We are currently working our way through a series of episodes that honestly discuss the realities of friendship amidst loss and grief. This episode is Part 1 of a special 2 part episode where I interview best friends Whitney & Nicole.
These two women became friends when Nicole reached out with a text that said something along the lines of “I know you don’t really know me but I just found out my baby has died.” Whitney had walked through the loss of her daughter Olivia a year prior and was able to help Nicole in the days following the tragic words that there was no heartbeat for her son William.
They became close friends, bound by a common thread of having lost a baby. Little did either of these women know that just a short time later Whitney’s son Rory would be born with the same genetic condition as her daughter Olivia and a similar text message would be sent only this time it would be from Whitney to Nicole. These two friends would walk this familiar journey through loss and grief once again.
Their story of friendship is unique and powerful. While their story is unique what they share here is honest and tender and their thoughts about friendship after loss are incredibly relatable and helpful.
I wanted to give space for each of these women’s stories to be shared so this episode is broken into two parts. Stay tuned for part 2 next week when we will continue this conversation.
I am forever grateful for these two women and the friendship they represent. I pray it encourages you to step into the messiness of friendship after loss as it reminds you that it is absolutely worth it.
If you love a grieving mom, don’t forget to check out episode #94 about how to love a grieving friend, it’s a simple list of 10 don’t do this instead do this. To download a free checklist of the ideas shared in that episode head to www.themorning.com/friendsandfamily On that page you will also be able to access all of the existing resources we have about how to love a grieving mom -- if you love a grieving mom I think these resources will be very helpful to you.
And as always, if you are a grieving mom, I want to invite you to join our free online community, The Joyful Mourning Community -- it’s a place where you can find women who have experienced the loss of a baby and are navigating this grief journey. It’s a safe place where you can ask hard questions, lament, ask for prayer, a place where you can find women who understand what you are going through and can remind you you aren’t alone. To join our community head to themorning.com/community. I can’t wait to see you there.
SHOW NOTESwww.themorning.com/blog/episode096
COMMUNITYwww.themorning.com/community
