grief

Losing a family member is one of the most traumatic life events; Families must support one another to endure the five stages of grief and get through it together.

The Man Who Claimed to Be My Father Had Proof--But I Knew It Was a Lie
Not because I thought it was funny. But because it was so absurd it seemed like something from a movie. He looked nothing like me. He was tall, pale, wiry, with sharp cheekbones and dark eyes that felt too cold.
By MALIK Saad9 months ago in Families
A Story of Quiet Healing
There was a time when I believed that healing required silence and distance—that the only way to recover from emotional wounds was to retreat, to be alone, and to simply wait until the pain faded on its own. It wasn’t until I met with Soophie and how wrong I was. It was not love at first sight. There were no grand gestures, no spark that lit up the sky. What Soophie offered instead was consistency—a quiet, steady kind of presence that I had never known before. He was the kind of person who remembered how you liked your tea, who noticed when your smile didn’t quite reach your eyes, and who never demanded explanations, only offered space and warmth. At that time, I was navigating the aftermath of a fractured past—a mixture of disappointments, unspoken grief, and the sort of loneliness that doesn’t announce itself but settles in your bones. I had built walls, not out of arrogance but out of necessity. I believed it was the only way to survive. Soophie didn’t try to break those walls. She didn’t push, pry, or ask for more than I could give. She simply stayed. And sometimes, the most powerful kind of love is the one that waits with you in silence rather than dragging you into the light. I remember one evening in particular. It was raining, and I had one of those days when everything felt a little too heavy. Without saying much, Soophie came over with a book I had mentioned in passing weeks ago. She didn’t ask what was wrong. She just sat beside me, handed me the book, and let the quiet fill the space between us. That small gesture—thoughtful, intentional, and free of expectation—was one of the first threads that began to stitch something back together in me. Healing, I learned, doesn’t always come from monumental acts. Often, it is found in the soft things: a hand on your shoulder, a kind word at the right time, a message that simply says, “I’m here.” It’s found in the people who listen without trying to fix you, who allow you to be a little broken while still believing in your wholeness. In Soophie’s presence, I slowly began to reclaim parts of myself I had buried long ago. I started to laugh again—not the polite kind of laughter you offer in public, but the full, unguarded kind that escapes when you feel truly safe. I found myself speaking more openly, not because I was asked to, but because I wanted to. With every conversation, every gentle moment, I began to feel less like a collection of wounds and more like a person again. One evening, I asked her, “Why do you care so much?” It wasn’t a challenge—it was genuine curiosity. She looked at me for a moment and said, “Because I know what it’s like to need someone and not have them show up. I promised myself I’d never let someone I care about feel that alone.” That answer stayed with me. It made me realize that care is often born from experience. Those who offer love freely are often the ones who’ve known its absence. And perhaps that’s what makes their love so powerful—not its perfection, but its intention. Months passed, and while not everything was magically fixed, something inside me shifted. I no longer walked through my days waiting for the pain to pass. Instead, I learned to walk with it—with more kindness, more understanding, and a growing sense that I was not alone in my journey. Soophie never claimed to heal me. But in truth, her care did. Not by erasing the past, but by helping me see that I was more than what had happened to me. Her love didn’t rush, didn’t demand change. It simply offered room to breathe, to fall apart when needed, and to gather strength again. And in that quiet space she created, I began to mend—not all at once, but piece by piece, moment by moment. Love, I’ve come to understand, is not always loud or overwhelming. Sometimes, it’s found in the most unassuming gestures. It’s found in people who stay when it would be easier to walk away. It’s found in the way someone remembers the small details that make you feel seen. Healing through love isn’t a dramatic process. It’s slow, like the changing of seasons. But with time, care begins to restore what pain tried to destroy. And now, when I think about love, I think about the gentle touches that mended what was broken—not all at once, but enough to begin again.
By Sajid 9 months ago in Families
The Silent Pact. Content Warning.
The bruise bloomed across my back like how a robin's underbelly looks bright against its dark feathers. I could see in the mirror the dark and ominous red against my pale skin. At eleven years old I studied it in the bathroom mirror, twisting awkwardly to see the full scope. The bruise, only half a day old, was beginning to evolve from a bright red to a dulled purple-blue. It was almost like art, I recalled. I couldn't look at my legs, which still stung. How do they look? I wondered while resisting the urge to look down. This was not the first time nor would it be the last but this one changed something fundamental inside me.
By G. A. Botero9 months ago in Families
My Daughter’s DNA Test Exposed a Secret My Husband Took to His Grave
It started as a harmless birthday gift. Our daughter, Lily, had just turned 16. She’s always been fascinated with stories—myths, history, family lore. So I bought her one of those ancestry DNA kits. “Let’s see if you’ve got Viking blood,” I joked as she swabbed her cheek and sealed the envelope.
By Noman Khan 9 months ago in Families
Healing, Hope, and New Beginnings Await at "Permission To" Day 2025
Azal Lockett An Empowering Event to Help You Move Forward with Peace, Purpose, and Joy The WHY: On December 15, 2020, Dr. Portia Lockett received a call that no mother ever wants to get: her beloved son, Azal Benne’ Lockett, had died. Initially reported as a car accident, it was later revealed that Azal had been shot and, in a desperate attempt to seek help, crashed into an EMT truck.
By Dr. Pam Perry9 months ago in Families
The Secret My Mother-in-Law Hid for Years Destroyed the Life I Thought I Had”
I used to believe that the strongest marriages were built on love. But now I know they also depend on truth. For years, I thought I had the perfect life—married to the man I loved, surrounded by a family that supported us. But everything unraveled the day my mother-in-law whispered her final words. Her long-hidden secret destroyed everything I thought I knew.
By Muhammad 9 months ago in Families
Behind the Smile. Content Warning.
She went to school every day with a huge smile on her face, chatted with friends, participated in class, and got good grades. Even made people jealous. "How the heck did she get a perfect score in Math? I wish I was her," she hears a whisper from behind her. It was Linda. Linda got a 75, but Linda has plans to go out with her family tonight, and Linda has a father she proudly calls 'Dad', and Linda has a Mom who comforts her when she's upset, and Linda has a sister who's her best friend. So, who exactly is the winner here? It's Linda, because the real winners in life and always people like Linda.
By AdharaWrites9 months ago in Families
The Silent Light of a Mother's Love
The Silent Light of a Mother's Love There was once a woman named Ayesha, a mother whose world had been plunged into darkness long before she could even understand the weight of the word. Born with perfect vision, Ayesha had once admired the beauty of the world around her. But life had a different plan, and at the age of 20, she lost her sight to a rare disease. Her world became black, silent, and empty.
By Noman Afridi9 months ago in Families
Practice Self-Care
And all these things need to be done on the base of the Foundation of Healing—Caring for oneself. Healing is more than just what takes place when you’re ill or feeling poorly. It’s about creating the conditions that allow for well-being to flourish in all aspects of your life — emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually. Self-care is the heart of recovery from traumatization because it helps us find our balance, resilience and soul-health. It requires intention, presence, and intention.
By Laila Sadia9 months ago in Families
The Confession That Changed My Marriage Forever
The Confession That Changed My Marriage Forever One final conversation with my mother-in-law revealed a hidden truth that helped me see my husband—and our love—through new eyes.
By Hazrat Bilal9 months ago in Families
The Day My Uncle Died in the House — A Story of Alcohol, Loss, and Healing
He promised to stop drinking. The doctor warned him. But on February 13th, 2008, alcohol claimed his life — and left me to face the heartbreak alone. For many years, I never shared this story.
By James C.9 months ago in Families
7 Signs Counseling Might Help a Struggling Family Household
Family stress tends to build without much warning. Tension becomes part of the routine, showing up in quiet withdrawals, frequent sighs, or constant irritability. As stress becomes more deeply embedded in everyday moments, it slowly reshapes how family members interact. When harmony feels replaced by survival, counseling often becomes the bridge back to emotional clarity.
By Piper Burch9 months ago in Families