God's Mercies after Suicide: Blessings Woven through a Mother's Heart~Preface

Dear readers,

A portion of God's Mercies after Suicide: Blessings Woven through a Mother's Heart will be released here through installments beginning March 18, 2015.

If you choose to read the chapters that are offered, I'd like to share with you what to expect. I'll post three times per week on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays. There are three parts to each chapter, the main devotion, My Mother Memory, and a journal page for the reader.

Until the book comes out in print you could journal on your own, using the suggested headings as shown below:

• ~Your Mother Memories~
•  ~Your Prayer of Praise~
•  ~A Scripture of Encouragement~

Thank you, dear readers, for taking the time to follow parts of my first year of loss after my son, Joshua, died by suicide. On this day, March 16th, it has been eleven years since my son left his family and friends with our grief, questions, and the memories of him.

I pray these chapters will be a comfort to you. And if you know of someone who would benefit from reading my blogged book, please pass on the link.

Joshua's sixth birthday, wearing the western shirt I made for him

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the English Standard Version (ESV), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a Division of Good News Publishers.

Used by permission. All rights reserved.

God’s Mercies after Suicide:

Blessings Woven through a Mother’s Heart

Jean Ann Williams

Preface

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?”

—Isaiah 43:18–19

I had a dream. I dreamed the nightmare never happened. Our son Joshua never passed on to the hereafter. He married and had children. Then I woke and knew the dream was only that—a dream. We live with our reality.

I’ve written these devotions for those of you who have shared the deep heartache of a child’s suicide. Through my writing, I believe God wants me to share from my heart to yours, by encouraging you and giving you ways to cope. You can have hope and peace after a suicide. God has helped me, and He wants to help you. The loss is horrific, but God is faithful. He brought me through this dark time, and He wants to do the same for you.

     

A yearning to write this story came five years into my journey of loss. I sensed a dawn of courage within myself, but I hadn’t come this far in a blink, nor on my own. Although I knew I’d lose my nerve, only to gain it back time and again before I completed my story, I also knew I’d have the help from Lord God, and the folks He sent my way.

     

Am I full of courage? Yes! Yes, I shout, with God’s hand upon me.

God, when I falter, I pray You will renew my strength. In Jesus’s name. Amen.