On this episode, Karen McCord shares her profound experience with grief, following the loss of her daughter Carley, a well known ESPN sports reporter, in a tragic plane crash while traveling to cover the Atlanta Peach Bowl in December 2019. Karen reflects on both the personal and public aspects of her journey through grief, the impact of her daughter's life, and the haunting thoughts she sometimes experienced about outliving Carley. The discussion emphasizes the importance of sharing personal stories to connect with others who are navigating their own grief journeys. Karen also shares how GOD revealed His love, grace, and comfort in very personal ways along her grief journey. Finally, you’ll hear about Karen’s recently published book, “Only Rainbows: The Carley McCord Story”, capturing their family’s grief journey and a very tender tribute to their beloved Carley.

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You can contact us by email at: hope@emptychairendeavor.com through our parent organization website:
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If you would like to share your story on an upcoming episode, please send us an email so that we can talk with you about it.
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In this heartfelt episode, Greg Buffkin welcomes Ron Deal from FamilyLife to discuss the profound journey of grief following the loss of his precious son Conner. Ron shares his personal story of losing Connor to a sudden, tragic medical complication, emphasizing the importance of not wasting pain and using it to help others. The conversation delves into the duality of grief, represented by the metaphor of two rails: one of pain and sorrow, and the other of hope and trust in God. Ron explains how navigating between these two rails is essential for healing, and how sharing their story has been a significant part of their journey towards recovery. Throughout the discussion, Ron highlights the importance of community and support for grieving parents, sharing insights on how to create a safe space for grief, and the necessity of being selective about who enters one’s grief garden. He also touches on the value of lament in the grieving process, encouraging listeners to express their pain authentically while holding onto hope. The episode concludes with Ron talking about he and his wife’s involvement with the While We’re Waiting ministry, which provides support for parents who have lost children, and the importance of finding trusted voices in the journey of grief.

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*** Please take a minute to leave a review on Apple Podcasts if you enjoy this podcast by clicking the link below. By doing so you help increase our visibility and discoverability for others, and we value your feedback!

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You can contact us by email at: hope@emptychairendeavor.com through our parent organization website:
https://www.emptychairendeavor.com/
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If you would like to share your story on an upcoming episode, please send us an email so that we can talk with you about it.
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In this hope filled conversation, author and speaker Angie Ford-Green shares her journey of grief after the loss of her son, Kevin in a surfing tragedy. She reflects on the profound impact of his life and death on her identity, her marriage, and her family. Angie emphasizes the importance of community, faith, and the need to embrace grief while also finding hope and purpose in life after loss. Through her personal experiences and insights, she offers encouragement to other grieving parents, reminding them that they are not alone and that healing is possible through the power and grace of Jesus Christ. We invite you to listen!

Most Recent Books:

• A Mother Like Me (A Story of Faith, Hope, and Love in Loss)
• Mothers Like Me ( Stories of Faith, Hope, and Love in Loss)

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*** Please take a minute to leave a review on Apple Podcasts if you enjoy this podcast by clicking the link below. By doing so you help increase our visibility and discoverability for others, and we value your feedback!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-after-child-sibling-loss-the-empty-chair-endeavor/id1654053256
You can contact us by email at: hope@emptychairendeavor.com through our parent organization website:
https://www.emptychairendeavor.com/
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If you would like to share your story on an upcoming episode, please send us an email so that we can talk with you about it.
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In this heartfelt conversation, Janet Boxx shares her profound journey through grief after experiencing the loss of her son through stillbirth and later, the tragic loss of two daughters in a car accident. You’ll hear us talk about how she’s continuing to navigate the messiness and complexity of grief, as well as cultural misunderstandings surrounding it, and the importance of community support. Janet emphasizes that healing is a long, often unpredictable process that doesn’t always follow standard models or stages. We also discuss the significance of lamenting and expressing true feelings to God. Ultimately, she shares her hope and contentment found in relationship with Jesus Christ, illustrating that joy can coexist with sorrow. We believe you’ll find this conversation encouraging, and Janet’s faith inspiring.

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*** Please take a minute to leave a review on Apple Podcasts if you enjoy this podcast by clicking the link below. By doing so you help increase our visibility and discoverability for others, and we value your feedback!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-after-child-sibling-loss-the-empty-chair-endeavor/id1654053256
You can contact us by email at: hope@emptychairendeavor.com through our parent organization website:
https://www.emptychairendeavor.com/
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If you would like to share your story on an upcoming episode, please send us an email so that we can talk with you about it.
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In this episode, Greg Buffkin speaks with Sam Hodges, president of Church Initiative, about GriefShare, the number one grief support program in the world, and its significance in providing support for those experiencing grief, as well as the importance of community in the healing process. They discuss Sam's journey to Church Initiative, the signs of healing in grief, and some of the resources available for grieving individuals, including a new book titled 'Is My Grief Normal?'. We hope you will find this conversation encouraging, as well as informative about a proven resource for helping those who are experiencing their own grief journey.

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*** Please take a minute to leave a review on Apple Podcasts if you enjoy this podcast by clicking the link below. By doing so you help increase our visibility and discoverability for others, and we value your feedback!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-after-child-sibling-loss-the-empty-chair-endeavor/id1654053256
You can contact us by email at: hope@emptychairendeavor.com through our parent organization website:
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If you would like to share your story on an upcoming episode, please send us an email so that we can talk with you about it.
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In this heartfelt conversation, Ashley Opliger shares her journey of grief after the stillbirth of her daughter, Bridget, and how it led to the creation of Bridget's Cradles, a ministry that provides cradles for families experiencing loss. Ashley discusses the emotional, physical, and spiritual aspects of grief, the importance of communication in relationships, and how grief evolves over time. She emphasizes the significance of honoring our children, navigating holidays, and the impact of loss on parenting. Through her experiences, Ashley offers hope and encouragement to others, highlighting the importance of remembering and talking about loss, as well as the comfort and hope found in Jesus Christ and the promise of heaven.

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*** Please take a minute to leave a review on Apple Podcasts if you enjoy this podcast by clicking the link below. By doing so you help increase our visibility and discoverability for others, and we value your feedback!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-after-child-sibling-loss-the-empty-chair-endeavor/id1654053256
You can contact us by email at: hope@emptychairendeavor.com through our parent organization website:
https://www.emptychairendeavor.com/
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If you would like to share your story on an upcoming episode, please send us an email so that we can talk with you about it.
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In this heartfelt conversation, Melanie DeSimone shares her journey of grief after the tragic loss of her son, Dominic. She discusses the profound impact of child loss on family dynamics, the importance of community support, and the lessons learned through her experience. Melanie emphasizes the need for compassion, understanding, and practical strategies for navigating grief, while also highlighting her ministry, Heartache and Hope, which aims to comfort and support other bereaved parents.

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*** Please take a minute to leave a review on Apple Podcasts if you enjoy this podcast by clicking the link below. By doing so you help increase our visibility and discoverability for others, and we value your feedback!

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You can contact us by email at: hope@emptychairendeavor.com through our parent organization website:
https://www.emptychairendeavor.com/
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If you would like to share your story on an upcoming episode, please send us an email so that we can talk with you about it.
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In this heartfelt conversation, Greg talks with Linda Cook about her journey of grief after losing her beautiful daughter Jocelyn in a tragic accident. Linda shares her experiences of navigating the complexities of loss, the impact of her faith, and the importance of community support. Through her story, she highlights the ongoing process of healing, the joy of remembering Jocelyn, and the legacy she continues to inspire in others.

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*** Please take a minute to leave a review on Apple Podcasts if you enjoy this podcast by clicking the link below. By doing so you help increase our visibility and discoverability for others, and we value your feedback!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-after-child-sibling-loss-the-empty-chair-endeavor/id1654053256
You can contact us by email at: hope@emptychairendeavor.com through our parent organization website:
https://www.emptychairendeavor.com/
Our Facebook link:
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If you would like to share your story on an upcoming episode, please send us an email so that we can talk with you about it.
Thank you for listening!