One of the most painful parts of grief is loneliness. No matter how many people are in our lives, missing our son makes the whole world seem empty. No one can replace our son. Even if we have another child, we will still miss Cayse. This is why grief lasts, and in some way loneliness, too, for the rest of our lives. Accepting this loneliness is part of who we are. I think of my loneliness of my son as a way of keeping a space for him. It is a way of honoring the love we had.

After experiencing our loss, I was sad, angry, and lonely. And it's completely understandable. When you're grieving the loss of someone or something important to you, it's easy to lose yourself in your memories and wallow in the sadness. But while it may seem like the best thing to do is just stay at home and be alone with your thoughts, this kind of isolation can worsen your feelings.

Here are some tips for coping with loneliness when you're feeling down:

Talk to someone about how you're feeling. It doesn't have to be someone who's been through something similar—it could be a friend who just wants to support you or a family member who wants to help. Just talking about what's going on in your head can help bring some clarity back into it!

"Having a safe place to reach out to others day or night can ease the suffering of being alone in your grief." You can connect with others who are grieving through our Red Bird App-which is coming soon.

Make plans with friends or family members that don't require any effort from you—like going out for dinner or watching a movie together. If you have trouble making plans by yourself, ask someone else if they'd like to join in!

Donate some time and energy towards an organization or cause that resonates with you—this will give you something productive to do with your feelings instead of letting them consume you.

Grief can be a very lonely experience, especially when other people can't see or understand the suffering we are carrying. It can take some time to figure out how to comfort your broken heart and to find meaningful connections and support in your grief. Try to be patient with yourself and your changing feelings. Remember, that the Lord is close to the broken-hearted. We have his word that we are never truly alone.