While We're Waiting® - Hope After Child Loss

When the 19-year-old daughter of Jim and Carol Smitherman fell critically ill with a pulmonary embolism days before Christmas in 2011, they began to pray for a miracle.  After that earthly miracle didn't happen and Sarah went to Heaven, they realized they had actually received a different kind of miracle, an even more powerful one.  For more information about the While We're Waiting ministry and the free faith-based retreats we offer for bereaved parents, including the ones in the Lake Tahoe area, please click HERE.  For more information about our While We're Waiting support groups, including the one led by the Smithermans in Sparks, Nevada, please click HERE.  For more information about how you can make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry to allow us to continue to offer our retreats at no cost to the attendees, please click HERE.  I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! (Though I read every message, I am unable to respond through this format.) ** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.  We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting! Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parentsClick HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country. Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channelClick HERE to follow our public Facebook pageClick HERE to follow us on Instagram Click HERE to follow us on Twitter Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministryContact Jill by email at:  jill@whilewerewaiting.org 

If you've ever wondered what our While We're Waiting Weekends for Bereaved Parents are all about but were a little hesitant to look into them, this is your episode!  Jill takes a few minutes today to share what a WWW Weekend is, who can come, where they are held, who leads them, and what our guests do while they're there.   Ultimately, she reminds the listeners what our WWW Weekends are all about:  1) to assure parents that although life is different than we ever thought it would be it can still be good, 2) to remind parents that we are not alone on this journey, 3) to encourage parents to live well while they're waiting to see their children again, and most importantly, 4) to point hurting moms and dads to the hope we have in Jesus.  To learn more about the While We're Waiting ministry or to register for a retreat, visit our website by clicking HERE.  To read about our different types of retreats, click HERE.  To see a list of all of our locations, click HERE.  To make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry so we can continue to offer these retreats at no cost to the attendees, click HERE.  I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! (Though I read every message, I am unable to respond through this format.) ** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.  We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting! Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parentsClick HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country. Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channelClick HERE to follow our public Facebook pageClick HERE to follow us on Instagram Click HERE to follow us on Twitter Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministryContact Jill by email at:  jill@whilewerewaiting.org 

When her 3-year-old son Austin was diagnosed with strep throat on a Tuesday morning in the spring of 2008, Kim Erickson had no idea how her life was about to change.  Austin's unexpected Homegoing just a few days later launched her on a journey of deep sorrow, but also led her to new life in Christ.  Kim has compiled her experiences as a grieving mom into a book called "Surviving Sorrow:  A Mother's Guide to Living with Loss",  which includes very practical tips for life after the loss of a child.  Today's episode is the second half of Jill's conversation with Kim, in which they have a wide-ranging discussion of issues faced on a daily basis by grieving parents. Click HERE to visit Kim Erickson's website and access the many resources available there for grieving parents. Click HERE to find resources on Heaven by Randy Alcorn.Click HERE to learn more about the While We're Waiting ministry to bereaved parents.I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! (Though I read every message, I am unable to respond through this format.) ** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.  We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting! Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parentsClick HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country. Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channelClick HERE to follow our public Facebook pageClick HERE to follow us on Instagram Click HERE to follow us on Twitter Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministryContact Jill by email at:  jill@whilewerewaiting.org 

When her 3-year-old son Austin was diagnosed with strep throat on a Tuesday morning in the spring of 2008, Kim Erickson had no idea how her life was about to change.  Austin's unexpected Homegoing just a few days later launched her on a journey of deep sorrow, but also led her to new life in Christ.  Kim has compiled her experiences as a grieving mom into a book called "Surviving Sorrow:  A Mother's Guide to Living with Loss",  which includes very practical tips for life after the loss of a child.  Today's episode is the first half of Jill's conversation with Kim, in which Kim shares Austin's story, how she came to know Jesus as her Lord and Savior, and the beginning of their discussion of some of the topics in her book.  Click HERE to visit Kim Erickson's website and access the many resources available there for grieving parents.  Click HERE to learn more about the While We're Waiting ministry to bereaved parents.I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! (Though I read every message, I am unable to respond through this format.) ** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.  We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting! Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parentsClick HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country. Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channelClick HERE to follow our public Facebook pageClick HERE to follow us on Instagram Click HERE to follow us on Twitter Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministryContact Jill by email at:  jill@whilewerewaiting.org 

In today's episode, Jill introduces her listeners to a goat named Knothead who spends his days lying around a barnyard ruminating, shares what God's Word has to say about ruminating, and discusses what all this has to do with us as bereaved parents.For more information about the While We're Waiting ministry and the faith-based services we offer for bereaved parents, please click HERE.  I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! (Though I read every message, I am unable to respond through this format.) ** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.  We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting! Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parentsClick HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country. Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channelClick HERE to follow our public Facebook pageClick HERE to follow us on Instagram Click HERE to follow us on Twitter Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministryContact Jill by email at:  jill@whilewerewaiting.org 

Today Jill is joined by her husband Brad to talk specifically about issues faced by bereaved dads.   Brad shares some encouraging words about the gift of earthly fatherhood, the fact that we are still our kids' parents even after they go to Heaven, and that the future glory of fatherhood remains ahead of us.  For more information about our While We're Waiting Bereaved Dads' Days, click HERE.  To make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry, click HERE.  I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! (Though I read every message, I am unable to respond through this format.) ** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.  We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting! Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parentsClick HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country. Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channelClick HERE to follow our public Facebook pageClick HERE to follow us on Instagram Click HERE to follow us on Twitter Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministryContact Jill by email at:  jill@whilewerewaiting.org 

Matt Young was a  young man who loved the Lord and was mature beyond his years.  He wanted to be a firefighter from the time he was a little boy, and he accomplished that dream and served his community faithfully for eight years.  He married the love of his life and maintained a close and loving relationship with his parents and sisters.  When he suddenly and inexplicably took his own life in May of 2013, his parents, Terry and Joy Young, were left with a lot of questions.  Listen in to hear how God led them to "give up the whys" and trust Him. The book Joy referred to is "Heaven" by Randy Alcorn.   You can purchase books and materials through Randy's website by clicking HERE.   For information about the While We're Waiting support group led by Terry & Joy Young, as well as our other support group locations, click HERE.  Plan of salvation:Realize that you are a sinner. No matter how good a life we try to live, we still fall miserably short of being a 'good person.' That's because we're all sinners. We all fall short of God's desire for us to be holy. The Bible says, 'No one is righteous - not even one' (Rom. 3:10 NLT). This is because we cannot become who we are supposed to be without Jesus Christ.Recognize that Jesus Christ died on the cross for you. The Bible tells us, 'But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners' (Rom. 5:8 NLT). This is the good news, that God loves us so much that He sent His only Son to die in our place when we least deserved it.Repent of your sin. The Bible tells us to 'repent therefore and be converted' (Acts 3:19). The word 'repent' means 'to change our direction in life.' Instead of running away from God, we can run toward him.Receive Jesus into your life. Becoming a Christian is not merely believing some creed or going to church on Sundays. Becoming a Christian is allowing Christ himself to take residence in your life and heart. Jesus said, 'Behold, I stand at the door [of your life] and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in' (Rev. 3:20).If you haven't ever invited Jesus into your life, pray a sincere prayer like this one:'Dear Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe you died for my sins. RighI would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! (Though I read every message, I am unable to respond through this format.) ** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.  We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting! Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parentsClick HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country. Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channelClick HERE to follow our public Facebook pageClick HERE to follow us on Instagram Click HERE to follow us on Twitter Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministryContact Jill by email at:  jill@whilewerewaiting.org 

The fifth chapter of John tells of an encounter between Jesus and a man who had been unable to walk for 38 years.  Jesus asked the man a strange question:  "Do you want to be healed?"  Of course he did ... but he was unable to attain healing on his own.  Jesus asked the man to take an action he was clearly incapable of ... and in that moment, He gave the man the ability to take that first trembling step toward healing.  In today's episode, Jill discusses how we as grieving parents often seek to hold on to our pain, as it's a link to our child.  She reminds us that though we will always have a very tender and painful place deep inside, we needn't live in misery for the rest of our lives.  Abundant life is possible after child loss ... though it's certainly different from what we once thought an abundant life would represent.  Because of Jesus ... and as He gives us the ability ... we too can pick up our beds and walk.   To learn more about the While We're Waiting ministry and the free faith-based retreats we provide for bereaved parents, click HERE.To make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry, click HERE.  I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! (Though I read every message, I am unable to respond through this format.) ** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.  We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting! Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parentsClick HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country. Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channelClick HERE to follow our public Facebook pageClick HERE to follow us on Instagram Click HERE to follow us on Twitter Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministryContact Jill by email at:  jill@whilewerewaiting.org 

Michael Ellis was a compassionate, tenderhearted young man who lived "all in" for Jesus.  In today's episode Jill talks with Michael's mom and dad, Sean and Heather Ellis, about their son's ATV accident that broke them to the core and the faithfulness and presence of God in the aftermath.  They remind us that the more we're broken, the more we can experience the Lord in his fullness.  To find out more about our While We're Waiting Support Groups for Bereaved Parents, including the group facilitated by Sean & Heather Ellis and Jason & Robin Hargrove in the Memphis area, click HERE.  For more information about our free While We're Waiting Weekend for Bereaved Parents at The Country Place in Moscow, Tennessee, click HERE.  To see all of the locations of our While We're Waiting Weekends for Bereaved Parents, click HERE.  I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! (Though I read every message, I am unable to respond through this format.) ** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.  We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting! Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parentsClick HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country. Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channelClick HERE to follow our public Facebook pageClick HERE to follow us on Instagram Click HERE to follow us on Twitter Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministryContact Jill by email at:  jill@whilewerewaiting.org 

In today's episode, Jill shares what she imagines it might be like when she gets to Heaven and sees her daughter Hannah again.  For more information about the While We're Waiting ministry and the free retreats for bereaved parents we offer around the country, click HERE.To make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministry, click HERE. I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! (Though I read every message, I am unable to respond through this format.) ** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.  We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting! Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parentsClick HERE to learn more about our network of While We're Waiting support groups all across the country. Click HERE to subscribe to our YouTube channelClick HERE to follow our public Facebook pageClick HERE to follow us on Instagram Click HERE to follow us on Twitter Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation to the While We're Waiting ministryContact Jill by email at:  jill@whilewerewaiting.org