FEBRUARY Mini-Series: Roots of New Strength

🌱 The Gifts Grief Leaves Us

What Tender Hearts Learn and Carry Forward

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” — Matthew 5:4

In my blog last week, we looked at hope growing from many ingredients (love, memory, presence, community, Scripture). And over time, grief begins to change us. We don’t lose everything in grief; sometimes we receive quiet gifts. These gifts help our hearts grow stronger and kinder.

I am reminded of a Cub Scout event that was held after my daddy died in a farm accident. My twin brothers had a chance to enjoy time with Daddy… but Daddy was gone. The Pinewood Derby was held to build small cars from wood and put them together with wheels and paint them. There was importance in the design and assembly of the cars, because they were built to race on a track. I remember feeling so bad for my brothers, because they had no one to help them build their cars or attend the race. Thank God for two wonderful uncles who took time to help them build, assemble, and paint their cars and attend the event with my brothers! This was one of those quiet gifts where two men came alongside two broken boys and showed their love and caring, sacrificing time with their own families.

Sometimes the hardest seasons grow the gentlest hearts. This was one of grief’s quiet gifts, love stepping in where loss left space.

The Gifts Grief Leaves Us:

💛 Empathy — Understanding Others’ Pain

“Be kind and compassionate to one another.” — Ephesians 4:32

Children who hurt often become children who understand. When one goes through hurt, he learns to understand how others feel. That also brings about kindness to someone who is sad.

Talking to a counselor can be incredibly helpful. At one point, I asked my counselor why I cried so much. “What is wrong with me?” I questioned. “I don’t understand why it’s so easy for me to cry so easily with everything that happens - not only to me, but to others.” While I worked to calm myself, she asked if I’d ever really grieved my daddy. That is something I still have to think through as I move forward, but she also said to me, “Mary, it’s because you have ‘a Jesus heart!’” I didn’t understand what she meant. She went on to tell me that I had the heart of someone who puts themselves in the place of others and feels their feelings. I put myself in the shoes of another who is facing hardships and feel the sadness, anger, depression, and brutality of tough feelings.

While this doesn’t make me a wonderful person, just because she saw in me “a Jesus heart,” it does explain a lot about how I’m made up and how my daddy’s death has affected me. I honestly don’t know how I could go through anything in my life without Jesus as my Savior.

A gentle heart notices hurting people.

🌿 Gentleness — Soft Hearts Grow Strong

“Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” — Colossians 3:12

Grief often makes hearts softer, not weaker. When talking with children, I always try to use kind, quiet words and patience, which can keep them calm and focused on their feelings. This models to them that strength can be gentle. As children learn to put their grief into questions or comments, it is important to listen to what they have to say, while being honest but appropriate with their age(s).

Even as an adult, I watched my counselor use gentle words and thoughtful questions to help me reflect on my inner feelings and beliefs. It is not always appropriate to talk about yourself and your stories, even when you feel like you can relate to theirs. It may come across to them that their story isn’t worth exploring.

God values tender hearts.

✨ Compassion — Love That Reaches Out

“God comforts us… so we can comfort others.” — 2 Corinthians 1:4

We learn to comfort others, because we were comforted by adults who cared. Love that reaches out is helpful, caring, and notices others who are grieving. Compassion grows from love and pain.

When my own kids were in middle and high school, two sisters who they had attended camp with were killed in a car accident. That was probably the first time they had experienced the death of someone close to their ages. Of course, they wanted to attend the funeral of the sisters, but I felt I should go with them in support as I knew this wouldn’t be easy.

I was thankful that I did go with them, because it was a difficult funeral for two sisters, and I could follow up with questions or comfort for what they needed. It was so helpful for my kids to know that both girls knew the Lord. Whether it’s children close to you or someone you know, a caring adult can provide a sounding board, a comfort amidst pain, or a strong source for getting through trauma.

Jesus Himself was the epitome of love and taught us to care deeply through those He interacted with in the Bible.

🤍 A Deeper Understanding of God

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” — James 4:8

Grief often brings us closer to God when we know He stays with us in sadness. We can sometimes feel His presence, and we learn to trust Him more.

At a more recent time in my life, I felt deep grief for a family member who had to face terrible times. It was increasingly difficult to handle his losses along with my own, but he was all I could think about. I didn’t understand why this trauma was happening, and I cried out to God all day long. It was frightening not to be able to do much of anything to help, but I did the few things that I could.

As I look back now, I am able to see more clearly that this wasn’t just about him; it was about my relationship with the Lord as well. I could feel God’s presence when I cried out to Him. I could sense His nearness, knowing that He was going to bring good out of difficulties. I kept writing and working through my feelings, learning to sense God’s presence and comfort, and learning to turn to His promises in Scripture. Amazingly, I think my family member was more a comfort to me than I was to Him as He grew stronger in the Lord.

God grows faith in hard places.

🌸 Bringing It Together — The Quiet Gifts Remain

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.” — Psalm 34:18

Sometimes the hardest seasons grow the kindest hearts. Grief is terribly painful, but it shapes our hearts by teaching empathy, gentleness, compassion, and deeper faith. All of these traits give us stronger roots, and these gifts stay with us as we grow.

When I look back over my life, from losing Daddy at eight years old to walking through difficult seasons with my own children and extended family, I can see how those quiet gifts have remained. They did not erase the pain, but they softened my heart. They made me more aware of others. They deepened my dependence on the Lord.

God does not waste our sorrow. He grows something tender and lasting within us.

💛 Simple Reflection for Children (Ages 4–10)

• How can you help someone who feels sad?

• What does a gentle heart look like?

• Who has comforted you? How can you comfort someone else?

• When do you feel close to God?

🎨 Drawing / Activity Idea

“The Gifts in My Heart”

Invite a child to draw a heart or a small tree with roots.

Inside they write/draw the words or examples of:

• Kindness 💛

• Gentle words 🌿

• Helping hands 🤝

• Love 🤍

• God ✨

Explain to the child that “these are the gifts growing in your heart.”

➡️ Closing

“Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.” — Psalm 31:24

Next week, we will discover how hope begins to bloom into courage and new life.

🌟 Recent MUST READ: Even the Ashes Bloom by Sarah S. Brown

Here is my review of my most recent read:

Even the Ashes Bloom is a beautiful story about the author's life and trials and how she was (and is) able to overcome them with God's help. Everyone can relate to this story, because everyone has experienced trials that have brought them to brokenness at some point. However, Sarah Brown shows how brokenness brought her from ashes to BLOOMing -- an acronym that teaches the reader to B (Believe it), believing God's presence is with you throughout your life; L (Linger), lingering in His promises in Scripture, such as Psalm 34:18; O (Observe), reflecting on life's trials and how they have made you who you are and how your relationship is with God; O (Offer Prayer), through Psalm 51:17, asking God to turn your brokenness into an example of His glory; and M (Magnify), using your testimony to show how God has helped you as you work through your brokenness. This book is honest, relatable, and a great resource for working through trials.

Grab your preorder here: https://a.co/d/9OHkPOe

🎉 🎉 Join the Launch Team — Be Part of Something Hope-Filled

This spring, as my picture book, And the Sun Came Up: A True Story of Grief and Hope, is released into the world, I am inviting a special group of readers to be part of the Launch Team. An accompanying hope activity journal, Sunlight for the Soul: A Hope Journal for Kids Walking Through Sadness (ages 4-10), will also be available!

If you have a heart for children walking through grief…
If you believe in helping families grow stronger through faith…
If you would love behind-the-scenes updates, early access to the book, special giveaways, and encouragement along the way…

I would be honored to have you join us.

Launch team members will:
✨ Receive early updates and exclusive content
✨ Help share hope with families who need it most
✨ Be entered into special giveaways
✨ Play a meaningful role in bringing this message to children

More details are coming soon. I would love for you to be part of this hope-filled journey.

Stay tuned, and begin praying now about joining us. 😀

📚 More Hope-Filled Resources, Just for You

Check out my website 🖥️ at https://marygracejohnsonauthor.com and download the “Seven Affirmations of Hope” for free.

📔 I also have two collaborative books available on Amazon:
Hope for the Holidays: Stories and Traditions for a Peaceful Season (2024) and the new 365-day devotional, A Year of Hope (2025).