Overcoming Grief: I Smile Again

By Gloria Carrington

God's will surpasses ours. But what happens when His answer to our prayer is no? Do we lose all hope, throw in the towel, and give up? Or do we continue to trust Him believing that He knows best? Overcoming Grief: I Smile Again chronicles the journey of a widow the first two years immediately following the death of her husband. As she recount her story of unexpected loss and despair, we are drawn into the sentiments of her heart, empathizing her pain and sorrow as she rides an emotional roller coaster. But when the ride is over, we share in her joy and victory of survival and hope.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 23, 2019
• ISBN: 9781644169483

Book preview

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Overcoming Grief

I Smile Again

Gloria Carrington

Copyright © 2018 by Gloria Carrington

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, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

To the memory of my late husband, with whom I shared twenty-five of the best years of my life.

Reviews

In her memoir, Overcoming Grief: I Smile Again, Gloria Carrington takes you through the emotional roller coaster that resulted from the tragic death of her husband. Insightful and unapologetically honest, Overcoming Grief is a riveting tale of loss, spiritual growth, and restoration. This book will appeal to readers seeking substance, solace, and a reason to smile again.

—Tamika Tibbs

I applaud the publication of your wonderful book for widows. It’s a good reminder to see and understand the daily challenges we face. Thank you for sharing with us the gift that God has given you to help someone else through your writings. I trust that this book will be a blessing to widows everywhere.

—Hazel Piggee

The book was an easy read but a courageous and encouraging one. I know it will be a blessing to anyone who reads it but especially the widow/widower! It was real and therapeutic. Your story took me through a process of grieving with an outcome of normalcy. You put into words what many people/widows/widowers feel but don’t know how to express. The word was interwoven into every chapter, validating that all the time, God was there.

—Evangelist Mary Bell

This book captivated my heart as I read how the author healed. I felt every emotion from grief, bravery, self-discovery, and lastly, how to be resilient. I would recommend this book to anyone who has lost a loved one. It is definitely a must read.

—Talisha Machuca

I have read many books on grief recovery since the death of a sister and my dad two years ago. Overcoming Grief: I Smile Again by Gloria Carrington was very uplifting and inspiring. As one might imagine, losing two close family members within eighteen days of each other could be very traumatic. However, remembering the words of comfort shared in this book reminded me that God makes no mistakes, and His Holy Spirit is always there to comfort me. Thank God for Gloria, sharing her experiences dealing with grief and the encouragement she gives to others through those experiences.

—Cheryl Alexander

Foreword

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me (Psalms 23:4, KJV).

In this life, all of us will or have suffered loss, whether it be the loss of a parent, the loss of a spouse, the loss of a child, or the loss of a loved one. However, as King David realized in Psalms 23, there will be valleys in our lives. The key to escaping the valleys is that we must keep on walking. Upon reading this book, you will experience the hurts and thoughts of a woman of faith that became disoriented by the sudden death of her husband. You will begin to understand that even the saints of God can become discouraged, broken, or even depressed. However, by the time you finish this book, you will know that God is a comforter to those who mourn. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted (Matthew 5:4, KJV).

I have known Gloria Carrington my whole life. She is a relative who babysat me when I was a young child. She is one that desires to be in God’s perfect will and has a loving compassion for her family. Gloria loved her husband, and they had plans of growing old together. But what do you do when God’s will is not your will?

I have been blessed by reading this book, and so will you. It will give you insight into the heart and