that grieve. At one point, he
heard a story about a young mother who said, "Don't take my grief
from me. I deserve it. I am going to have it." Though he did not hear
the words spoken from her mouth, those words haunted him enough to
change the concept he had towards those that grieved and the recovery
that would follow. He began to understand that though we need to
recover and move on, we also need to experience the loss. That we
need to move in our own time, not someone else's.

Five Cries of Grief
By Merton P. Strommen

What I love about this book is that it takes a HE said/ SHE said
approach. The book is written by parents who lost a 25 year old son
and each has a voice to share. The chapters alternate between the
father's journal and the mother's journal, with each realizing that
the pains and how they deal with the loss are so completely
different. This is the only book my husband was able to relate to, as
it came from a father's view, didn't appear to be all mushy and was
not preachy.


Forgiving God
By Carla Killough McClafferty

This book is about a woman's struggle with God's answer to say, "No."
If you have lost a child to a home accident, this book may help you
deal with your unique grief—the one that is often accompanied with
tremendous amounts of guilt. Carla McClafferty's son, Corey, had
fallen out of a swing at home and ended up dying. She shares her
disbelief, the agony of the hospital stay and her anger at God for
not answering her prayers to save her child. It's also the perfect
book for anyone who has not lost a child but is desperately trying to
understand the pain of that loss so that they can help others grieve
by showing true empathy and compassion. This is a really emotional
book that will cause tears to flow in buckets.

Gift of Forgiveness
By Charles F. Stanley

This book was written for those who suffer with bitterness towards
oneself and others. This book helps you heal at your own pace while
it teaches you to stop lashing out at others who—especially those who
are trying to offer help. Mr. Charles Stanley is very straight
forward and honest in his writing. It seems that he holds nothing
back. He offers steps to help us forgive ourselves and others, based
on biblical principles and he offers us reassurance and comfort such
as, "Regardless of what you have done, you have not stretched God
beyond his limits. His love knows no limits."

Gone But Not Lost
By David W. Wiersbe

David Wiersbe allows us to step outside our grief, from time to time,
in order to see the whole picture. What is amazing about this book is
that he seems to hit on every core of grief, but from a more
solidified aspect. I especially find the three page chapter on
marriage to be of grave importance! Each individual grieves
differently and it can often be unbearable and intolerable to see how
your mate is grieving compared to how you grieve. t is a known fact
that the death of a child destroys marriages because the pain is so
grave and often occupancies such distance. In less than three pages,
he has given details to save one's marriage during such a loss. And I
can attest that what he says is true and beneficial!

Roses in December
By Marilyn Willett Heavilin

Marilyn has captured the pain of losing a child vividly in each page.
She has not lost one, but three children. Whether your child was an
infant, a stillborn, or an adult, this book will help you cope with
your loss. Roses in December digs deep into the emotions of losing
one's child and helps the reader deal with anger, sadness,
depression, and other aspects of grief in a productive way. This is a
must read for anyone who has ever lost a child, or knows someone who
has.

About The Author:
Alyice Edrich is an affordable eulogy writer for hire. She helps the
grieving put their mixed-up, overpowering thoughts into
compassionate, heart-warming eulogies that can not only be read
allowed, but saved for years to come. Visit
http://goodmourninglord.com to learn how to write your own eulogy or
to hire Alyice to write one for you.