Kristen Welch
About the Author

Kristen writes at her parenting blog, We Are THAT Family and is author of Rhinestone Jesus: Saying Yes to God When Safe Sparkly Faith is No Longer Enough and founder of The Mercy House. Follow Kristen on twitter as @WeareTHATfamily.

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(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
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  1. Thank you for your simple brokendown-ness, if you will. Sometimes it is challenging to see God working in our lives, yet your story allows one to easily see God’s hand. Thank you for showing me God today. Prayers of finding peace for your family.

  2. My condolences to your family. The “love one another” showed in the outpouring of support you’ve received is so comforting and inspiring. Prayers with you for the days ahead – may the “holding” rain His comfort & peace on you all.

  3. So so sorry for your loss. And so thankful for the hands and feet of Christ to ease it just a little bit….a reminder to do what we can do for those we know are hurting.

  4. Dear Kristen, my heart goes out to you and your family as you grief the loss of someone so young and dear. The loss of a sibling at any age is incredibly hard. But when you lose them at a young age, the depth of grief can seem too much to bear at times. I lost my brother and sister in law in a plane crash when I was 32 and they were 28 and 26 years old. It took me years to let go of them and to finally let God back into my heart without asking ‘Why them? Why these two people I cherish, who centered their lives around you, leading people to you?’
    I am praying right now for the love of God to wrap all who are hurting so badly from this loss, tucked around you like a warm blanket as you allow yourselves to grieve and tell Him how much it hurts. He understands everything each of you are feeling for He’s experienced every feeling that bubbles up from your being, especially grief! Blessings and peace that goes beyond any understanding imaginable. In His name, Debbie

  5. Dear Kristen, my heart goes out to you and your family as you grief the loss of someone so young and dear. The loss of a sibling at any age is incredibly hard. But when you lose them at a young age, the depth of grief can seem too much to bear at times. I lost my brother and sister in law in a plane crash when I was 32 and they were 28 and 26 years old. It took me years to let go of them and to finally let God back into my heart without asking ‘Why them? Why these two people I cherish, who centered their lives around you, leading people to you?’
    I am praying right now for the love of God to wrap all who are hurting so badly from this loss, tucked around you like a warm blanket as you allow yourselves to grieve and tell Him how much it hurts. He understands everything each of you are feeling for He’s experienced every feeling that bubbles up from your being, especially grief! Blessings and peace that goes beyond any understanding imaginable. In His name, Debbie

  6. As someone who has recently experienced a loss and an outpouring of love and support I appreciate your feelings and thoughts.
    My only child Vincent died on December 29, 29 days short of his 30th birthday. It was sudden and unexpected. He passed in his sleep. I can only hope it was a peaceful passing. I’m a widow. My family and friends and his friends surrounded me with support that still overwhelms me. Today I finally got it – it’s God’s Arms that are wrapped around me. I have a deep faith in Him. I know He’s there with me always but today by reading this I could put a “name” on what I experienced. My physical son is now just ashes in a box in a niche in the cemetery. My real son is always in my heart, no matter what our mother/son battles were. I’m praying that his real essence – his soul – is now in Heaven with his biological father and his Eternal Father. God’s Arms are wrapped around both of us.

  7. So sorry for you loss. If it were not for God I don’t know people get through things like that. Hold tight to you faith. It is going to be tough, but as my father told me you never get over it you learn to live with it.

  8. Kristen,

    May God wrap your hubby and you in His loving arms and surround your family with His grace and mercy!

    Thank you for your openness and honesty about such a private ordeal@! You are truly blessed to have such wonderful Christian people surrounding you at this time!

    God bless!

  9. This is beautiful. Your words took my breath away. I love this…”I believe this- dinner-serving, grocery-giving, burden-bearing- this is what Jesus had in mind when he said love one another.” Real lives. Real loss. Real love. Beautiful. I’m so sorry for your loss.

  10. So very sorry for your loss…..thank you for posting your heart. It speaks to my heart, too. thank you!

  11. Sorry for your loss, My heart goes out to your family. I will be praying for God to comfort you all every step of the way. May God bless you all. Thanks for your post.

  12. Kristen, I’m so sorry for the loss your family has gone through. I pray you continue to be surrounded by God’s arms through your community. And thank you for the reminder of the part we can all play.

  13. I’m new to this lovely community but not new the fact that we are family because of Jesus. Kristen, may the Holy Spirit envelope you and your family in His loving and comforting arms {{{}}}.

  14. And that is a testament as to why we need community. He uses our earthly angel friends to help bless us when we are in need.

  15. I am sorry for your painful loss. But glad you are writing this. We can be God’s voice, God’s arms, God’s love. We need to be God’s voice. God’s arms. God’s love. Thanks for encouraging us and reminding us by sharing how people have done that for you!

  16. Thank you… May the One who holds all of us, continue to hold you and your family a little tighter, a little longer…
    Much love and prayers,
    Susan

  17. My heart aches for you and your family, Kristen. Such emotional pain is beyond words to console. How uplifting, though, to hear how your church community has surrounded you with love and comfort, and supplied you with practical things to ease your burden of responsibility. Thank you for sharing your experience and the gracious care of your church family. Their example shows clearly what ministers most when someone we love is suffering.

    Lord Jesus, thank you for making your presence more palpable right now to Kristen and her family. And thank you for your people, holding them up, cheering their hearts, and infusing them with the strength of love. Bless them all, I pray. Amen.

  18. Your post touches my heart, years after the loss of my nephew. May God hold you, and comfort you. May He pour out His blessings during this season of grief. Let Him lead you beside still waters.