In this episode, I sit with Mel Lawrenz, Author of A Chronicle of Grief: Finding Life After Traumatic Loss


Mel says, “Survival means to live through…Surviving is a positive thing. It’s God-honoring to say life goes on and I’m gonna go on. If someone thinks, well you can certainly do better than surviving…Well yeah, eventually. You can thrive. There comes a day when you can have a smile on your face when you remember your loved one, when you can get back to some things that have been more normal in life. But if where you’re at right now, is just making through, just surviving, there’s nothing shameful about that. That is God-honoring."

Mel Lawrenz trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought-leaders. He has a Ph.D. in the history of Christian thought (Marquette University) and has been on the adjunct faculty of the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee and Trinity International University. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin for ten years and now serves as Elmbrook’s minister at large, teaching in North America, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. He has authored 18 books with Zondervan, Baker, Jossey-Bass, Leadership Network, Regal, and others.

Episode resources (affiliate):
Can You Just Sit With Me: Healthy Grieving for the Losses of Life by Natasha Smith
A Chronicle of Grief: Finding Life After Traumatic Loss by Mel Lawrenz

Find more resources for navigating loss and grief at Natasha’s website: imnatashasmith.com