All Episodes

Most of us are familiar with Paul’s words in Philippians 1:21, “To live is Christ and to die is gain.” As Laura began to study this out, she discovered a much deeper meaning to these words than most of us realize, which is very encouraging to us as pareavors.

Laura also shares how that takes us deeper into the word redeemed, ending today’s episode by praying with the listeners about what was shared.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Troy and Carolyn Blackall in loving memory of their daughter, Rachel.

To join over 1,000 other pareavors receiving the Weekly Word of Hope click here.

See the various Hold On Pain Eases shirts and place your order.

To sponsor a podcast in loving memory of your child click here.

Click here to become a monthly partner, giving hope to other parents, or to give a special gift to keep this podcast going, along with providing  other needed resources to bereaved parents.

(GPS Hope is a 501c3 nonprofit and runs on the financial support of those who believe in passing along the hope they have received to others.)

Dustin Clements was born on October 26 and is forever 21.

Dawson Morris was born on October 29 and is forever 19.

Donice Vaughan was born on October 29 and is forever 30.

Marisa Diaz was born on October 29 and is forever 20.

James was born on October 30 and is forever 17 months.

Zen Dylan Koh was born on November 1 and is forever 17.

If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.

The special song written for our children’s birthdays I Remember Well can be heard on many music apps including Spotify, Pandora, iTunes and Apple Music. To hear samples of Laura’s other songs, click here.

www.gpshope.org

To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at [email protected].

Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose.

It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.

There is another thing Laura has learned in ten years of grieving the death of her daughter that she did not talk about in last week’s episode, which is how much of an emotional roller coaster ride it is now, even ten years later.

Yes, as the years go by, things smooth out and we may not find ourselves on the roller coaster ride as often, but it still happens. In this episode, Laura shares how frustrating and yet normal it is to still find herself in that place occasionally. She also shares several illustrations of what this grief journey is like for a bereaved parent over the years.

To join over 1,000 other pareavors receiving the Weekly Word of Hope click here.

Look at the In Loving Memory hearts and find out how to sponsor a heart for your son or daughter.

See the various Hold On Pain Eases shirts and place your order.

View the calendar to see if Dave and Laura will be near you with the Hope Mobile. Contact us at [email protected] if you would like to meet one-on-one or get a group together to have us come and share.

Click here to become a monthly partner, giving hope to other parents, or to give a special gift to keep this podcast going, along with providing  other needed resources to bereaved parents.

(GPS Hope is a 501c3 nonprofit and runs on the financial support of those who believe in passing along the hope they have received to others.)

Taylor Contreras was born on October 20 and is forever 16.

Mckenzie Aucapina was born on October 21 and is forever 7 ½.

Matthew Sulikowski was born on October 22 and is forever 36.

Nate Wilson was born on October 22 and is forever 30.

If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.

The special song written for our children’s birthdays I Remember Well can be heard on many music apps including Spotify, Pandora, iTunes and Apple Music. To hear samples of Laura’s other songs, click here.

www.gpshope.org

To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at [email protected].

Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose.

It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.

The day this podcast episode airs (on October 12, 2021) will be the 10-year anniversary of Becca’s departure from this earth (Laura’s oldest daughter). Laura says the beginning of the last ten years held the most pain she have ever experienced. She had no idea that kind of suffocating darkness even existed. It scared her, not knowing how she was going to find her way out.

When Becca first died and Laura would think of being here one year… five years… ten or twenty years without her, she could hardly breathe, almost like having panic attacks. As Laura finds herself at the ten-year mark, today’s episode is about some of the things she has learned in the last ten years, praying some of these things will help you as you are on the same journey.

HOPE: Hold On Pain Eases – Check out the various shirts here.

Join over 1,000 other pareavors receiving the Weekly Word of Hope here.

Click here to become a monthly partner, giving hope to other parents, or to give a special gift to keep this podcast going, along with providing  other needed resources to bereaved parents.

(GPS Hope is a 501c3 nonprofit and runs on the financial support of those who believe in passing along the hope they have received to others.)

Mitchell Ang was born on October 12 and is forever 17.

Isaac Cojocarescu was born on October 14 and is forever 10.

Bub Amis was born on October 16 and is forever 36.

If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.

The special song written for our children’s birthdays I Remember Well can be heard on many music apps including Spotify, Pandora, iTunes and Apple Music. To hear samples of Laura’s other songs, click here.

www.gpshope.org

To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at [email protected].

Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose.

It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.

Recently Laura received a response from one of the Weekly Word of Hope emails. The pareavor was upset with how Laura’s email said, “Neither life nor death is in our hands. God is the one who gives life within the womb. And God chooses when each person takes their last heartbeat.”

Part of what this mom shared said, “That is scary. For that implies God organized this death – which sometimes is horrible in so many different ways.”

We do all have choices in this life that can affect how long or how short our lives are lived here on earth. There is also sickness and disease that we may not have any control over that can affect when we die. When God does not step in to stop that death from happening, does it mean He is choosing when we leave this earth?

Laura decided this would make a good topic for a podcast episode, since it is such a difficult topic and something most parents struggle with, after the death of their child.

In last week’s episode, she read the original email, the reply sent to her about it, and then her return email response, which gives us all some things to think and pray about.

This week Laura and her husband, Dave, discuss this topic together, bringing in a few scriptures as they talk.

Let us know  you want to get together with us as we travel by sending an email to [email protected].

HOPE: Hold On Pain Eases – Check out the various shirts here.

Sponsor a podcast in honor of your child.

Click here to become a monthly partner, giving hope to other parents, or to give a special gift to keep this podcast going, along with providing  other needed resources to bereaved parents.

(GPS Hope is a 501c3 nonprofit and runs on the financial support of those who believe in passing along the hope they have received to others.)

Joshua Kirkendall was born on October 6 and is forever 14.

Daniel Bryce Briggs was born on October 6 and is forever 19.

Joshua Nicholson was born on October 9 and is forever 29.

Niyam Deloatch was born on October 10 and is forever 20.

James Fielding was born on October 10 and is forever 28.

Laura Rodríguez was born on October 11 and is forever 33.

If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.

The special song written for our children’s birthdays I Remember Well can be heard on many music apps including Spotify, Pandora, iTunes and Apple Music. To hear samples of Laura’s other songs, click here.

www.gpshope.org

To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at [email protected].

Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose.

It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.

Recently Laura received a response from one of the Weekly Word of Hope emails. The pareavor was upset with how Laura’s email said, “Neither life nor death is in our hands. God is the one who gives life within the womb. And God chooses when each person takes their last heartbeat.”

Part of what this mom shared said, “That is scary. For that implies God organized this death – which sometimes is horrible in so many different ways.”

We do all have choices in this life that can affect how long or how short our lives are lived here on earth. There is also sickness and disease that we may not have any control over that can affect when we die. When God does not step in to stop that death from happening, does it mean He is choosing when we leave this earth?

Laura decided this would make a good topic for a podcast episode, since it is such a difficult topic and something most parents struggle with, after the death of their child.

In today’s episode, she reads the original email, the reply sent to her about it, and then her return email response, which gives us all some things to think and pray about.

Next week Dave joins Laura in a discussion about this topic, whether or not God chooses when we die.

Thank you Chris and ReNea for sponsoring this week’s episode in loving memory of your son, Aaron.

Click here to join over 1000 pareavors receiving a Weekly Word of Hope.

Let us know  you want to get together with us as we travel by sending an email to [email protected].

Listen to samples of Laura’s songs on the CD Together Forever.

Sponsor a podcast in honor of your child.

Click here to become a monthly partner, giving hope to other parents, or to give a special gift to keep this podcast going, along with providing  other needed resources to bereaved parents.

(GPS Hope is a 501c3 nonprofit and runs on the financial support of those who believe in passing along the hope they have received to others.)

Maya Tarbet was born on September 20 and is forever 13.

Cherie Martinez was born on September 28 and is forever 31.

Giovanna Giannini was born on September 30 and is forever 20.

Aaliyah Henderson was born on October 1 and is forever 4.

Corey Ryan Woodrich was born on October 1 and is forever 31.

Joshua Konaszewski was born on October 2 and is forever 24.

Paul Meyer was born on October 2 and is forever 29.

If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.

The special song written for our children’s birthdays I Remember Well can be heard on many music apps including Spotify, Pandora, iTunes and Apple Music. To hear samples of Laura’s other songs, click here.

www.gpshope.org

To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at [email protected].

Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose.

It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.

Today Laura will talk about a simple way to help pareavors remind themselves of some of the most important things they need to remember on this grief journey, using the word grief as an acronym. Listen in, as Laura talks about each one in detail.

G- Give yourself a lot of grace.

R – Release yourself from guilt.

I – Ignore those who are trying to fix you.

E – Engage with other pareavors.

F- Find ways to honor the life of your child.

Thank you, Wong Liang Fu and Kay Ho in Singapore for sponsoring today and the previous three episodes in loving memory of their son, David Wong Hong Ming.  

Find the first eight episodes about Forgiveness here. (Scroll down and click on the highest page number, which will take you to the beginning of the podcasts.)

Go to the GPS Hope Free Content Library.

See the Wall of Remembrance and find out how to have your child added.

Download a PDF of G.R.I.E.F.

Sponsor a podcast in honor of your child.

Click here to become a monthly partner, giving hope to other parents, or to give a special gift to keep this podcast going, along with providing  other needed resources to bereaved parents.

(GPS Hope is a 501c3 nonprofit and runs on the financial support of those who believe in passing along the hope they have received to others.)

Ryan Bradley was born on September 22 and is forever 25.

Alyssa Barker was born on September 22 and is forever 33.

Brittany Evans was born on September 25 and is forever 26.

Cody Simmons was born on September 25 and is forever 25.

If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.

The special song written for our children’s birthdays I Remember Well can be heard on many music apps including Spotify, Pandora, iTunes and Apple Music. To hear samples of Laura’s other songs, click here.

www.gpshope.org

To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at [email protected].

Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose.

It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.

When our child dies, all our goals that had to do with that child dies with them, which seems to carry over into every part of our lives. We lose hope that life is even worth living without the plans we had for, and with, our child. When we don’t have any hope, we don’t see a future, and it puts us in a vicious cycle which is hard to get out of.

The enemy wants to keep us in that place of hopelessness. He wants us to think the darkness will never end and tries to get us to give up even trying to get out of the pit we have found ourselves hurled into. He wants to keep us defeated.

Jesus is an expert at getting people out of the pit they find themselves thrown into by the enemy. The Good Shepherd, Jesus Himself, said that He will leave the ninety-nine for the one. If you are the one, He is coming for you, to get you out of your place of darkness!

Listen in, as Laura shares a story about a donkey, that might bring encouragement to you in the process of allowing God to get you out of your pit.

Today’s podcast episode is sponsored by Wong Liang Fu  and Kay Ho in memory of their son, David Wong Hong Ming. Liangfu and Kay would like to thank Laura and David for GPS Hope. It was through a random link via Facebook that we found the clips that you had painstakingly put together, which helped us walk through the very early days of losing our child. Thank you for addressing issues which are not talked about much, and handling them so delicately and yet presenting the truths so boldly. Thank you for having the courage to step out and reaching out to bereaved parents in the dark and sometimes hidden places, and then shining light and hope into our situations. Thank you for being real. Grateful always. 

Thank you Liang Fu and Kay for sharing David with us, and for blessing us at GPS Hope for sponsoring this episode.

Click here to join over 1,000 pareavors receiving a Weekly Word of Hope.

Sponsor a podcast in honor of your child.

Click here to become a monthly partner, giving hope to other parents, or to give a special gift to keep this podcast going, along with providing  other needed resources to bereaved parents.

(GPS Hope is a 501c3 nonprofit and runs on the financial support of those who believe in passing along the hope they have received to others.)

Justin Seehafer was born on September 16 and is forever 28.

Rodney Lorenz was born on September 18 and is forever 49.

Alistair James Fleming was born on September 19 and is forever 26.

Nathan Young was born on September 19 and is forever 19.

If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.

The special song written for our children’s birthdays I Remember Well can be heard on many music apps including Spotify, Pandora, iTunes and Apple Music. To hear samples of Laura’s other songs, click here.

www.gpshope.org

To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at [email protected].

Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose.

It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.

Most of us have what can be called domino effects after the death of our child. Just like when the first domino in a line of dominos falls and causes others to fall, the death of our child can cause unexpected and painful chain reactions.

In this episode, Laura shares one of those personal chain reactions, and prays over other parents who are facing the painful situations of a domino effect after the death of their child.

Today’s podcast episode is sponsored by Wong Liang Fu  and Kay Ho in memory of their son, David Wong Hong Ming. When Kay gets flashbacks of the different scenes at the hospital – all the episodes her son, David, had to go through – her heart breaks to a million pieces. But David’s father, Liang Fu reminds her that those scenes are her battlefield. Kay says, “As avid fans of Lord of the Rings and the Chronicles of Narnia, we are familiar with what battle scenes are like. They are certainly not a walk in the park. And yet the fighters fought valiantly on, trusting their Lord. That thought settles my heart. David, we love and miss you so much.”

Thank you Liang Fu and Kay for sharing David with us, and for blessing us at GPS Hope for sponsoring this episode.

Click here to find out more about Laura’s award-winning books.

See the plaque made by Laura’s daughter in the video of the audio shared. 

Sponsor a podcast in honor of your child.

Click here to become a monthly partner, giving hope to other parents, or to give a special gift to keep this podcast going, along with providing  other needed resources to bereaved parents.

(GPS Hope is a 501c3 nonprofit and runs on the financial support of those who believe in passing along the hope they have received to others.)

Brady Keith Herbert was born on September 7 and is forever 30.

Jacob Sorouri was born on September 8 and is forever 32.

Kelli Diane Kirby was born on September 10 and is forever 31.

If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.

The special song written for our children’s birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.

www.gpshope.org

To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at [email protected].

Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose.

It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.

This week Laura is doing something a bit different. Her new CD was just released, and you will be hearing her share the story behind each song. (One of the songs was written by her daughter, Becca, who died at age 29.)

The songs are:

God created music to be a pathway to the soul. We need to be careful what we listen to in our darkest times of grief, because some songs will keep us in that place of darkness. We need songs of hope, reminding us that this is not the end, that God is still in control and has the final word, and that we will see our children again, and when we do, we will be together forever.

This episode was sponsored by Wong Liang Foo and Kay Ho, from Singapore, in honor of their son, David Wong Hong Ming.

Listen to sample songs of new CD Together Forever

Order the Together Forever CD from GPS Hope.

Sponsor a podcast in honor of your child.

Click here to become a monthly partner, giving hope to other parents, or to give a special gift to keep this podcast going, along with providing  other needed resources to bereaved parents.

(GPS Hope is a 501c3 nonprofit and runs on the financial support of those who believe in passing along the hope they have received to others.)

Kevin Stoneburner was born on September 1 and is forever 27.

Raelyn Huffman was born on September 2 and is forever 22.

Toni was born on September 4 and is forever 24.

David Hector Toledo was born on September 5 and is forever 41.

Francesca Anne C. Agravante was born on September 6 and is forever 8.

If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.

The special song written for our children’s birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.

www.gpshope.org

To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at [email protected].

Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose.

It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.

As parents who have experienced child loss, we carry a heavy load of grief. In this episode, Laura shares how she discovered five helpful parallels of climbing mountain trails, to our grief journey.

Listen to sample songs of new CD Together Forever

Thirty Ways to Bring Yourself Comfort and Take Care of Yourself

Click here to become a monthly partner, giving hope to other parents, or to give a special gift to keep this podcast going, along with providing  other needed resources to bereaved parents.

(GPS Hope is a 501c3 nonprofit and runs on the financial support of those who believe in passing along the hope they have received to others.)

Katie Mullen was born on August 24 and is forever 19.

Kristina Michelle Lee was born on August 26 and is forever 26.

If you would like your child mentioned on the podcast the week of his or her birthday, click here to fill out the short form with the needed information.

The special song written for our children’s birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here.

www.gpshope.org

To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at [email protected].

Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose.

It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.