Grace through Grief: My Story, His Glory

By Cindy Smith

Grace through Grief is the encouraging story of how the author continues to overcome traumatic loss incurred by murder, suicide, and tragic, unexpected death.

The accounting of multiple losses in a short period and how her faith continues to lead her to allow God to bring beauty from the ashes. In the midst of any and every trial, His grace is enough, and His power is made perfect in our weakness.

Desiring to share her story to encourage others is what led to the writing of this book.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 19, 2022
• ISBN: 9781685177782

Book preview

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Grace through Grief

My Story, His Glory

Cindy Smith

ISBN 978-1-68517-777-5 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-68517-778-2 (digital)

Copyright © 2022 by Cindy Smith

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Steve

Eric

Eric and Cindy

Debby

Trauma/Therapy/Thankfulness

The Pain

Acknowledgments

Iwant to dedicate this book first and foremost to my God and Savior Jesus Christ. It is by His divine nature within me that this has been accomplished.

I dedicate this also to my beloved husband, Eric, whom I learned so much from and will love and miss until we meet again. Also to my siblings, whom I loved since the day they were born, and I am grateful they were lent to me by God for a season.

Lastly, my prayer is for you, the reader. May you find one tidbit in this writing that encourages you to press on through whatever your pain may be, and may you find healing that awaits you in the arms of a loving Savior.

Introduction

Wow, I never dealt with the great loss of Mom (1989), Dad (1988), and Mark, my ex-boyfriend (1992) until long after the events. Mom and Dad passed eighteen months apart, and Mark passed two or three years later. I buried it all until I was thirty and recommitted my life to the Lord. I did not know then what God was doing, and I had no idea I had not dealt with that grief and loss.

It was not until the murder–suicide of my husband and brother, respectively, that I became aware. With the subsequent unexpected passing of my sister four months later, I realized I was dealing with it all in 2019. Now on July 24, 2020, I realized it is again three significant losses, and God has a specific purpose for me, and it has something to do with grief.

It was a Thursday morning. I struggled to force myself out of bed to go to the wellness center. I had been doing well with my eating and pushing myself to ride the recumbent bike even though it was painful. I enjoyed my morning time listening to my favorite songs through my headphones and exercising the best I could despite my physical limitations. I stopped at Circle K to get cigars for Eric and headed home. Unbeknownst to me,