From Sorrow To Serenity [Paperback]

Susan Fletcher (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 25, 1998

From Sorrow To Serenity guides the reader through scripture and thought-provoking meditations on the journey through grief. From Sorrow To Serenity is divided into five sections. The first, Sorrow, is the beginning point when the bereaved are thrown into the unknown, frightening world of grief. The second, The Journey, takes the reader through the valley of mourning. The third, Serenity, moves the bereaved from darkness into the light of God's peace. Special Days, the fourth section, contains meditations for holidays and the anniversary of a loss. The final section, Resource Centers, lists resources available for bereaved parents.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

From Sorrow To Serenity has been, in many ways, a process of planning, preparation, birth and delivery. It would not have been possible without the help of many others in my life. Throughout the past several years, I've been privileged to meet bereaved parents who have shared with me about the loss of their babies. Through their stories, they have reinforced that our God is a caring, loving and healing God. These resilient moms and dads showed much courage, strength and hope in the midst of their grief. My hope is that readers of this book will also begin to find hope, healing and peace as they journey out of their sorrow and into serenity.

From the Back Cover

The death of a child is heartbreaking for any parent. But when parents lose their baby to pregnancy or infant death, they grieve not only the loss of their little one, but also the loss of their hopes and dreams for their child.

From Sorrow To Serenity guides the reader through scripture and thought-provoking meditations on the journey through grief. Writing from her personal experience of repeated pregnancy loss, the author shares the hope, healing and peace she received with others who have suffered the pain of losing a baby.

"In this sensitively written book of Biblical meditations, author Susan Fletcher gently and expertly reminds us that Jesus is our guide through the valley of pregnancy loss and infant death. We do not have to walk this valley alone. This book is an excellent resource for those seeking encouragement and peace!" --John and Sylvia Van Regenmorter, Editors, Stepping Stones and co-authors of Dear God, Why Can't We have a Baby?

"From Sorrow To Serenity offers comfort and hope to those who struggle to survive the death of their baby, while asking the spiritual 'whys.' In the early weeks and months, moments of peace and serenity are hard to imagine. Yet, parents needs to understand that by doing their grief work and seeking spiritual support from such a resource as this, they can indeed move through sorrow to times of serenity in their life's journey." --Sherokee Ilse, Bereaved Parent, International Speaker on Pregnancy Loss and author of Empty Arms: Coping with Miscarriage, Stillbirth and Infant Death

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: Hunter House Pubns (September 25, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966276914
• ISBN-13: 978-0966276916
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,635,000 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An invaluable book for anyone who has lost a baby, December 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: From Sorrow To Serenity (Paperback)

If a person hasn't had the heart-wrenching experience, it just isn't possible to understand how hard it is to lose a baby--whether during a pregnancy or or after birth.

It's a devastating experience made all the worse by the fact that at times the grief is not only overwhelmingly painful, but it seems as though it will never, ever get better--because your beloved child is lost to you forever. Helpful platitudes or wary avoidance of the topic by friends and relatives just isolates you further during those very dark times. If I'd had this book the first year after we lost our nine-day old daughter, I wouldn't have felt so very alone and lost in my sorrow. Even now, several years later, the book truly touched my heart.

Fletcher's book offers perception and empathy, and by addressing those dark feelings of grief she makes it easier to work through them. Her message of hope and faith is like a lifeline, for even those of us who have grown up in faith can find that faith shaken and tested when that most heart-breaking loss occurs.

I recommend this book highly--buy it for yourself, or buy it for a friend who is grieving for a little one...and also for the grandmas' and grandpas, and other relatives who are grieving, too. They often have very little support in their grief, and I know my mom needed this book as much as I did!

I've heard that this author has done a lot of speaking on infant loss and bereavement at conferences, and hope I can hear her speak someday. Bless her for giving of herself in this way!

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Journey of Grief after Subsequent Loss, December 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: From Sorrow To Serenity (Paperback)

As the mother of a stillborn son 9/11/97 and recently suffering a subsequent loss (ectopic pregnancy 10/26/99), I find myself searching again for comfort and hope. Susan Fletcher's "From Sorrow to Serenity" compares grief feelings with scripture quotes, offering encouragement in an otherwise dark journey. The only thing I'm not convinced of ... do we ever really get to complete serenity? I sometimes find glimpses of serenity and peace; perhaps there are more lessons to learn as I continue to travel down this difficult path.