When the Comeback Gets Derailed by Heartbreak

I was ready. I had finally brushed the digital cobwebs off this blog, found my password, and written about stepping back into this space with fresh purpose. I was excited to connect with you all again and sit across our virtual kitchen table. But then, life didn’t just happen; my life was shattered!

Just as I was getting back on track, my world stopped. My sweet dog, Pepper, my constant shadow and my fiercely loyal companion of eleven years through so many seasons of life, passed away.

Suddenly, the words I wanted to write evaporated. The excitement of a blog comeback felt incredibly small compared to the unbearable pain and suffocating grief that immediately filled my home. If you have ever loved a dog, you know that they aren’t “just a pet.” They are woven into the very fabric of your daily rhythm.

For eleven years, Pepper’s four paws followed me everywhere, and I mean everywhere! She was there during the quiet mornings, the loud and chaotic days, and the heavy transitions where human words fell short. Pepper didn’t care about my titles, my schedule, or whether I had it all together. She just loved me. Now, the silence in my house is deafening. Every corner holds a memory, and the emptiness where her bed used to be feels like a physical ache in my chest.

I’ll be honest: walking through this level of grief makes it hard to breathe, let alone be inspiring. I found myself sitting on the floor again, not because of burnout this time, but because my heart was completely broken.

In the midst of this raw, agonizing pain, I almost closed the laptop for good. The enemy loves to whisper that our grief makes us useless, or that we should wait until we have a neat, tidy lesson before we share our lives with others.

But from a faith perspective, I know that God doesn’t demand a polished presentation. He is the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.
Psalm 34:18 tells us that He is close to the brokenhearted. He doesn’t stand at a distance waiting for us to stop crying; He sits right beside us in the mess of our tears. And oh, how many tears there have been!

So, I am bringing my broken heart right here to the screen. Because if this blog is going to be about real-life stories and encouraging women, I have to be real about the valley I am walking through right now. Grief is not a lack of faith; it is the price we pay for deep, unconditional love.

To the woman (or man, I won’t discriminate!) reading this who is also walking through an unbearable loss, whether it’s a beloved pet, a dream, a relationship, or a loved one, please know you aren’t alone.
It is okay not to be okay. It is okay if your plans got derailed. God can handle your sorrow, your questions, and your empty spaces. For now, I am pausing the grand comeback plans to grieve, heal, and lean into the One who holds my tears.