Author: Karen Harmening

Tomorrow is the 6th time our family is forced to decide what to do on Sarah's birthday without her, in the middle of our 6th Christmas season without her. Thankfully, her birthday and this Christmas season are not the cutting of new wounds in our hearts, but more like the pressing of a still tender … Continue reading Long and New Sorrow →

Deaths of loved ones, fractured relationships, perceived personal failures, unfulfilled longings, and countless other challenges have many feeling terribly alone this Thanksgiving. For some the isolation will be compounded by physical solitude, and for others it will be compounded by being seated in a crowd of people.  If sadness fills your heart at the thought … Continue reading NOT ALONE →

As Sarah sat in the bus journaling in the moments before she was killed, she journaled her sadness about leaving us for "so long" and countered it by encouraging herself that God had called her there for a reason. Based on that she concluded with confidence: "so I know He's going to do incredible things." … Continue reading More Incredible Things… →

My second born daughter is in labor with our firstborn grandson, so I am awake in the dark of night with eager expectation of meeting this precious new life. As excited as I am about meeting him, I am reminded there is something I am waiting for with even more eager expectation. "For in hope … Continue reading Eagerly Waiting →

September is Suicide Prevention Month, National Suicide Prevention Week is September 4 – 10, and September 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day. In the midst of all of the talk of prevention I find myself grieving with and for my precious friend with the approaching anniversary of her beloved son's death by suicide on September … Continue reading Suicide Prevention or Awareness? →

I am so very thankful For God's tender mercies to us richly revealed through His Word and compassionately ministered to our souls. What precious knowledge to know He sees and knows our hearts, minds and souls. He intimately knows our sorrows and not one of our tears escapes His notice. God graciously and repeatedly acknowledges … Continue reading He Restores my Soul →

A few weeks ago we visited the Big Island of Hawai'i. As we traveled across the island I was captivated by the sight of plants springing up in the charred fields of lava. How impossible it seemed that beauty and life could spring up in the midst of such utter destruction. Each time I saw … Continue reading 5 Years Without My Child: Beauty for Ashes →

Today, Easter Sunday, I am once again uniquely and acutely aware of death's sting. Today marks my fifth Easter Sunday without my third child, Sarah. It was with both great joy and great sadness that I celebrated the resurrection of my Savior, Jesus Christ, today. The prominent focus of Easter is the awe inspiring truth … Continue reading Death’s Sting →

This morning I was listening to the final episode of the podcast "The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill." A quote at the end really resonated with me, “The longer that you live with a mask the greater the void grows between the mask and the internal reality of who you are. And that void … Continue reading Her Fifth Birthday →

Last night I was awake through the night deeply burdened and fervently praying for someone journeying though an oppressively dark valley. My heart ached with and for theirs as I cried out for God to be near to them, to lift them from the pit, and to allow them to see and experience His powerfully … Continue reading A New Song →