"I have learned so much about grief - yet I know very little. This book is not advice and certainly not answers. I had several goals in mind when I began this project: Provide Space: I'm a firm believer that less is very often more. The last thing many want are more words, more advice, and more "you shoulds." We all need to talk less and listen more. How often we deeply desire someone to ask us how we are and genuinely care enough to listen to our honest response. My hope is for "Into the Water" to offer you space to reflect, pray, rant, color, design, create, laugh, cry, and heal space for what you need in your moment of need... space for your journey to be your own. Share: For those interested in the journey, experiences, and thoughts of others, I invite you to take part in experiences of others who selflessly share part of their walk. Each one of us will experience grief differently as we should, but we can also learn from each other if we are open to doing so. Encourage: I'm a fixer to a fault as my family knows all too well. It takes prayer and great restraint to stop and listen rather than jump in and do. Often times, what others need from us is to merely listen, be present, and allow them to share their struggles without a quick-fix being thrown at them. My hope is to encourage you as you process gently remind you that you are deeply loved & most assuredly not alone. A year into my grief journey, I was drowning. I could not get a hold of my emotions and the daily mood swings. I felt like I was failing myself, failing my family, and frankly, on the edge of crash and burn. A sweet friend listened patiently and said it sounded like I was experiencing all the stages of grief daily. Stages of Grief? I read everything I could to better understand myself, but Elisabeth Kuebler-Ross' book, "On Death and Dying" was the most helpful. "Into the Water" is broken into 7 sections to reflect 7 stages of grief. May you find Space here, gain something from those who opted to Share, and may you be Encouraged in knowing that our Lord's love is infinite and sufficient."