When the grief of losing his wife was new and raw, Jon was in survival mode, just trying to breathe.

Years later, he is beginning to understand just how complex the idea of moving forward is.

Whether you are new to grief or it’s been a companion of yours for too long, this is where the very name of this podcast comes in.

It takes grit.

It takes grace.

And it takes sitting next to, getting out from under and moving forward with that “side of grief.”

It makes sense that this contractor would liken it to building, renovating and remodeling a house. New spaces have grown, old ones have faded and on tough days they seem to appear again.

From drugs to the Holy Spirit and the idea of love deficits, this episode has it all (including some swears and a poem).

It’s the grit we’ve grown fond of and the grace that we rely on.

(40 minutes)

After losing his wife, Jon has come to understand grief differently.

There are textbook definitions that give us some context but grief is such a personal experience…it often leaves us without words.

How does this sit with you? Grief is absence. Something (marriage, a job, a dream) or someone was there and now it or they are gone.

It leaves us wondering if anything can come of it. And our natural tendency is to try to outrun the pain. But Jon found something in the midst of it all.

(42 minutes)

Disclaimer: Jon swears. Sometimes.

This story starts with Krissy. It only exists because of her.

She died just a week before Jon and her would have celebrated their 16th wedding anniversary.

She was only 40 and mom to three young kids. The cancer moved quickly and within a year this silly tough girl from a city outside of Boston was gone.

She was grit and she was grace. And she was loved.

Heather and Krissy met at church. They became fast friends (Krissy had many). Her final request to Heather was asking her to stay close to Jon.

Eight years later. Here we are.

It starts with Krissy.

(4o minutes)