What does it look like to face the future after loss—especially when that future feels smaller, uncertain, or even lonely?

In this episode, Jay shares honestly from his own journey as a widower, reflecting on the unique challenges of moving forward without the one you shared life with. From the quiet weight of loneliness to the loss of identity and daily rhythms, this conversation names the reality many feel but struggle to express.

But this episode isn’t just about what’s hard, it’s about what’s still possible.

Jay explores what it means to take small, faithful steps forward… to care for what’s been entrusted to you… and to give yourself permission to dream again. He shares how choosing to live again isn’t a betrayal of love, but an act of trust in God’s ongoing goodness.

You’ll also hear practical and heartfelt thoughts on preparing your loved ones for the future with wisdom, gentleness, and love—without fear or heaviness.

If you’ve ever wondered:

• Can I trust God with what’s left of my life?

• Is it okay to hope, laugh, or dream again?

• How do I move forward without feeling like I’m leaving them behind?

This episode will meet you there.

Find out more about Jay here: https://jaycookingham.com

I’m on @buymeacoffee. If you like, even maybe love my podcast, you can buy me a coffee and support me. It’s a simple way of showing your support and helping me grow the podcast. Thank you!

Podcast music by Paul Grimsland

Grief doesn’t just change your life—it reshapes your family.

In this episode of The NEXT Podcast, Jay Cookingham reflects on how loss impacts the rhythms, roles, and relationships within a family, especially as a widower with adult children.

After losing his wife, Jay found that grief didn’t just take away his partner… it disrupted the shared timeline of raising a family together. What once felt steady now feels, at times, uncertain, fuzzy, and emotionally complex.

From co-parenting to navigating life as the only remaining parent, this episode explores:

• The emotional weight of parenting adult children through grief

• The “relational confusion” that follows loss

• Letting go of control while staying connected

• Learning new ways to love without overstepping

• Trusting God with your children’s journey—and your own

If you’ve ever felt the tension of wanting to help but not knowing how…

or the ache of missing the way your family used to be…

You’re not alone.

Grief changes the dance.

But with God, you can learn new steps.

Find out more about me here: www.jaycookingham.com

I’m on @buymeacoffee. If you like, even maybe love my podcast, you can buy me a coffee and support me. It’s a simple way of showing your support and helping me grow the podcast. Thank you!

Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/jcdude56t

The NEXT Podcast music "Song for Christine" is by Paul Grimsland.

“There is a lot to mourn.”

In this deeply personal episode of The NEXT Podcast, Jay Cookingham shares from a recent journal entry—an honest look at what grief continues to uncover over time.

Grief isn’t just about the initial loss. It’s also about the secondary losses that follow—changing memories, shifting relationships, and even the evolving relationship you have with yourself.

Memories don’t always stay the same.

They change shape… and sometimes bring new forms of sadness.

Relationships shift.

Even your sense of identity can feel unsettled.

And in the middle of it all, grief becomes something like a dance—learning new steps without ever fully mastering the old ones.

This episode is a gentle reminder that:

• There is more to grieve than we often expect

• Ongoing grief is not failure, it’s reality

• And you don’t have to fight every emotion that comes

If you’ve ever felt surprised by grief showing up in new ways…

or wondered why it still feels so present…

You’re not doing it wrong. There is just… a lot to mourn.

Find out more about me here: https://jaycookingham.com

I’m on @buymeacoffee. If you like, even maybe love my podcast, you can buy me a coffee and support me. It’s a simple way of showing your support and helping me grow the podcast. Thank you!

Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/jcdude56t