It is a true story that tells of life and all its ups and down. It deals with death, what happens before, during, and after, the unexpected things that go along with it and what life after death looks like.
Most people have dealt with illness, or the death of someone close and can relate. But beyond just death, the book gives insights into the feelings associated with living through tragedy of all kinds. It also gives those who want to do something, but don’t know how, easy tips to assist others dealing with grief, without leaving their own personal comfort zone.
“What do I do now?” “This can’t be happening!” “I don’t know how to help.” “What can I say that won’t cause more pain?” If you have ever had those thoughts, this is the book for you. Love, Life, Grief and Joy gives real life glimpses into things none of us want to believe will ever happen to us. In the process of Donna Jean telling this true story, we see not just the pain and suffering of grief and death, but also the reflections of a woman dealing with life and all its ups and downs. She knows that God is in charge and no matter what happens next, He will get her through, smiling or laughing through her tears. Yes, grief can be emotionally draining and overwhelmingly frustrating, but it will not last forever. All the love and compassion that are shared, even in the smallest ways, are the healing power of joy that God provides. There is always something new and exciting waiting for us. Be prepared to laugh and cry as you see your own life when you flip each page of this powerful book.
EXCERPTS: CLOCKS, TRASH and ICE CREAM
“The droplets of water in the bathroom sink seem to be happy. They are “dancing” in the light! That reminds me of the clock that our youngest daughter gave us for Christmas at the beginning of his illness. It chimes a different song each hour. Garry use to dance to those chimes every hour!
“He finally had me take the batteries out of the clock because he couldn’t stand to hear it and not be able to dance. Garry must be dancing in Heaven now. The water droplets were God’s way of showing me that.”
“The trash has to go out for pickup. There are ten bags. They stink because of all the bloody diapers. Blood and death have a strange stench about them. It is very hard to carry the bags. The smell of the blood overwhelms me. A couple of days ago, this was a part of my husband’s physical body. These bags, hold a part of him, and I have to take them to the curb.”
“Sometimes, we don’t appreciated what we have until it’s gone. I have found that memories, pictures, memorabilia and talking about loved ones helps to ease the pain and encourage the happy thoughts. Memories can be a ‘good’ hurt. Like cold ice cream going down a sore throat.”
It is a touching and honest memoir of a woman, wife, and mother’s experience living with her husband as he slowly succumbs to a difficult cancer diagnosis. Sharing her intimate private moments of grief and uncertainty, offering a window into not only her grief but also her ultimate joy as she turns things over to God for comfort.
A truly heartbreaking story, yet the ultimate comfort and healing at the same time. It teaches being brave and believing that God is always there to guide and help in every way. No pain will last forever. Time heals a broken heart.
It was November 1995 when Donna Jean Fletcher/Everitts minister husband, Garry, was diagnosed with cancer. After the shocking diagnosis came rounds of grueling chemotherapy and the unfortunate reality that the cancer was still growing inside him. A little over ten months later, Garry succumbed to the disease, leaving Donna to face a new challenge: her grief.
Death brings feelings that none of us understand. In a touching and honest recount of her experiences both during and after her husband passed away from cancer, Donna shares a glimpse into her intimate private moments of grief and uncertainty. While offering a window into not only her grief but also her ultimate joy as she turned everything over to God for comfort, Donna provides encouragement to others in the same situation while emphasizing that grief, although emotionally draining and overwhelmingly frustrating at times, will not last forever and that hope is always within our reach.
Griefs Story: Joy Will Come shares a true story of love, loss, and sadness as a woman embarks on a poignant journey from the darkness of grief into the light of healing and faith. The droplets of water in the bathroom sink seemed to be happy. They were dancing in the light! I thought I would never want to dance again.
EXCERPTS: LATE NIGHT RIDE
“In late August, he decided he wanted to go for a ride. I tried to talk him out of it, as there was no one to help me put him into the van, and it was late. Besides that, it was pouring down rain. I gave in, put him in the wheelchair, wheeled him to the porch, and helped him get down the six steps. This house doesn’t have a ramp like Mom’s does.
“I pulled the van to the steps and opened the door. When I tried to get him in, I only managed to get his top half across the seat. He was lying on his stomach with his long legs and feet still hanging out. It took a lot of finagling, since my height is only five feet one and a half inch. But I finally got him into a sitting position and out of the rain.
“He wanted a cherry-limeade from Sonic. They were closed, but the employees were still cleaning up. I asked the girl to please come out and talk to me. My smallest bill was a ten, so I held it to her and asked for the drink. She said that they had already closed out the register so they didn’t have change. I told her I didn’t care and that she could have the ten. She took one look at him, then got him the Route 44 size, the biggest they make. She told me to keep my money.
“Driving and trying to help him with the large cup in his lap was a fiasco. He couldn’t hold it in his hands, so I put it between his legs on the seat. I was trying to get his mouth to the straw when he almost fell out of the seat. I tried to lift it up, but that was impossible while driving .Maybe I was not driving my best because a cop stopped me.
“Jumping out, I realized I had no jacket or shoes, and it was still raining. He may have thought that I was high on something. I tried to explain the situation to him. He probably thought I couldn’t make up that story. He let me go without even looking at Garry or checking my driver’s license.
“When I got back in, Garry did not realize what had happened. He stated he wanted to go downtown and check out Buffalo Bill Days, an annual festival in our hometown. He used to be part of this celebration when he was younger in the Jaycees. Mom had told him it was happening this month. I tried to explain that it was already over for this year, but he insisted we go. Of course, I drove toward town for him.
“He asked why I had turned the corner. I told him I was taking him downtown. He informed me we had already been there, and it was okay to take him home now. I pulled up to the house. The rain was coming down, and the porch still had those steps. It was easier pulling him down out of the van than it had been pushing him into it. I prayed that with God’s help, and maybe a little help from Garry, we would make it up the steps.
“By the time I got him inside and into bed with dry clothes, I was so past ready for bed myself. Things that we take for granted, like a comfortable bed, take on a whole new meaning when exhaustion hits.”