Lisa Appelo
About the Author

Lisa is a single mom to 7 and young widow who found God her Rock when her world was rocked. One of her delights is teaching women every Sunday morning at her church, FBC Jacksonville. She writes and speaks on faith in the hard and God’s healing hope.

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
Find more at DaySpring.com
(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
Recent Posts

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Thank you for sharing this, Lisa. I’m so very sorry you have had to bare so much pain, but I’m also so thankful for a Father who held you and continues to hold you in that pain. And what beautiful friendship met you and your children in the midst of it all.

    Recently I had a woman I had only just gotten to know through my Bible Study invite herself over to sit and listen to my own story of grief. Her presence and tears for my loss meant so much more than anything else anyone had offered me in my grief. Often our wish to “help” people “get over” things stops us from approaching them with the heart of Jesus, the one who chooses to both weep with us AND give us hope. Thank you for this beautiful reminder of who we are called to be like.

  2. Oh Lisa….tears are flowing as I remember that day. One of the things I remember that stuck out to me was Zach’s friends gathered around him praying. Your house was full that day. Still pray for you and your sweet family. Thanks for sharing your heart.
    Love you dearly!
    Rene’ ❤️

  3. Lisa, I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved husband and friend of twenty-six years. As I was reading your post, I was deeply moved by the actions of others, young and old, to grieve along side you and your children. Thank you for sharing such a personal part of your heart today. Praying for you and your kids. Xox

  4. Hello Lisa: Thank you so much for sharing your heart with us this morning. This blog hit me to the core of my soul. One because I can’t even imagine the pain that you and your family experienced but also because I am not sure how other than family would walk through my doors. God knows my heart, I have been speaking directly to him about my needs for true and authentic community and the right doors are yet to open. I pray that God will continue to send people that truly love you and care for you through your home and heart doors! Blessings, Silvia

  5. Lisa, I am so very sorry to hear about your loss. I pray that God continues to comfort and encourage you and your beautiful family during this difficult time. Thank you for sharing this story with us all. God bless you and your family ❤️

    “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” ~ Psalms 46:1 (kjv)

  6. Dear Lisa, first off I want to say how sorry I am for your loss! I thank God that He surrounded you with the love and support you needed at one of the most difficult times of your life! I too am a widow, became one at age 37 almost 3 years ago. My husband and I had only been married 4 years and had a very difficult marriage, we were actually separated when he suddenly passed away on a mission trip to Mexico. I was apart of his church for 5 years, active on the women’s ministry and a member of the worship team but found myself facing this loss without the support of my church family. My daughters (from before my marriage) and I had to struggle alone and left that church several months after his passing way because it became clear that it wasn’t my church and the members did not step up to support us during the loss. Our situations are so different but the fact we were separated does not mean that I wasn’t grieving over the loss of my husband and my marriage. God has been there for my through all of this but I have become apprehensive about finding a new church because of the hurt I have gone through before. I want to find that community like you spoke of in your post and I think that is what stirred me to comment. I am so very glad that God put people around you during your time of grief dear sister. I hope to someday find Godly friends who are willing to stand beside me when I need them as well. Blessings to you and your beautiful family, Kristy Lynn

    • I am so sorry Kristy for your deep loss and the hurt in your church. Yes, I so affirm for you to get plugged back into a body of believers who, though not perfect, can walk with Christ alongside you. Thank you for commenting.

  7. Thank you. Praying our merciful God will continue to comfort and guide you every day and will surround your children with everything they need as they grow in Him.
    Love and prayers!

  8. My gosh, what a beautiful testimony illustrating love of God’s people during your grief. Blessed for those who mourn came alive for me for the first time. Thank you, and God bless you for your faith and carrying your beautiful family through with the help of your dear, Godly friends. Visiting from Testimony Tuesday. You touched my heart today.

  9. Lisa,
    Thank you for your open, honesty in sharing this heartwarming story! God knew what you needed that day & it was friends to come around & be there for you and your kids! Grieving is hard & friends help soften the landing!!
    I’m usually the one to run in and help out! I understand that people need to be carried through trials. I have a wonderful small church that is always right there for you when trials come. Before mom died my pastor spoke with my dad, via dad’s request, and even visited him at home. My dad got re baptized! When mom died the small church held a little funeral for her and even fed my family! (All that even though my parents never went to that church)! They truly showed God’s love to my family during that time!
    Blessings 🙂

  10. My heart so hurts for what happened – for your loss. Your story shows how God can come in and bring something deeply beautiful into something so incredibly painful! Your faith and hope in Him is so incredibly encouraging! Praying for you and your family!

  11. Barbara, how amazing to have spent 51 years together. I’m so sorry for your great loss and I know even as hard and painful as the grief and missing are, God WILL take care of you. I’m praying for you across the miles even as I write this. May you feel God holding you in the palm of His good hand.