Learning How to Deal with the Loss of a Loved One: AfterMath

I will never forget September 11, 2007 as long as I live. That day, I was busy teaching my children about God’s creation. In the distance, I heard my phone ring. I remember picking it up and saying hello. My brother was on the other end of the phone. In a fog, I heard him say “Momma’s gone. She’s dead.” There is nothing like learning how to deal with the loss of a loved one.

I was devastated beyond words.

Not because she and I were close, but because I had lost something that day that I would never have the chance of getting back ever again- the chance at repairing a relationship that was taken from me when I was little. Losing her that day cause me to harden a bit in some way. I blocked out her death and our life together and never really allowed myself to grieve — just until recently just a few month ago.

There is something about grieving that is so healing. I learned a lot about that in this new book that I just finished reading –Aftermath: Growing in Grace through Grief.

About the book:

Loss is a four-letter word that grips our hearts and gridlocks our lives. Grief can hold us captive until we surrender it to God. How do we find the necessary grace to journey through the mourning process?

Juxtaposed to the outpouring of her mother’s words about grief, the author shares her parallel journey from the emotional abyss of grief after becoming an adult orphan. With candor, the author shares her own emotions experienced along the spectrum of loss after her parents’ deaths: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance—adding interactive options for readers.

Five sections cover these common emotions and provide:

• comfort Scripture lists

• counsel sections from grief experts

• chronicling sections with detailed helps

• tangible handles on dealing with grief during holidays, capturing loved ones’ legacy, and more.

About the Author:

Margaret McSweeney is a well-published author often writing online articles for Make It Better (the former North Shore Magazine) and freelance articles for the Daily Herald, the largest suburban Chicago newspaper. In addition, she has authored and compiled several books including A Mother’s Heart Knows; Go Back and Be Happy; Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace and most recently, Mother of Pearl.

Margaret has a master’s degree from the University of South Carolina in international business. As is the founder of Pearl Girls, Margaret collaborates with other writers on projects to help fund a safe house for WINGS, an organization that helps women and their children who are victims of domestic violence, and to build wells for schoolchildren in Uganda through Hands of Hope. For the past 10 years she has served on the board of directors and leadership advisory board for WINGS. Margaret lives with her husband and 2 daughters in the Chicago suburbs. Learn more about Margaret and the work of Pearl Girls at www.margaretmcsweeney.com.

Find out what others are saying about this book!