S3 E3 A Widow’s Camino: The Road to Healing with Sherry Hayes-Peirce
CS. Lewis once said when describing grief, “I thought I could describe a state; make a map of sorrow. Sorrow, however, turns out to be not a state but a process.” (Lewis, A grief observed, 2015) As many of us know, we can’t control grief and there's no GPS to navigate it. It’s very much a process, something that takes time to heal, and takes one step at a time not always forward but in circles. 1956, CS Lewis married American writer Joy Davidman; but sadly Joy died of cancer four years later at the age of 45. While Lewis had only been married for a short time his depth of his grief was so intense he went to express his sorrow in his book dedicated to his wife, titled A Grief Observed.
In this week’s episode, Andrea and Jennifer have a candid and inspiring conversation with Sherry Hayes-Peirce about the loss of her spouse, who she fondly refers to as “Dude”. While everyone experiences grief differently, Sherry provides an honest and raw perspective on the uniqueness of the loss of a spouse.
Guest Bio
Sherry Hayes-Peirce is a Catholic social media strategist, blogger, conference speaker, and contributing author of the Ave Prayer Book for Catholic Mothers. She serves as Digital Engagement Coordinator for American Martyrs Catholic Community in Manhattan Beach, CA. She is also a contributing writer to Catholicmom.com from Holy Cross Family Ministry. Sherry has a strong devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and is grateful to be a digital disciple of Christ. You can connect with Sherry on Instagram (church_social_tips), Facebook (Sherry Sheridan Hayes Peirce) or send an email to Sherry.hayes.peirce@gmail.com.
Links from the show
Information about Saint Monica
Mulieris Dignitatem (Vatican document); Wikipedia description
The Way (movie)
Scripture Verses
“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 (Cavins, J., Healy, M., Swafford, A. D., & Williamson, P. S. (2018). The holy bible: Revised Standard version, Second Catholic edition. Ascension.)
Journaling Questions
Sometimes we hold on to items that belonged to our loved ones because they remind us of them by their scent. What is something that you have kept to preserve a loved one’s memory or their spirit?
Who is part of your faith-filled circle? In what ways have you been able to support each other in times of need?
What is your mourning glory?
Prayer for the soul of Brad “Dude” Peirce; For all widows; For Mary who recently became a widow and her daughter, Chloe.
If you have questions or comments about today's show or would like to be a guest, head over to our website: www.mourningglorypodcast.com. You can also find us on Instagram and Facebook.