12 losses. That's what mama Christy Miller has lived and learned through, and today we get to hear her story of growing and grieving, clinging to Christ, the hope of heaven, and the joy + peace on THIS side of eternity that can only be provided by way of the Holy Spirit. Christy has 4 living children, with one on the way. She and her husband are advocates for foster + adoption, and her loss journey includes an ectopic pregnancy, blighted ovum, early and late-term miscarriages, IVF + infertility, and lots and lots of grief, joy, hope, pain, and love.  Christy is a close personal friend of mine (Holly) and is a worship leader at a local church here in Virginia Beach, VA. While I'd heard her story before, I found myself speechless + humbled all over again Christy's testimony. "Years ago I would have said, 12? No way, I'm not doing this. But-here I am, and we're on the other side, and yes-there's sadness and there's heartbreak-and there's also been a lot of healing and blessings (that don't wipe away the grief)." Through the Lens Podcast Episode 44: Growing and Grieving with 12x Loss Mama Christy Miller is now available where podcasts are served. Connect with Christy on Instagram @christyleighmiller Hear more from Christy and her husband Daniel via their church Trinity Be sure to connect with us via Facebook or Instagram @throughthelenspodcast. We'd be honored to hear your story.

Through the Lens

Growing and Grieving with 12x Loss Mama Christy Miller | Ep. 44

Holly here-I've had empathy on the mind lately. There's been a lot of horrible things happening in the world lately, in America right now. Between COVID and the brutal killings of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd in past few weeks...these are some very big events that, while I am learning, and I fear I don't know enough to effectively speak on a podcast about. But then again, we're not here to have all the answers to be experts on anything other than sharing in our human experiences of suffering and grief and striving to keep our eyes fixed on heaven, on Jesus, the only one who can redeem and restore. So I hope that's what you'll take away from this conversation starter today-that He alone can redeem, and He has chosen us, His church, to be conduits of His grace and truth. And in order to be effective vessels for Gospel hope, especially in times of suffering and grief when hope is most needed, we must seek to grow in empathy. To move from apathy to empathy. So here is a brief overview of how I personally have experienced growth in empathy due to my own personal trials, and how I'm pursuing continued growth in empathy as I grow in learning and love for my neighbors who are different from me. Because, as 1 Corinthians 12 says, if one part of the Body suffers, we all suffer.

From Apathy to Empathy | Ep. 43

Today we get the honor of learning from Kim Erickson, author of Surviving Sorrow: A Mother’s Guide to Living With Loss. Kim began following Christ in 2008 after the death of her 3 year old son. She is a lawyer, she lives in Florida with her husband Devin and her son Ethan. As I (Holly) read through Kim’s book in preparation for this episode, something that really stuck out to me was in the intro—Kim speaks to the reader-to the grieving mom-and she says something really simple, yet profound. She says, “take my hand. Borrow my hope.” In today’s interview, Kim does just that. She takes us on a journey of hope that only the restoration of the Gospel can bring. Over 10 years into her grief journey, Kim has so much to offer in sharing her story and the freedom Christ brings to us loss mamas. We chat about anger/angry prayers, the temporary nature of this life, scriptural examples of lament, and a stunning glimpse into heaven provided by her precious son Austin, which ultimately led Kim to begin following Jesus. Tune in today. Borrow Kim’s hope, hurting mama. You’re not alone in your grief, in your anger, in your hope.  Read Surviving Sorrow Connect with Kim Be sure to connect with us via Facebook or Instagram @throughthelenspodcast. We'd be honored to hear your story.

Surviving Sorrow with Kim Erickson | Ep. 42

One of the things that has been the most encouraging to us in our grief has been connecting with others who "get it". People who can link their arms around us, cry with us, pray with us, point us to the truth, all while nodding their heads along with us and saying “me too”.  Our grieving experiences have been greatly impacted by so many books, blogs, songs and organizations and we want to share some of our favorites with you! In today’s episode, we're sharing some of our favorite grief-related resources...or  “Griefsources”  as we’re calling it. We’ve divided these resources into several categories: books, music, small business, podcasts, nonprofits, and blogs, and we're passing along some of our favorites to you, as well as some of your favorites that you’ve shared with us! We recorded this episode a few weeks ago, before many of us realized the seriousness of COVID-19 and before a majority of our country went into social isolation. We are thankful that God remains the same even when things feel so uncertain, and we can't think of a better time to share some of our favorite resources with you!  Griefsources links: Books: I Will Carry You by Angie Smith When God Doesn't Fix It by Laura Story The Scars that have Shaped Me Grieve, Create, Believe by Rachel George Even Broken Can Be Beautiful by Sarah Rieke Joy in Suffering by Rosemary Pope Holding Tight to Permanent in a World That's Passing Away by She Reads Truth A Grief Observed by CS Lewis Suffering is Never for Nothing by Elisabeth Elliot The Moon is Always Round by Jonathan Gibson (children's book) Safe in the Arms of God: Truth from Heaven about the Death of a Child by John MacArthur Holding On to Hope by Nancy Guthrie Hearing Jesus Speak into your Sorrow by Nancy Guthrie Walking with God through Pain and Suffering by Tim Keller Elizabeth Prentiss: More Love to Thee by Sharon James Mourning and Dancing study by She Reads Truth Music: Our Song in the Night by Michael Van Patter It is Well by Bethel Music The Rock Won't Move by Vertical Worship It's Quiet Uptown by Hamilton Where I Belong by Switchfoot Podcasts: The Joyful Mourning Podcast The Heart Lessons Podcast Blogs: Scribbles and Crumbs Rachel George Kristin Ironside Kristin Hernandez: Sunlight in December Holly Colonna: Lessons from Benji

Griefsources | Ep. 41

As we kick off 2020, we’re joined by our friend Rachel George to talk about clinging to God when you don’t feel His presence, the unique sorrow of loss upon loss, and processing grief through creativity. Rachel shares her story of miscarriage, losing her 1-month-old son Clive, and losing her 9-day-old daughter just 14 months later. Rachel authentically shares about the ways she wrestled with God and questioned her faith as she grieved her children. We chat about the truth we can cling to when we don’t *feel* the Holy Spirit and when God feels silent. Rachel also shares about her new book “Grieve, Create, Believe: Process Your Loss with Intention and Truth”. You definitely don’t want to miss this episode. We invite you to brew a hot pot of coffee, cozy up with a blanket and some tissues, and join us as we dive in to the new year with Rachel George.

Grieve, Create, Believe: An Interview with Rachel George | Ep. 40

Twinkling lights, familiar carols, and family gatherings can make the void feel that much deeper when you're missing someone special. Christmastime can feel bittersweet and even downright painful when there is an empty stocking on the mantle or an unfilled seat at the table. For anyone who’s grieving, this can be a particularly difficult time of year. In today's episode, we're talking about grief at Christmastime and chatting about Nancy Guthrie's article "What Grieving People Wish You Knew at Christmas" (found on desiringgod.org). We hope you'll find encouragement and support here as we chat about our struggles with this season, as well as the hope we have in Jesus--our Emmanuel, God with us.

What Grieving People Wish You Knew at Christmas | Ep. 39

As we continue the conversation on hope in the hospital, we’re joined by our friend Tanisha Garnier of Namesake Ink. Tanisha shares her story of hope in the hospital, including the pain of infertility, the loss of her precious son Xavier at 21-weeks gestation, and the miraculous life of her daughter Ezra, who spent the first 3.5 months of her life in the hospital. Tanisha beautifully shares how the church reflects Christ in how we love one another through suffering and of the unshakable hope we have in Jesus in the midst of our deepest grief. We were so incredibly encouraged by Tanisha’s story and we hope you will be too! Be sure to connect with us via Facebook or Instagram @throughthelenspodcast. We'd be honored to hear your story.

Hope in the Hospital Pt. 2 with Tanisha Garnier | Ep. 38

The hospital is a place of new beginnings and heartbreaking endings. It is simultaneously full of the hope of birth and new life, and the sorrow of death and earthly loss. As loss mamas, memories of the hospital evoke emotional pain and even PTSD, and in other ways these memories can be quite comforting. I guess you could say our emotions surrounding the hospital are quite complicated. In today's episode, we're talking about both the joy and trauma of our own hospital experiences and how God’s grace meets us in the middle of codes and beeps, the doctor rounds and diagnoses, and the sacred tears shared with family and friends. We hope you leave this conversation reflecting on the unshakeable hope we have in God's sovereignty and Christ's victory over death. Episode 37: Hope in the Hospital is now available for download. Be sure to connect with us via Facebook or Instagram @throughthelenspodcast. We'd be honored to hear your story.

Hope in the Hospital | Ep. 37

This month we're continuing to address loss upon loss, sorrow upon sorrow. Rather than a life of comfort, Jesus promised us that His children would face heartache in this world. Even if we never walk through two identical losses, it is likely that the trials of this life are not all behind us and will result in the loss of something--perhaps our health, a friendship, a dream. Even when the hits seem to keep coming, Jesus encourages us with the truth that He has overcome the world. As we continue this discussion, we are joined by our friend and author Rosemary Pope. In our latest episode, @rosemarypope.author shares her story of stillbirth, infant loss and miscarriage, and encourages us to trust God to carry us through the deepest valleys. Grab some tissues or a cozy blanket and join us for Episode 36: Joy in Suffering with Rosemary Pope, now available on iTunes, Stitcher and Spotify. Be sure to connect with us via Facebook or Instagram @throughthelenspodcast. We'd be honored to hear your story.

Joy In Suffering with Rosemary Pope | Ep. 36

When we’ve walked through a traumatic event such as the loss of a child, it is easy to feel like we “paid our dues”. It seems as if we’ve had more than our fair share of suffering and things can only get better from here. But what about when things don’t seem to get better? How can we reconcile the goodness of God when the worst happens again and it feels like lightning keeps striking in the same spot? In today’s episode, we’re sharing some of our own experiences with recurrent loss, as well as the frustrations and questions we’ve wrestled with. We also take a closer look at the Biblical account of Job--a righteous man who walked through incredible suffering upon suffering. No matter what your suffering has looked like in the past, this conversation is for you. If you’re reading this and you haven’t experienced multiple losses, we want to acknowledge that one loss is profoundly painful and is one too many. We encourage you to stick with us because we think there is something in this episode for all of us, as Jesus did tell us that we would face trials in this world. Even if you never walk through a loss like a previous loss (and we pray you don’t), it is likely that we will all walk through trials--resulting in the loss of something. Our comfort, our health, a dream. Grab a cup of your favorite hot beverage and join us as we link arms with one another and discuss this difficult topic. Episode 35: Hope in Loss Upon Loss is now available wherever you listen to podcasts. Be sure to connect with us via Facebook or Instagram @throughthelenspodcast. We'd be honored to hear your story.

Hope In Loss Upon Loss | Ep. 35

In today’s episode, Holly sits down with certified enneagram coach Elisabeth Bennett of @enneagram.life to discuss grief and the enneagram! Elisabeth breaks down each of the nine types and shares how each type may process grief differently. We chat about the three stances (compliant, aggressive and withdrawn), which types fall into which category and how someone’s stance may influence the way in which they walk through grief. Elisabeth also addresses how Christians should view the enneagram, the importance of finding our identity in Christ and scripture truth for all types. We were thrilled to have Elisabeth on Through the Lens and we think you will be encouraged and ennea-educated by her perspective! Episode 34: Enneagrief Pt. II: An Interview with Elisabeth Bennett is now available on iTunes and all major podcast apps! Be sure to connect with us via Facebook or Instagram @throughthelenspodcast. We'd be honored to hear your story.

Enneagrief Pt. 2 | Ep. 34

We’re kicking off the fall season with a two-part series on grief and the enneagram. In today’s episode, we discuss the ways our enneagram types have influenced the way we grieve and the areas in which we struggle, especially as it relates to suffering and sanctification. Kristin (1w9) admits her desire to “grieve the right way” (whatever that is) and her need to continually be reminded that our righteousness can be found in Christ alone. Holly (8w7) shares her struggle to surrender control and rest in God’s sovereignty and goodness. We also share listener feedback and discuss the way God created each of us uniquely and the importance of finding our true identity in Christ alone. Pull up a chair, grab a friend, and join us for our fall launch! Episode 33: Enneagrief Pt. I is now available on all your favorite podcast apps. Be sure to connect with us via Facebook or Instagram @throughthelenspodcast. We'd be honored to hear your story.

Enneagrief Pt. 1 | Ep. 33

“I don’t care, as long as they’re healthy!” Chances are, you’ve heard this phrase spoken by or to a pregnant woman. You’ve likely said it yourself a few times. We’re right there with you and have uttered these words more times than we can count. It wasn’t until our firstborn sons came into the world, both with conditions deemed incredibly “unhealthy”, that we began to take a deeper look at the implications of this phrase. Where do we place our hope when our babies aren’t healthy? As we wrap up the spring season, we’re chatting about the phrase “as long as they’re healthy”. We talk about our natural longing for wholeness and health, as humans created in the image of God, and the hope we can cling to when sickness enters our lives. We discuss the value of all life, healthy or sick, and the way God’s power is made perfect in our weaknesses. Episode 32: I Just Want a Healthy Baby is now available on all your favorite podcast apps.

I Just Want a Healthy Baby...? | Ep. 32

While Mother’s Day is a day of celebration for many, we know it can be bittersweet for our sisters who have lost children, have lost mothers, have strained relationships with their mothers or their children, are walking through infertility, or are walking through a variety of challenges unique to their motherhood. As we come out of Mother’s Day weekend, we’ve compiled an audio Mother’s Day card containing words of encouragement and support from mamas within this community. Join Amy Balentine ( @youmadememom), Kelley Ramsey ( @waiting.in.hope), Kristen Ironside ( @k_ironside), Maci Johnson ( @macecakes11), Sarah Rieke ( @sarah_rieke), T Lopez ( @officialtlopez), Holly Colonna ( @movemoregirls), and Kristin Hernandez ( @sunlightindecember) as we each share what God has been laying on our hearts in this season. We hope you walk away from this conversation feeling loved, supported, and known--not just by your sisters, but by a loving Father who sees you, even when you feel forgotten. Happy Mother’s Day to all of the mothers. To the ones who ache with empty arms and the ones who feel as if their hands could not be more full. To the ones who have carried babies in their hearts, their wombs, or their prayers. To the ones who feel overlooked or unknown. To the ones who carry the pain of losing their own mother. To the ones who view this day with joy, the ones who approach this day with dread, and the ones who feel a complicated mixture of both. No matter what motherhood looks like for you, this one's for you. We love you.

A Mother's Day Card | Ep. 31

In today’s episode, Holly sits down to chat with our friend Kristin Ironside about the difficult journey of carrying a baby who isn’t expected to live outside the womb. Kristin shares the grief that came with her daughter’s diagnosis, as well as the ways God has revealed Himself to her and given her strength in the midst of the heartache. She explains how people have demonstrated the love of Christ, practical ways she is preparing for her daughter’s birth, and the way this diagnosis has shaped her view of eternity and the hope we have in Jesus. This conversation is especially unique as it comes from the perspective of a mama who is currently pregnant and walking this road, anticipating the arrival and departure of her precious daughter. We are so honored that Kristin entrusted us with her story and we look forward to sharing her words with you today. Episode 30: A Fatal Diagnosis with Kristin Ironside is now available. Be sure to connect with us via Facebook or Instagram @throughthelenspodcast. We'd be honored to hear your story.

A Fatal Diagnosis with Kristen Ironside | Ep. 30

Gospel-driven conversations on hope in the heartache, where two child-loss mamas discuss suffering and sanctification. No matter what shape your suffering takes, we invite you to join us in authentic conversation as we navigate through the trials of this life, keeping our eyes fixed on the hope of heaven.

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Through the Lens

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