SMM 072: Healing Hope After the Death of a Child || Erica Kiefer

In 2010, my guest, Erica Kiefer, and her husband experienced the death of their first child, Ty, who was only 4 1/2 months old, to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. In the interview, Erica shares how she found healing and hope and turned to God despite the grief. Personal + Unique Communication with God Erica discusses how she used her talent for writing to feel healing and hope as well as the Spirit after Ty’s death. Her experience illustrates well God is a personal God. He can use our gifts and abilities to communicate with us in a unique way. At one point, Erica felt abandoned by God. She shared the surprising way God helped her through a friend and a Disney movie. She expresses how Heavenly Father can use anything to help us, even an animated Tarzan movie! How to be an Intuitive Friend Throughout the interview, Erica mentions “intuitive friends” who were there for her. We discussed what it means to be a nurturing friend to someone who is grieving. Erica noted how helpful friends brought her into their spiritual life. Healing Miracles We discuss how Erica found the courage to have another baby and how becoming a mother again (four times) was both healing and fearful at the same time. Erica talks about how her perspective on miracles has changed since losing her son. She said, “The miracle is just seeing that God lets you go through that journey and helps you to grow but also doesn’t let you do it without giving you the sustenance and the help along the way and so much love.” Hope When You’re Grieving the Loss of a Child Erica offers hope to others who are grieving. She knows life can never be the same after losing a child, but she has learned things do get better and healing is possible. “Healing comes in pieces.” It doesn’t happen all at once. Ultimately, Erica knows God does His part to help her in motherhood. She knows she can turn to Him and He is there. Show Notes Listen to other episodes about grief and loss of a child: SMM 002: Navigating Loss, Special Needs and Fostering as a Young Mom || Alie Jones SMM 005: Choosing Happiness in Motherhood Despite Grief and Tragedy || Maralyn Nava SMM 007: Turning to God Through Infertility, Adoption and Miscarriage || Kay West SMM 013: Overcoming Anger + Showing Faith When Your Motherhood Plan is Not God’s Plan || Misty Trendler SMM 058: Why Gratitude for Little Things Will Make Your Life Better || Heather Herbert SMM 060: Why You Can Have Joy in the Middle of Hard Things || Stephanie Piacitelli Follow Erica Instagram: @ericakieferbooks Instagram: @borrowedangel09 Facebook: Borrowed Angel Website: ericakieferbooks.com Book: Borrowed Angel Follow Spiritually Minded Mom Blog: spirituallymindedmom.com Instagram: @spirituallymindedmom Facebook: spirituallymindedmom Podcast: Spiritually Minded Mom on iTunes