Tag Archives: loss

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

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

On Seeing Michael McCain for the First Time in Twenty-four Years

Posted on September 4, 2024 by Doc Arnett

He finishes parking his carAs I swing into the space beside himIn Don Senor’s parking lot. We trade one-armed man hugsAnd go inside to a booth near the back. It was hard to watch and hard to not see The … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Christian Devotions, Christian Living, Death & Dying, Family, Poetic Contemplations, Poetry, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation, suffering | Tagged death, faith, grief, loss, old friends, separation, sorrow | Comments Off

The Silence of an Entry Home

Posted on June 27, 2024 by Doc Arnett

Jeremiah has left for a whilelate in a Lord’s Day morning,taking Amos and Isla with him. Misty has taken Miah and tiny Ellisto go over to another daughter-in-law’s house for some professional baby pictures. I am left here alone for … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Christian Living, Death & Dying, Family, Poetic Contemplations, Poetry, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged emptiness, grief, loss, Poetry, sadness | Comments Off

The Bosom of Abraham

Posted on June 23, 2023 by Doc Arnett

Even after the words and hugs of loved ones have faded into memory, Jesus and the Spirit continue to comfort us in our deepest losses. Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Devotions, Death & Dying, Family, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation, suffering | Tagged Bosom of Abraham, Boulder to Birmingham, comfort, Emmylou Harris, friendship, grief, Holy Spirit, intercession, Jesus Christ, loss | Comments Off

Of Pain and Comfort

Posted on June 21, 2023 by Doc Arnett

Surely, the loss of losing a loved spouse must rank among life’s greatest heartaches. Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Devotions, Death & Dying, Family, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged brain cancer, cancer, death of parent, death of spouse, death of wife, grief, Kurt Legleiter, loss, Stephanie Legleiter | Comments Off

Nursing and Cursing

Posted on September 10, 2021 by Doc Arnett

In a world of thorn and thistle, it takes more than wish and whistle to make a nice lawn. Or a good life. Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Devotions, Christian Living, Farming, Gardening, Metaphysical Reflection, Nature, Poetic Contemplations, Poetry, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged effort, grass, hot weather, lawn, loss, perseverance, rain, the curse | Comments Off

In the Wake of Bitter News

Posted on December 31, 2019 by Doc Arnett

Even in the aching numbness of loss, let us remember–and cherish–the amazing power of love. Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Devotions, Death & Dying, Family, Poetic Contemplations, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged comfort, faith, grief, hope, loss, love, Melissa Rogers Paton, sorrow | Comments Off

Hard Rain and Bad Timing

Posted on July 3, 2019 by Doc Arnett

Sometimes, it just doesn’t matter how much effort we put into a thing. Bad timing and hard rain can wash away even our best efforts. Ain’t no reason to give up, though! Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Humor, Metaphysical Reflection, Nature, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged disappointment, lawn care, loss, planting grass, rain, reseeding, sowing grass, storm | Comments Off

An Old Farmer Takes Stock of Loss

Posted on March 20, 2019 by Doc Arnett

Any time when we have the opportunity to help someone else is a time for sowing good seed, whether in tragedy or just the usual. Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Devotions, Christian Living, Farming, Metaphysical Reflection, Nature, Poetic Contemplations, Poetry, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged farms, flooding, gratitude, helping others, loss, Nebraska | Comments Off