Articles by Gary Roe

When GRIEF Meets THANKSGIVING, Who Will Win?

Grief is about to meet Thanksgiving. Which one will win? We think of these two as enemies. What if they could actually be friends? Holidays surface our losses. We're assaulted by memories. Good times. Not so good times. But most of all, we wish for more time - with...

Six Steps for Managing the Holidays while Hurting

Wow. It's November. The holidays are upon us. And for those of us who are hurting, this time of year can pack a real punch. Why are holidays so hard? Holidays are difficult because they automatically surface our losses. We're hyper-aware of who's missing....

Oh No. The Holidays are Coming.

Uh oh. It's the end of October. November is around the corner. Here come the holidays. Holidays can be tough Holidays surface our losses and wave them in front of our faces. Days we once celebrated can become times we dread. When special days arrive, we're...

OVERWHELM – When Little Things Become Gigantic

There are times in life when everything seems gigantic. For example, we're vulnerable when in the midst of: Conflict Stress Tragedy Abuse Loss Death Grief The unknown These are just a few of things that can grip and squeeze us with seemingly merciless power. Our...

Why LONELINESS Hurts (And What You Can Do About It)

Loneliness is awful. I’ve felt alone many times. At times, loneliness seemed to take over my life. I still feel alone more than I admit, even though I’m constantly surrounded by people. Alone Together Recently, I ran across a book titled Alone Together. Those...

Three Things That Saved My Son's Life

Our 12-year-old son Aaron was recently in the hospital for two weeks battling some very stubborn infections. Today, I'm happy to report that Aaron has been home for over a week and is recovering nicely. Now that the danger is over, we're extremely relieved. But things...

What I'm Learning Through My Son's Illness

Life is full of upsets. One dictionary defines “upset” as “an unexpected, worrisome occurrence.” Another definition reads, “the state of being turned upside down or over.” I’m in the middle of an upset. Perhaps you are too. Uh oh... At the beginning of this...

7 Reasons Why It's Okay to Hurt

Loss is hard. IT HURTS. We lose people, marriages, relationships, jobs, health, homes, financial solvency, and so on. Whatever the loss, we grieve. Why does grief hurt so much? Check out the video below. In this 5 minute video, I share 7 reasons why it's okay,...

Thank you! HEARTBROKEN is a National Book Award Finalist

Well, I'm flabbergasted (I've always loved that word!). HEARTBROKEN was recently recognized as a 2015 National Indie Excellence Book Award Finalist. As I was writing HEARTBROKEN, I prayed for two things: That God would use it to bring hope, comfort, and healing to...

10 Things I Learned from Grief and Pain

Who likes pain and grief? I don’t. But if I have to go through it, at least I can be thankful for its lessons. Here are 10 things grief and pain have taught me: 1. Life isn’t smooth, nor is it supposed to be. Grief isn't weird or negative. It's not a...