177 | Heaven Working Backwards with Austin and Valerie DeArmond

11/15/23 • 44 min

While We're Waiting® - Hope After Child Loss

Will we know our children when we get to Heaven? Is my child an angel now that he or she has died? Does my child send me signs? Is it possible to "move forward" in our lives without fearing that we're leaving our children behind? Is the best really yet to come?
Austin and Valerie DeArmond enjoyed 366 days of blessing with their son Gabriel until the Lord took him to Heaven due to a sudden and unexpected illness. Austin is a gifted and articulate theologian, and Valerie is his equal in wisdom and compassion. In today's continuation of our conversation from last week, we discuss these questions and more. Lean in and listen ... and I believe you'll find hope and encouragement in our discussion today.
Click HERE to listen to Part One of my conversation with the DeArmonds.
Austin's blog is full of wonderful articles, including some that we discuss in today's episode. Click HERE to check it out!
If you enjoy theologically-rich quotes related to grief and suffering, you'll love following Austin on Twitter/X. Click HERE to link to his profile.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message!

** 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.
We'd love for you to connect with us here at While We're Waiting!
Click HERE to visit our website and learn about our free While We're Waiting Weekends for bereaved parents
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Contact Jill by email at: [email protected]

I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message!

Previous Episode

176 | Suffering Is Not Meaningless with Austin and Valerie DeArmond

Austin and Valerie DeArmond are the parents of a daughter, Addie, and a son, Gabriel, a joy-filled little boy who was known for his enthusiastic and sloppy open-mouth kisses. Gabe was the life of every party, and he relished that role. Austin and Valerie enjoyed 366 days of blessing with Gabriel until the Lord took him Home following a sudden and unexpected illness. We have a wide-ranging discussion today, discussing sensitive issues such as infertility, adoption, medical mistakes, the vital importance of good theology in grief, marriage after child loss, and parenting a young child who’s grieving. The DeArmonds are less than a year into their loss, but God has gifted them with a great deal of wisdom ... I believe you’ll be blessed by listening in.
Austin's blog is full of wonderful articles. Click HERE to check it out!
If you enjoy theologically-rich quotes related to grief and suffering, you'll love following Austin on Twitter/X. Click HERE to link to his profile.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message!

Next Episode

178 | Her Present Absence

As I’m recording this episode, it’s the day before Thanksgiving, and the unofficial kickoff to the full-blown Christmas season hustle-bustle. But before we get into all that, I wanted to take a moment just to slow down, take a deep breath, and acknowledge the sorrow that underlies this time of year for most bereaved parents.
My friend Karen Harmening is a bereaved mom and gifted writer, and I want to share with you a post she recently published on her blog. She beautifully expresses how I feel, still, on this 15th Thanksgiving eve since my daughter Hannah went to Heaven. Karen very transparently describes the sorrow we all experience and includes Scripture throughout her post that points us back to Hope. I believe you’ll find her words both affirming and encouraging.
Click HERE to read and subscribe to Karen's blog, "Listening to Him".

I would love to hear your thoughts on the show. Click here to send me a message!

While We're Waiting® - Hope After Child Loss - 177 | Heaven Working Backwards with Austin and Valerie DeArmond

Transcript

Jill
At the time that we're recording this episode, you guys are just about eight months into this journey, if I've done my math correctly. It's still so early on this walk. But if you can, especially since you've been there so recently, think back to those early days, those very early weeks after Gabe went to heaven. What advice might you give to someone who finds themselves there right now? Would you have anything that you would share with them that maybe was helpful for you?