Articles by Gary Roe
I’m Glad I Had a Chance to Say Goodbye
When someone dies, how we say goodbye matters. This past week was the anniversary of my dad's death. Looking back, I'm grateful I had a chance to say goodbye. I was 15 years old at the time. My dad dropped in front of me of a heart attack one Sunday afternoon. He...
What COVID taught me about grief…
Having COVID taught me a lot. Living in the COVID era has taught me even more. Specifically, COVID reminded me of some key truths about grief. When we lose sight of these simple truths, things go badly. COVID... This virus effects everyone differently. Some are...
Why Everyone Needs a “Grief Recovery Team.”
Though grief is lonely, none of us were meant to grieve alone. This article, adapted from the book Shattered: Surviving the Loss of a Child, presents the concept of a Grief Recovery Team. No matter what our loss, we need helpful, supportive people around us. “Thanks...
The story behind my next grief book…
"Why did you write this book?" "What can this book do for me?" I get asked these two questions all the time. So today I thought I would take some time and answer these questions about my new book that's coming out in a few weeks - Widowed Walk: Experiencing God After...
How a Texas Winter Storm Reminded Me of Grief
I live in south-central Texas. Right now, it's a mess. We're freezing. It hardly ever gets below freezing here. Shoot, I have two palm trees in my backyard. Over the last five days, we've had single digit temps with sub-zero wind chills. Where you live, this might be...
What we wish others knew about us and our grief…
The following article is adapted from Please Be Patient, I'm Grieving: How to Care for and Support the Grieving Heart. This book includes what many of us wish we could say to those around us about what loss is like, what we're going through, and how they can support...
Pacing ourselves while grieving…
Grief is a more like a marathon than a sprint. The process is arduous, painful, and exhausting. Those of us who are grieving know this all too well. When we lose someone special, our worlds are altered forever. We bump into more loss and change almost every day....
Looking Ahead: Some Grief Resolutions for 2021
Recently, I did a Zoom Session for subscribers where I shared some Grief Resolutions for 2021. The response was so positive, I thought I would share them here. Resolutions, Affirmations, Truths. Frankly, I'm not a big fan or resolutions. I prefer to call the following...
When our loss doesn’t feel fair…
"This isn't fair!" is a common statement for those who have lost someone special. Why did this happen to them, to us? We look at the world around us and are stunned. How can this be? Other people still have spouses, partners, parents, children, siblings, and friends....
What will 2021 hold for us who are grieving?
I don't know about you, but I'm glad to see 2020 disappearing into my rear view mirror. 2020 was a year of profound, debilitating grief. The sheer amount of change was stunning and crippling. For those of us who lost family members or friends, COVID added a thick,...