Miscarriage Care Package for Families

Gretchen Saffles

Endorsement written for Held

When we lost our baby unexpectedly, silence filled my soul. By the grace of God, Abbey does the impossible in Held by putting words to our pain in miscarriage while offering the hope of the gospel. She guides the broken hearted woman into the endless grace of God.

Kristen Wetherell

Endorsement written for Held

It was no coincidence that Abbey was writing Held when we lost our second baby. The portions of it that she shared with me were a balm to my aching heart. This is a Word-saturated book, tenderly written by a woman who loves Jesus, trusts him, and wants to see many hurting moms do the same. I highly recommend it to you.

When I saw a beautifully illustrated Christ crying with Lazarus’ grief-stricken sisters, it felt like I was there

Endorsement written for Goodbye to Goodbyes Storybook

I recently said the hardest goodbye I’ve ever had to say. We put her down in the cold-cot, being careful with her lifeless neck. And with pangs of pain, we left the room, saying goodbye to our stillborn daughter.... continue reading

Goodbye to Goodbyes: A True Story about Jesus, Lazarus, and an Empty Tomb

Endorsement written for Goodbye to Goodbyes Storybook

Author Lauren Chandler takes on the account of Lazarus’ death and Jesus subsequently bringing him back to life, and powerfully shows how Jesus came so that we might be able to say ‘goodbye to goodbyes – forever’.... continue reading

“The best book on miscarriage that I've ever read!”

This book is the most amazing book about the sorrow of miscarriage! I have lost 3 precious babies over the years and I can only say that I wish I had this book when I was walking through those trials. While it has been 3 years since my last miscarriage, I can tell you that I cried many times while reading this and I've never felt so understood. Abbey does an amazing job of addressing the topic with compassion and kindness while pointing grieving mothers to the truth of scripture! If you or someone you know has gone through a miscarriage, this is a must read! I'm so grateful that Abbey took the time to write this book.

“A Rare Book on an Important Topic”

In the last couple of years, I've been seeking out books about pastoral care subjects for my work with men in my church. This topic, looking at miscarriage, was one of the least covered and most difficult to find something that was both biblical and gospel-centred, whilst also being caring and pastorally sensitive. In "Ours", Schumacher carefully shows us the God who cares and the God who hears, guiding us towards the biblical comfort that we so need. His short chapters/devotionals/reflections are just the right size for dipping into the topic carefully, allowing time to process this information on such an intense subject. I'm a real fan of the journal style so as you read you can write out some highlights or use it to make the experience more personal by writing out how it might apply. A definite recommendation to have on your bookshelf.

“wonderful”

This book is a must and I'm surprised there is nothing out there already addressing the grief that a man can and will navigate through a miscarriage. It's such a misconception that only women really deal with the grief coinciding with miscarriage. God created the marriage and the mother/father roles as vital instruments for children, born and unborn. The grief will have a direct impact on the father as well despite his physical distance.

What makes this book so relatable and personable, is Schumacher's honesty and willingness to share his own experience with miscarriage. He does not shy away from the reality of miscarriage and consistently shares the Gospel of Jesus through such an emotionally difficult experience.

The book itself is structured with thirty-one chapters and three additional appendices. The chapters follow the book of Luke to address every aspect that comes with a miscarriage such as grief, despair, mourning, anger, doubt, trust, etc.

The chapters are short and sweet but packed with powerful Gospel truth, reminders and encouragement. Schumacher is gentle and compassionate but firm in sharing what the Scriptures teach us.

The chapters include specific focus verses from the book of Luke along with reflect questions and a space for journaling. I love the journaling portion as this encourages men, who are not always given the opportunity to express or share their emotions.

This would be a perfect gift for any man experiencing a miscarriage.

I received a copy of this book The Good Book Company in exchange for an honest review.

“Gospel Centered”

“The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
 
Death surrounds all of us, and we never get used to it. And while death is “natural”, there is also something very unnatural about it.
 
When the elderly die, we understand that it's part of ageing, but when a miscarriage occurs, that life has barely begun, we feel grief differently.
 
In ‘OURS’, Eric Schumacher provides a resource for men grieving the loss of a child in the form of a devotional.
 
Schumacher who has suffered four miscarriages is aptly equipped to speak on this difficult and at times uncomfortable subject and does so with wisdom & compassion.
 
With 31 devotionals the book is designed to be completed in a month, with each devotional taking five or so minutes to read but can obviously be read at your own your pace.
 
Each devotion has passages from the Gospel of Luke as Schumacher invites you to read and think with him about the story of Jesus and how He is a “powerful and compassionate, faithful and surprising companion in our trials”.
 
Each chapter concludes with a couple of reflection points and a generous amount of room to journal thoughts or prayers as you read.
 
While this is a book on grieving the loss of an unborn child/children, the Gospel remains centre stage throughout. Schumacher reminds us that God is Sovereign and cares for us, and in His great mercy, He sent He Son to do away with sin and death, and that those who put their trust in Christ can look forward to that great Day when “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

 This book was sent to me by The Good Book Company in exchange for an honest review

“Christ Our Hope in Life and Death”

What does miscarriage mean for Christian men? Ours, by Eric Schumacher, brings Biblical comfort for men grieving miscarriage.

Biblical Precision and Tender Care

Having experienced 3 miscarriages, Schumacher writes with Biblical precision and tender care. The devotional is written around the book of Luke. This book, like Luke, opens with the fact that God knows about our specific sorrows and suffering. “A book about Jesus opens with a story about a couple that could not have children.” What a profound note!

The book goes on to tackle subjects such as grief, uncertainty, and trust. I was most surprised at Chapter 5, that speaks of our need for repentance. Schumacher knows we must honor Christ in our miscarriage, but admits we sometimes make mistakes in our coping. Lashing out in angry words, demanding too much of our loved ones, envy, bitterness, and anger are all sins that must be confessed.

Christ Our Hope in Life and Death

Discussion questions and prayer prompts are included at the end of each chapter. At the back of the book are several appendices, including Understanding the Medical Side of Miscarriage by Jenn Hesse, How to Grieve by Brian Croft, Loving Your Wife: Nate’s Story by Nate Wilbert. The proper end of the book closes with Jesus’ promise of peace.

This book is a must-read for men who have experienced miscarriage. Wives will understand the unique struggles their husbands experience. Pastors and leaders will learn how to minister with compassion. And Christ will be championed as our hope in life and death.

I received a media copy of Ours and this is my honest review.

“Much Needed and Incredibly Helpful”

Ours: Biblical Comfort for Men Grieving Miscarriage is the latest book by author and pastor, Eric Schumacher. This book is the first of its kind, at least to my knowledge, as it addresses the topic of miscarriage with men as the intended audience. Ours is the companion book to Abbey Wedgeworth’s helpful volume, Held. Held was a great comfort to me as I experienced a miscarriage early last year and I wish Ours would have been available because as I’ve read it recently, I’ve found it to be incredibly helpful.

Ours includes 31 brief devotionals to help men as they process the grief of miscarriage. In the book, Schumacher uses the book of Luke to help readers understand the compassion of Jesus for those who are hurting. Each devotional points readers to Jesus and concludes with space for journaling. The exterior of the book is aesthetically pleasing. The interior includes a bookmark which may seem like a small detail but it is one that demonstrates much care for those who are grieving as it may be hard for them to keep track of where they are in the book. Schumacher and his wife, Jenny, are no stranger to the grief of miscarriage as they’ve experienced it 4 times. Schumacher writes with tenderness and compassion for those who are suffering. As a woman, I’m grateful that I was able to find many resources that pointed me to Christ during my miscarriage. I’m grateful that Ours now exists to do the same for men (and ultimately help the women they love).

I received Ours compliments of The Good Book Company in exchange for my honest review.

“Incredibly Helpful”

Ours: Biblical Comfort for Men Grieving Miscarriage is the latest book by author and pastor, Eric Schumacher. This book is the first of its kind, at least to my knowledge, as it addresses the topic of miscarriage with men as the intended audience. Ours is the companion book to Abbey Wedgeworth’s helpful volume, Held. Held was a great comfort to me as I experienced a miscarriage early last year and I wish Ours would have been available because as I’ve read it recently, I’ve found it to be incredibly helpful.

Ours includes 31 brief devotionals to help men as they process the grief of miscarriage. In the book, Schumacher uses the book of Luke to help readers understand the compassion of Jesus for those who are hurting. Each devotional points readers to Jesus and concludes with space for journaling. The exterior of the book is aesthetically pleasing. The interior includes a bookmark which may seem like a small detail but it is one that demonstrates much care for those who are grieving as it may be hard for them to keep track of where they are in the book. Schumacher and his wife, Jenny, are no stranger to the grief of miscarriage as they’ve experienced it 4 times. Schumacher writes with tenderness and compassion for those who are suffering. As a woman, I’m grateful that I was able to find many resources that pointed me to Christ during my miscarriage. I’m grateful that Ours now exists to do the same for men (and ultimately help the women they love).

I received Ours compliments of The Good Book Company in exchange for my honest review.

“Much-Needed and Truly Excellent”

I have read many different books about miscarriage and child loss, but they are all written by women and to women. Normally, authors will include one chapter about the dad, but they usually still address it to his wife, not him. Because of this, I have been looking forward to “Ours: Biblical Comfort for Men Grieving Miscarriage” ever since Eric Schumacher announced it. There are no other books like this, and after years of appreciating this author's work, I knew he would be the perfect person to write it. However, this still surpassed my expectations.

This book shares 31 daily devotions based on consecutive passages from the gospel of Luke, and each reading begins with a common question that men ask when grieving miscarriage. These include both spiritual questions, such as where God is in the midst of this, and practical questions, such as whether or not they should take time off work and if they're a burden to their friends. Schumacher relates each question to the passage for that day in a meaningful, insightful way, and it amazed me to see how well he tied in each issue with the Bible verses without ever oversimplifying the question or the Scripture reading.

Schumacher shares vulnerable stories from his own experiences with recurrent miscarriages, and he is both a kind companion and a wise pastoral guide to the men who will read this book. I highly recommend this as a gift to men grieving miscarriage, along with the publisher's original devotional “Held” by Abbey Wedgeworth for their wives, and I hope that women will also read “Ours” to better understand a male perspective on this issue. This book is much-needed and truly excellent, and I highly recommend it to grieving men and their support systems.

Note: I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“Great resource for parents and children's workers”

I was asked to do a little funeral service for children who did not want to go to the "big" adult funeral for their grandad. I used the free downloadable pictures and told them the story as part of the service then gave them a copy of the book to take home. The pictures and words of truth together offer a way in to begin to talk to children about the reality of death: the sadness it brings as well as the hope offered by Jesus. A great resource for parents and children's workers.