All Episodes

After the death of our child, one of the first—and most desperate—questions we ask God is “Why?”

Why my child?

But what if “why” isn’t the question that will bring us to a place of healing? What if there’s another question that opens our hearts to God’s love and help in the middle of our pain?

In this episode, Laura shares her own journey from wrestling with “why” to discovering a far better question—one that God actually delights in answering. You’ll hear personal stories, scriptural encouragement, and an invitation to shift your focus toward hope and restoration.

Whether you’re in the raw early days of loss or years down the road, this conversation can help you take one small step out of the darkness and into God’s loving presence.

Get a word of hope from Laura delivered to your inbox once a week by signing up here. (You can easily unsubscribe any time you no longer want to receive it.) Subscribe Here.

Don’t forget to check out the GPS Hope & Healing retreat here.

Want to join us for a weekend in Cocoa Beach, Florida for the Renew and Remember Retreat? How about joining Dave and Laura and other pareavors on a 4-night cruise, with one day at sea dedicated to a grief seminar? You can find out more about both of these here.

We lovingly remember and celebrate the lives of:

Jadyn Philipps was born on August 17 and left us at age 18.

Keaton was born on August 18 and left us at age 23.

Natalie Rodriguez was born on August 19 and left us at age 36.

Kevin Zick was born on August 21 and left us at age 33.

Hope Katherine was born on August 21 and left us at age 19.

Destine Wood was born on August 21 and left us at age 40.

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.

In this heartfelt episode, we continue the conversation on how the death of our child impacts our relationship with God—specifically shifting from a transactional relationship to an intimate one built on trust, even when we don’t understand Him.

Laura gently challenges us to examine the ways our fast-paced, internet-driven culture may be shaping our spiritual expectations, making it harder to trust and wait on God. Drawing from insights by John Eldredge and personal stories, she explores the healing power of lingering in God’s presence and learning to embrace a relationship that’s based on love, not spiritual performance.

You’ll be encouraged to:

 GPS Hope & Healing Retreat (Oct in New York)

Want to host a retreat in your area? Email us at [email protected]

New Merchandise: Pareavor with Hope Shirts & Hats

Wearing one of these items is more than just a fashion statement—it’s a symbol of your identity as a pareavor, someone choosing to walk with grief and hope.

We lovingly remember and celebrate the lives of:

Neena Renee Rey was born on August 5 and left us at age 2.

Gabriel Andrew Moreno was born on August 5 and left us at age 28.

Erinn McGee was born on August 7 and left us at age 34.

Austin Phelps was born on August 7 and left us at age 24.

Travis M. Blair was born on August 9 and left us at age 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 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 is one of the most honest and difficult topics we’ve ever addressed on the podcast—being angry at God after the death of your child. If you’ve felt intense anger toward Him, or even found yourself hating God for “taking” your child, know that you’re not alone.

You’ll also hear Laura share a deeply personal moment she had with the Lord, and reflect on how God may have chosen to bless our children in ways we don’t understand yet—but one day will.

“I know we wanted to live out our lives here with them, but God, in His wisdom, His love, and His all-knowing power, decided to bless our child with a life of perfection before we get to experience it.”

August’s “Reflections of Hope” Devotional

If August is a difficult month for you, this devotional offers a short daily reading to help carry you through. Visit gpshope.org/reflections to learn more. You can also check out the full-year hardback edition.

New Merchandise: Pareavor with Hope Shirts & Hats

Wearing one of these items is more than just a fashion statement—it’s a symbol of your identity as a pareavor, someone choosing to walk with grief and hope.

If you would like to start receiving the Weekly Word of Hope email that Laura referred to, click here. Your email address is safe with GPS Hope, you will not get spammed, and you can unsubscribe any time.

We lovingly remember and celebrate the lives of:

Daniel Krawiec was born on July 28 and left us at age 32.

Easton Holden was born on July 28 and left us at age 39.

Joey Ray was born on July 28 and left us at age 26.

Dayne Sturm was born on July 29 and left us at age 21.

Lauren Miller Dobbins was born on July 30 and left us at age 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 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.

In this raw and heartfelt episode, Laura Diehl shares what it’s like when the death of your child causes your life to come to a complete standstill—while the rest of the world just keeps going. She opens up about deeply personal moments from her own grief journey, including the recent reminder of that paralyzing feeling when her father-in-law suddenly passed away and caregiving responsibilities took over her life once again.

Laura gently reminds grieving parents that even though life may feel stuck right now, healing is possible. She shares hope through Scripture, personal experience, and the powerful truth that “this too shall pass.” With compassion and authenticity, Laura speaks directly to pareavors who feel like they’re frozen in time while everything around them keeps moving.

Pareavor with Hope Apparel Line

Reflections of Hope: August Edition

Tony Crane was born on July 23 and left us at age 20.

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.

Have you found yourself stuck in the endless questions of why after your child died? Why did this happen? Why my child? Why didn’t God stop it? In this raw and tender episode, Laura gently explores what it means to live in that painful space between loss and healing—where answers often never come, and “closure” feels like a betrayal.

Drawing from a powerful quote, “You can get closure, or you can move on, but you can’t have both”, Laura speaks directly to grieving hearts. She reassures us that moving forward does not mean letting go of our child, but instead carrying their love with us into a life that can still have purpose, even without answers.

Through honest reflection and Scripture, you’ll be reminded that:

Laura also prays a heartfelt prayer of comfort, peace, and a gentle nudge toward hope, even if it’s just a flicker.

Whether you’re barely breathing or beginning to take tiny steps, this episode is a heartfelt reminder that you are not alone—and you can be a pareavor with hope.

New “Pareavor with Hope” Merchandise Line

Click here to see the full line of “Pareavor with HOPE” shirts, hoodies, ball caps and stocking hats.

Join us as we honor the precious children being remembered this week.

Jack Crean was born on July 16 and left us at age 18.

Hayden Beck was born on July 17 and left us at age 16.

Jimmy LaPlante was born on July 19 and left us at age 39.

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.

In this powerful and heartfelt episode, Laura welcomes Lisa Espinoza to share the deeply personal story of losing her 25-year-old son, Chandler, after he was struck by a car and spent 18 days in the ICU before passing away on January 1st. Lisa opens up about the unique challenges of grieving during the holiday season, the lessons she’s learned from past loss, and how she’s choosing to walk through her grief with authenticity and faith.

Lisa shares how her earlier experience of losing her mother at just 18 years old shaped the way she grieved Chandler’s death—and what she did differently this time. She speaks candidly about the importance of not skipping over the pain, but also not getting stuck in it.

Laura reads a touching excerpt from Lisa’s journal, now published in her book First Brush Your Teeth: Grief and Hope in Real Time, which reflects Lisa’s resolve to trust God even in the heartbreak. 

Lisa’s message is one of permission—permission to feel, to fall apart, and to rebuild in time, one small step at a time.

Author and speaker Lisa Espinoza is a trusted companion to others along their journeys of grief. In her book First, Brush Your Teeth: Grief and Hope in Real Time, Lisa shares with raw honesty the story of losing her youngest son Chandler, reminding us that hope and joy are possible, even after the greatest heartache and loss.

Connect with Lisa and learn more at LisaEspinoza.com

Don’t forget to give the podcast a rating and review to help other pareavors find the same hope you have found.

Charlie Rhodes was born on July 10 and left us at age 9.

Rachel Corn was born on July 10 and left us at age 22.

Eric Breslau was born on July 11 and left us at age 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 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 the United States celebrates Independence Day with fireworks and festivities, grieving parents often feel out of place — bound by pain instead of celebrating freedom. In this gentle and honest episode, Laura speaks to the heart of what “freedom” can look like after the loss of a child. It’s not about moving on… but about slowly learning how to live again.

Whether you’re skipping the celebrations, silently remembering your child, or simply trying to breathe today, this episode reminds you that your journey matters — and you are not alone.

Be sure to click here to find out more about the Reflections of Hope book – both for a full year and the individual months (especially July and August).

Don’t forget to give the podcast a rating and review to help other pareavors find the same hope you have found.

Find more support and resources at GPSHope.org

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.

In today’s episode, Laura talks with Kim Harms, who has lost both a mom and a son to suicide and also found herself widowed.  Even with all these losses, Kim has been able to learn how to live a life of meaning and purpose, and loves to encourage others that they can do the same. 

Dr. Kimberly Harms has been around the block in life. She has served as a Commissioned Officer in the United States Public Health Service, a dental school professor, a grief counselor, a death doula, a civil mediator, a clinical dentist with her late husband Jim in Farmington MN, a school board Chair, President of an international women’s organization, the first woman President of the Minnesota Dental Association, a National Spokesperson for the American Dental Association (21 years), an award-winning, best-selling author and international speaker on the topics of grief, conflict and legacy planning. She has also suffered many personal losses, including the deaths by suicide of her mother and son and the death by broken heart of her husband after their son’s death. Her most important role now is mother to her two surviving children and grandmother to 6 precious grandchildren.

(Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.) 

To connect with Kim: DrKimberlyHarms.com and RethinkingDeath.Life 

Click here to find out more about the Reflections of Hope: July Edition 

Cassie Martinez was born on June 22 and left us at age 19.

Lukas Christofferson was born on June 28 and left us at age 19.

Dominic Cardenus was born on June 28 and left us at age 24.

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.

In this compassionate episode of Grieving Parents Sharing Hope, Laura Diehl speaks directly to grieving parents who are silently battling guilt after the loss of their child—especially when they wonder, “Was this my fault?” or even, “Is God punishing me?”

Drawing from personal emails, Scripture, and real-life stories, Laura offers insight into:

Whether you’re struggling with what your child did—or didn’t do—or simply feeling crushed by the weight of “what ifs,” this episode is a lifeline of truth and grace.

Find out more about the 2026 Grief Cruise and/or the Renew and Remember Retreat here.

Click here  to request 10 Tips to Overcome Guilt.

Listen to the episode The Difference Between Regret and Guilt with guest Nancy Weil.

Kari-Lee Venning (Birrell) was born on June 19 and left us at age 25.

Cassie Martinez was born on June 20 and left us at age 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 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.