Every child has a story that is so much bigger than the way their life ended.

In this first half of my conversation with Jackie Baker, author of Messy Mourning: Hope for Mothers Grieving the Loss of a Child by Suicide, Jackie introduces us to her son Sebastian—a bright, curious, athletic, artistic young man who was deeply loved. She also shares about the struggles he faced and the journey her family walked before his death by suicide nearly nine years ago.

Jackie speaks honestly about those early days of grief and the long process of learning to live again. We talk about some of the unique questions and emotions that can accompany suicide loss, the importance of remembering our children for far more than the way they died, and the impact child loss can have on a marriage.

We also discuss the stigma that can surround suicide in the church and why our churches need to be safe places where grieving families are met with compassion, grace, and the hope of Jesus.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Sebastian’s life and the struggles he faced
• The unique challenges of suicide loss
• Remembering our children for how they lived, not simply how they died
• Grief and its impact on marriage
• Suicide, stigma, and the church
• Finding hope in Jesus in the midst of devastating loss

This is Part One of my two-part conversation with Jackie Baker. Be sure to join us next week for Part Two!

You can learn more about Jackie, connect with her writing on Substack, and find links to her social media through her website, linked HERE. You’ll find information about her book, Messy Mourning: Hope for Mothers Grieving the Loss of a Child by Suicide on her website as well.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! ~Jill

** 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 parents

Click 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 channel

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Contact Jill by email at: jill@whilewerewaiting.org

Josie Doll joins me again today, as we continue our conversation from last week. Together we explore the meaning behind her book’s title - "Courage in the Corners" - a phrase her son Christian often used in hockey. For Josie, it's become a powerful picture of grief: having the courage to take the hits, get back up, and keep going. If you missed the first half of our conversation last week, you may want to click HERE to listen.

Josie shares openly about her struggle to trust God after Christian’s death, the moment she came to the end of herself and surrendered to Him, and the ways her understanding of God has changed. We talk about wrestling with His goodness, being angry with Him, and learning that trusting God doesn’t mean we will always understand what He allows.

We also discuss forgiveness, the Christian Doll Foundation created in Christian’s memory, and how Josie hopes his life will continue to impact others.

Josie closes our conversation with encouragement for grieving parents and the hope that sustains her: Because of Jesus, our children’s stories - and ours - are not over. The best truly is yet to come.

Links mentioned in this episode:
• Courage in the Corners by Josie Doll
• The Christian Doll Foundation
• Connect with Josie at courageinthecorners@gmail.com

I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! ~Jill

** 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 parents

Click 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 channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click 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 ministry

Contact Jill by email at: jill@whilewerewaiting.org

My guest on the podcast today is my friend Josie Doll, who I had the opportunity to meet when we hosted a While We're Waiting Weekend in Alberta, Canada last spring. In this first half of our conversation, we get to know her 15-year-old son, Christian—a funny, compassionate young man and natural leader who loved hockey, golf, his friends, and his family.

Josie takes us back to the summer night in July of 2024 when Christian was struck by a vehicle while riding his moped with friends. She shares about the seven difficult days that followed, the desperate prayers for a miracle, and the heartbreaking reality that Christian would not survive his injuries.

We also talk about the ongoing legal process surrounding his death, Josie’s efforts toward “Christian’s Law,” and what grief has looked like as she approaches the two-year mark without her son. She describes the second year as “quieter” and shares how she has begun to view moving forward not as moving farther away from Christian, but as moving closer to the day she’ll see him again.

Next week, we’ll explore the meaning behind Courage in the Corners and go deeper into Josie’s journey of learning to trust God in the midst of devastating loss.

Josie’s journey has required the kind of courage Christian himself used to talk about ... the courage it takes to go into the corners. I believe you’ll be blessed by listening in.

Click HERE to find Josie's book on Amazon.

Click HERE to learn more about the Christian Doll foundation.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message! ~Jill

** 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 parents

Click 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 channel

Click HERE to follow our public Facebook page

Click 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 ministry

Contact Jill by email at: jill@whilewerewaiting.org