While We're Waiting® - Hope After Child Loss 287 | Five Gifts for Broken Hearts
“The first Christmas came with gifts meant for broken hearts.”
Christmas is often one of the hardest seasons for parents grieving the loss of a child. Today, I reprise a solo episode originally recorded in 2020 during the height of the COVID pandemic which speaks into a time marked by isolation, uncertainty, and compounded grief. Separated from loved ones, surrounded by illness and fear, many bereaved parents were carrying more than ever before.
In this episode, I reflect on the Christmas story through the lens of Isaiah 9:6, focusing not on the gifts we exchange, but on the gifts given at the very moment Jesus was born.
In this episode, I discuss:
- The gift of our Wonderful Counselor, when no human words are enough
- The gift of our Mighty God, whose strength carries us in our weakness
- The gift of our Everlasting Father, steady and committed now and forever
- The gift of our Prince of Peace, offering peace with God amid chaos and sorrow
- The gift of Immanuel—God with us, near to the brokenhearted and crushed in spirit
Through Scripture, personal reflection, and gentle encouragement, this episode reminds grieving parents that they are not alone—especially when traditions feel altered, expectations feel heavy, and the future feels uncertain.
A reminder for this season
When Christmas feels overwhelming…
When your heart aches for what used to be…
When your child’s name goes unspoken…
When a new year feels impossible to imagine…
God is with us.
That is the gift of Immanuel.
** 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.
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Contact Jill by email at: jill@whilewerewaiting.org