Loss of the Unborn: Ways of walking through grief

Loss of the unborn, through miscarriage, abortion, still-birth, or similar circumstances, is a desperately challenging but little recognized form of grief. It’s easy to assume that there is little need to grieve. And yet the sense of loss of the unborn can run very deep, not only for both parents, but also for siblings, grandparents, and wider family and friends. Also, there can be a profound sense of guilt/blame attached to these multiple layers of grief and loss. There are few of us who remain untouched by such tragedy, and likewise few of us who feel equipped to respond.

During this workshop, Pastors Peter Holmes and Susan Williams explore these grief journeys and ask how we can grieve wisely and support others who are doing so. We look at what Scripture has to say about loss and God’s love for the unborn, His grace and mercy regardless of circumstance, and how we can navigate daily life while going through the journey of grief. We also consider some of the possible lingering emotional and relational debris and how we might cope if it doesn’t naturally pass.

If you are someone who has been affected personally by this type of loss, you will learn some steps you can choose from, to gently pursue your grief journey, whether the loss is current or historic. If you would like to know how to stand alongside someone walking through this type of loss, you will find the steps we set out will give you a framework to provide an emotionally-sensitive response to a tragically common life experience.