Catching the Light – Coming Back to Life after the Death of a Child is a collection of poetry and musings depicting one mother’s long journey back to a life of contentment, peace and connection after the death of her beloved child. The book is unique in that it describes a bereaved mother’s gamut of emotions from the first years after her daughter died, to seventeen years after her death. The book covers the subjects of grief, guilt, the most difficult days, as well as the healing gifts that have helped her and how she has stayed connected with her daughter and other loved ones who have died.
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Genesse Bourdeau Gentry is the author of Stars in the Deepest Night - After the Death of a Child. She lives in Marin County, California with her husband Bill. She is the mother of Lori (1970-1991) and Megan. She is the Northern California Regional Coordinator for The Compassionate Friends (TCF) and presents workshops on writing at TCF National Conferences as well as for local TCF chapters. She is a contributing author for the Open to Hope Foundation
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Genesse Gentry has penned her second book of poetry for healing grief. "Catching the Light" speaks to the heart and soul of the bereaved and anyone who loves someone caught in sorrow's wake. For nearly two decades Genesse has chosen to grow despite demoralizing heartache. The result has brought her empathy and wisdom to traverse the treacherous road to renewal.
Optimism and appreciation for life's continuing wonders found in Gentry's poems provide markers for the newly bereaved who haven't a clue how they will survive another day: "And as the fragments catch the light, more colors are revealed, and rainbows are formed, reflecting the pools of deep love and renewed hope we find inside."
Yet, Gentry refuses platitudes and dispels myths of acceptance, letting go, closure. "It is not saying goodbye but saying hello that keeps me sane. Hello to her life, as well as her death - and never, ever saying goodbye."
Grief's Garden, my favorite piece from Gentry's first book, "Stars in the Deepest Night," appears again in the second tome and presents a perfect metaphor for the unrelenting labor of survival. Just as a garden must be painstakingly tended so must grief's garden. With "back breaking and bone crushing" toil... "from deep inside the soul, will come strength and deep compassion. With love and care it will take hold."
We who have experienced the death of a loved one suffer not only the absence, but distance, avoidance and silence from those who once were active participants in our lives. Gentry's book will give those who don't know what to say perspective to bring the words, "I'm here for you."
You may cry while reading the book. I'll be surprised if you don't. But tears will cleanse, renew and wash away fear. Like tears shed in grief's garden, the gifts revealed will be clarity, compassion and understanding.
Genesse Bourdeau Gentry is the author of "Stars in the Deepest Night - After the Death of a Child." She lives in Marin County, California with her husband Bill. She is the mother of Lori (1970-1991) and Megan. Gentry is the Northern California Regional Coordinator for The Compassionate Friends (TCF), a worldwide organization supporting family after a child dies. Gentry presents writing workshops at TCF National Conferences. She is a contributing author for the Open to Hope Foundation.
Diana deRegnier writes from the San Francisco Bay Area. Her articles appear on Web sites and in print publications around the world. © Diana deRegnier 2010.
Optimism and appreciation for life's continuing wonders found in Gentry's poems provide markers for the newly bereaved who haven't a clue how they will survive another day: "And as the fragments catch the light, more colors are revealed, and rainbows are formed, reflecting the pools of deep love and renewed hope we find inside."
Yet, Gentry refuses platitudes and dispels myths of acceptance, letting go, closure. "It is not saying goodbye but saying hello that keeps me sane. Hello to her life, as well as her death - and never, ever saying goodbye."
Grief's Garden, my favorite piece from Gentry's first book, "Stars in the Deepest Night," appears again in the second tome and presents a perfect metaphor for the unrelenting labor of survival. Just as a garden must be painstakingly tended so must grief's garden. With "back breaking and bone crushing" toil... "from deep inside the soul, will come strength and deep compassion. With love and care it will take hold."
We who have experienced the death of a loved one suffer not only the absence, but distance, avoidance and silence from those who once were active participants in our lives. Gentry's book will give those who don't know what to say perspective to bring the words, "I'm here for you."
You may cry while reading the book. I'll be surprised if you don't. But tears will cleanse, renew and wash away fear. Like tears shed in grief's garden, the gifts revealed will be clarity, compassion and understanding.
Genesse Bourdeau Gentry is the author of "Stars in the Deepest Night - After the Death of a Child." She lives in Marin County, California with her husband Bill. She is the mother of Lori (1970-1991) and Megan. Gentry is the Northern California Regional Coordinator for The Compassionate Friends (TCF), a worldwide organization supporting family after a child dies. Gentry presents writing workshops at TCF National Conferences. She is a contributing author for the Open to Hope Foundation.
Diana deRegnier writes from the San Francisco Bay Area. Her articles appear on Web sites and in print publications around the world. © Diana deRegnier 2010.
Catching the Light is another commendable addition by Genesse Bourdeau Gentry which expresses the feelings of a bereaved mother and helps parents who experience "the unthinkable loss". Gentry's poetry expresses a mother's pain after surviving her child. Her poetry is a method of embracing her grief and keeping the memory of her daughter alive while at the same time giving other bereaved parents hope. Catching the Light is also inspired by the loss experienced by other parents and her heartfelt pain for them. She pours her thoughts poignantly and openly, thus making every bereaved parent identify with the heartfelt pain of each situation she describes throughout the journey of loss. Her new book comforts newly bereaved parents by assuring them that their deceased children will always be with them in spirit just like Lori, Gentry's daughter, is always with her even after the 18 years since her passing. Gentry also reassures us that a mother's love to her surviving children is no less than that for the deceased ones.
Randah Ribhi Hamadeh,
A bereaved mother and author of Summer Rays
Randah Ribhi Hamadeh,
A bereaved mother and author of Summer Rays
From Erin With Love: Knowledge of Life After Death
The emotions Genesse Gentry has expressed so well following the death of her daughter are so true. She nailed it. Sadly, I know from experience. Her words will help other bereaved parents know that the agony they are experiencing is not unique to them. It helps to know in this kind of situation that you are not losing your mind; that your emotions are normal for this type of tragedy. Her words also give hope to others that the terrible pain does not remain forever. I'm not saying that you can forget, only that you can learn to not only live around the pain, that you can grow from it, as Genesse has done, and as I have done in the twenty years since our daughter's death.
The emotions Genesse Gentry has expressed so well following the death of her daughter are so true. She nailed it. Sadly, I know from experience. Her words will help other bereaved parents know that the agony they are experiencing is not unique to them. It helps to know in this kind of situation that you are not losing your mind; that your emotions are normal for this type of tragedy. Her words also give hope to others that the terrible pain does not remain forever. I'm not saying that you can forget, only that you can learn to not only live around the pain, that you can grow from it, as Genesse has done, and as I have done in the twenty years since our daughter's death.
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