Category Archives: Death & Dying

Mists Across the Valley

Posted on January 9, 2026 by Doc Arnett

Sad news on a rainy day gives way to a brief interlude of beauty in mid-afternoon. Rising mists after a storm lead to the forming reminder of God’s grace and the intercession of the Spirit with “groanings too deep for words.” Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Devotions, Death & Dying, Metaphysical Reflection, Nature, Poetic Contemplations, Poetry, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged beauty, Christ, comfort, creek, death, Donna Ganger, faith, fog, grief, hope, intercession of the Spirit, Jesus, mist, mourning, murder, nature, Peter's Creek, Renee Good, sadness, tragedy, woods | Leave a comment

Empty Plates & Empty Chairs

Posted on December 23, 2025 by Doc Arnett

For most, holidays bring a mix of joy and tears. Embrace both, give thanks for the good, seek healing for each loss, do not let the Past rob you of Today’s joy. Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Christian Devotions, Death & Dying, Family, food, Poetic Contemplations, Poetry, Relationships, Resurrection/Return, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged Christmas, comfort, faith, family, gifts, gratitude, grief, healing, holidays, hope, Jesus, joy, love, peace, resurrection, reunion, sadness, stockings, Thanksgiving | Leave a comment

The Farrier’s Passing

Posted on November 11, 2025 by Doc Arnett

In the twilight shadows below a great cottonwood tree, we fed the horses and remembered the farrier who had tended to their feet for us. Continue reading →

Posted in Death & Dying, Farming, Poetic Contemplations, Poetry, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation, Work | Tagged autumn, cancer, death, dying, farrier, feeding horses, horse, horses, Lewis Johnson, moon, moonlight, moonrise, ranching, trees | Comments Off

Tough Transitions

Posted on August 15, 2025 by Doc Arnett

While I don’t know of a good way to lose a loved one to death, some are certainly worse than others. In all cases, God’s grace and mercy sustain us. Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Devotions, Christian Living, Death & Dying, Family, Spiritual Contemplation, suffering | Tagged cancer, comfort, death, dying, faith, grief, hope, life, loss, love, protracted suffering, tragedy, trauma | Comments Off

A Mid-Summer’s Memory

Posted on August 11, 2025 by Doc Arnett

The eruption of pastel trumpets on long slender tubes of green reminds me of my father’s passing, sixteen years ago. Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Christian Devotions, Death & Dying, Family, Farming, Gardening, Nature, Poetic Contemplations, Poetry, Relationships, Remodeling/Construction, Spiritual Contemplation, Work | Tagged casket, Charlie Arnett, death, dying, farming, flowers, gardening, life, Nakes Ladies, shrine, Surprise Lilies, tribute | Comments Off

The Brother We Never Knew

Posted on April 22, 2025 by Doc Arnett

My oldest brother lived only a few hours. For fifty years, he was un-named and lay in a tiny grave marked only by a small metal marker that said, “Arnett-Infant Son.” Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Christian Devotions, Death & Dying, Family, Poetic Contemplations, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged anniversary of death, Arnett, baby grave, Charlie Arnett, family, grief, infant death, life, loss, love, marker, Reuben Arnett, Ruby Arnett, siblings, sorrow, west Kentucky | Comments Off

Black Sabbath-II

Posted on April 19, 2025 by Doc Arnett

A reflection on the hopelessness the disciples experienced on the day after the death of the Messiah… and before his promised resurrection. Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Devotions, Death & Dying, Poetic Contemplations, Poetry, Resurrection/Return, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged after the burial, aloneness, before the resurrection, day of mouring, death of Christ, death of Jesus, despair, faith, grief, heartache, mourning, promise, prophecy | Comments Off

The Two-Legged Turtle

Posted on April 2, 2025 by Doc Arnett

A little farm kid finds something unusual in a tiny pond and learns that good intentions don’t always lead to good results. Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Devotions, Christian Living, Death & Dying, Farming, Nature, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation, suffering | Tagged caring, motivation, motives, nature, painted turtle, pond, racoon, red-eared turtle, travel, turtle, turtles, west Kentucky, wildlife | Comments Off

Watching for the Bus

Posted on November 21, 2024 by Doc Arnett

Paul figured out that we could see the bus coming from a half-mile away… if we stood in the right place. Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Christian Devotions, Christian Living, Death & Dying, Family, Farming, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged being alert, family, farm, life, life changes, mortality, school bus, staying focused, Todd County KY, warnings, watching | Comments Off

The Comfort of a Cloudy Autumn Day

Posted on October 24, 2024 by Doc Arnett

In the muted colors of a cloudy autumn day, the Spirit speaks softly to the wounded heart, words of peace and comfort. Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Christian Devotions, Christian Living, Death & Dying, Nature, Poetic Contemplations, Poetry, Spiritual Contemplation, suffering | Tagged autumn, colors of fall, comfort, fall, Holy Spirit, northeast Kansas, peace, Spirit, the Comforter | Comments Off