True story:Messy Morning

Messy Morning: Jackie M. Baker 

There are numerous beginnings to this heartbreaking and yet inspiring title by Jackie M Baker provides a guide for readers who have had a family member take his/her own life.  Chapter one is the beginning of her journey as she explains how different churches and how all people experience grief. Page 7-9 explains why and how this book is a great resource for others. Pages 11-12 explains how to deal with this journey and how we can find peace and beauty in our brokenness again amid a messy  morning. Then things to consider. 

Chapter 2 Finding Hope in Messy Mourning. Explaining how her son recomposes specific church and how at 23 was readmitted to a psychiatric unit for two weeks worsening suicidal thoughts: pages 16-25 takes her and readers on different journeys and includes the wall of prayers plus that her husband did and talking to a stranger about losing her son,Ben.sharing stories snd talking they found a common ground. Then focusing on the days after her son’s death as her meeting with this person and realizing her son had a home in heaven. Then an ending so inspiring and emotional as the author reaches out to Meg the lady from the church and the note are share their story, feelings and both understanding their losses and more. Then someone asking her to help another but not her time yet. Pages 23-25 how does she deal with this and questions most would ask and how she knows that God wanted her to share her story and walking through her grief and more. Pages 24-25 will she help others? Page 25 the message to readers important and how her experiences will help others. 

Then the author in chapter 3 asks for sympathy for the mother of Judas. This includes information about her son stealing from someone close and placed in jail and the author reflects on questions page 35 and page 37 last line!

Chapter 4 more than a statistic and read page 44 and understand why all children that commit suicide have their own story. Added to help you  more pages 44-45 . 

Chapter 5 the journal entry brings tears. But must night he asked to come home the response and result pages 49-59 includes references, Job and his teachings and what can be learned. Psalms help to lament and journal entry Poem of Lament thought provoking. 

Chapters 6-10 focuses on why grief would be less messy if just the author. Marriages don’t have to fail in chapter 7? And gives the reader five ways to navigate grief each one helps the reader and anyone dealing emotionally with suicide five valuable lessons. 

Section 2

In the Middle of the storm read before chapter 8 when suicide Gomes to church. Read pages 95-104 and then the heart if the chapter 105-109 how can the church help those affected and marginalized by Suicide. 105-109. Read the thoughts to consider page 110.

Surviving all the firsts chapter 9. Pages 111-113 sets the stage for how people survive the firsts and defines what they are. Each page tells of a first like stocking on Christmas Day do you hang one in his memory? Page 115 what his sister says. Do you avoid the holidays? Some fine others long forgotten memories and do you celebrate the birthday with the rest of your family?

Pages 120-123 read the journal entry titled Written on what would have been Sebastian’s 29 th birthday. 

Chapter 10’Lies Grieving Mothers Believe. Page 125 the poem. Read the journal entry pages 126-127 and then the five lies that she writes about plus the ultimate truth pages 138-139.

The last paragraph page 139 how the ultimate truth encourages us to let go of relentless blame and more. 

I know the hardest day for me after I lost my sister to a horrific way the death day anniversary played hard in me and for 16 years the pain never subsided. Pages 141-152 but read the journal entry explaining the title pages 151-152. 

Then the author talks about the progression of her grief first year people reached out to her and second year people moved on. His friends getting married and page157 the thoughts were in her head. Page 158 the mantra vital. Then the remainder of the chapter finding hope second year and beyond. Chapters 14-15 losing and finding our identity and how in biblical ways page 181 defines building her true identity and page 183 defines it. Chapter 15 we can’t do it in our own focuses questions to ask herself pages 189-195. Chapter 16 death is not 181the last goodbye and dealing with her first plane flight , panic attacks and then how Jesus helped guide her pages 204-205 explains. Chapters 17-18 the author explains about her past arguments with Steve about the drug addiction her son had. Therapist, help, Ebenezer blessings.  Grieving with hope and not going to Bend and How to stand firm in the storm Jesus con her side to guide her. Finding hope in unexpected places chapter 19 and chapter 20 peace and contentment in our Messy Morning. The 7th anniversary of his death. Powerful chapter that asks more when you read thoughts to consider and use them to guide you. 

Then How to help motto

Help someone grieving the loss of a child by suicide chapter 21. Journal entry letter unsent. Dear ….,,blank writing about a Facebook post and talking about her grief and that of another person. Page 155 she lists the many ways how others grieving can get support from friends and acquaintances and family. Pages 255-258 spells out 12 ways and a summary paragraph page 258.

Last chapter Beauty by my Brokenness I’ll leave to readers using her family and God and religion to foster her strength and more. Read each appendix for sources she recommends, selected psalms of Lament , other selected resources and about the author.

Powerful words powerful impact on this author as I used some of her ways to deal with grief about my sisters death linguine be on the anniversary of 16 years last week. 

Providing uplifting and spiritual guidance and healing Messy Mourning will give you the power and strength to move ahead.

Fran Lewis Mj network restream