http://opentohopefaith.com Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:42:53 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Father's Day is just ahead, and for more than 150 million Americans whose fathers have died, it will be a day of missing Dad. Father's Day can be a traumatic day for those of us whose fathers who have died and the anticipation of the day is often as difficult ... http://opentohopefaith.com/hope-and-faith/hope-and-faith/fathers-day-after-loss-by-susan-v/ (by Rev. Charles T. Rubey)  The Pieta is on display in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. It is one of the more famous pieces of sculpture created by Michelangelo. It depicts Mary holding the crucified body of Jesus. This mother’s heart is broken as she views her child’s broken body. I ... http://opentohopefaith.com/hope-and-faith/hope-and-faith/the-pieta-a-mothers-day-message/ (by Evelyn Hall)  A friend has lost a family member, maybe a child, husband or mother. What does one say or do? Some of us don't know what to say, so we remain silent. Others don't know what to do, so they remain still. I was asked to write an article ... http://opentohopefaith.com/hope-and-faith/hope-and-faith/how-do-we-cope-when-we-lose-a-loved-one-by-evelyn-hall/ Everything that lives in this world will die. That is a fact of life. From the moment we are born we begin a journey that ends the same for every human being. And along the way, we will lose many, many things. Time, loved ones, beloved pets, material gains… So ... http://opentohopefaith.com/hope-and-faith/hope-and-faith/finding-joy-in-a-world-of-losses/ I found out this week that my father’s several years-long battle with cancer has moved to a terminal stage. And while the news is not completely unexpected, it is a frightening jolt to be faced with his mortality in terms of months, all the same. My father has quietly admitted that he ... http://opentohopefaith.com/hope-and-faith/hope-and-faith/preparing-to-say-goodbye-and-other-challenges-of-the-heart/ Picture the humorous sight of a Golden Retriever with short, little Corgi legs and you have a glimpse of our precious Tucker, who died February 21, 2009 at age 16 1/2. Tucker was truly a ray of sunshine in our lives. She was always there to greet us at the ... http://opentohopefaith.com/hope-and-faith/hope-and-faith/a-spiritual-connection-to-our-pet-companions/ (Note: "From Heartbreak To Happiness" reprinted with permission by Aurora Winter) Most of us are looking for love in all the wrong places. When a relationship ends, whether it be through divorce, death, or break-up, most people rush out to find someone new. I know — I have done it myself! ... http://opentohopefaith.com/hope-and-faith/hope-and-faith/from-heartbreak-to-happiness-by-aurora-winter/ When we lose a loved one we are confronted with a life-changing event that forces us to accept that our lives will never be the same again. As a grief counselor, and someone who has experienced my own profound losses, I have read all the textbooks and witnessed the common ... http://opentohopefaith.com/hope-and-faith/hope-and-faith/the-gift-by-john-pete/ HEAVENLY SIGNS FROM OUR LOVED ONES - OUR SON BILLY (by Guy Dusseault) Our story begins on June 27 2004 a beautiful Sunday morning at around 10:00 am, our lives changed forever. On that day we received the most devastating news any parent could ever receive, that one of their children has died. ... http://opentohopefaith.com/hope-and-faith/hope-and-faith/heavenly-signs-from-our-loved-ones-our-son-billy/ WHAT IS FAITH, BY THE WAY? It’s a simple question, right? Maybe not… Faith can mean many things to many people, and whatever one’s personal beliefs, they should be respected as everyone’s journey is their own. This is reflected in our everyday life experiences, including grieving the loss of a loved ... http://opentohopefaith.com/hope-and-faith/hope-and-faith/got-faith-by-john-pete/