If you have experienced the sudden and tragic loss of a spouse, this episode is for you.

In this powerful conversation, Cortney Kendrick shares her heartbreaking yet hope-filled journey after losing her husband Don to sudden violence. We dive into the raw emotions of grief, questioning God, and the battle against the enemy’s lies. Cortney opens up about life before the tragedy, navigating sorrow, how God has redeemed her story and what it truly means to Run to the Hard when life feels unbearable.

CHAPTERS

0:00 Intro

2:53 Life Leading Up To Tragedy

11:32 Questioning God?

18:09 How Should You Comfort A Griever?

21:54 Suffering Loss

28:39 Savior Complex

32:18 Fighting The Enemy's Lies During Grief

36:40 Life After Loss

45:44 What Does Run To The Hard Mean to Cortney?

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Remember, "Running to the hard is better, when we run together"

Cortney's Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/cortney.scyoc

You've heard Curtis and Michal's story on this podcast many times. It's a story of love, grief, perseverance, faith, and God's loving kindness.

But today, we are blessed to hear the story from a very special source.

Michal's daughter Ellah joins us on the podcast today to talk about her experience of losing her mother at only 18 years old, and how she's grieved while running to the hard over the past 2 years since her mother's death.

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Share The Episode...Remember, "Running to the hard is better, when we run together".

CHAPTERS

0:00 Intro

2:27 Why People Isolate In Grief

4:44 What It's Like To Learn Your Mom Has 1 Week To Live

13:15 Being The Eldest Sibling After Mom Passes Away

16:02 The Dumbest Things People Say To Grievers

20:54 Anger Against God?

32:15 Self-Help...or Jesus?

35:39 The Truth About Curtis Christopher

43:57 A Caveat To All Of This...

45:37 Healing Through Writing

49:26 One Last Piece of Encouragement

In This episode, Curtis is joined by his long-time friends Steph and Dale Schaeffer.

They discuss the challenges of caring for aging parents, the importance of having difficult conversations about health and care, and the emotional toll of being part of the sandwich generation. Steph and Dale reflect on the impact of COVID-19 on caregiving, the necessity of community support, and the moments of joy found amidst the hardship Steph losing both of her parents weeks apart.

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CHAPTERS

1:45 Sick Parents and Grieving Their Loss

6:10 Having Hard Conversations About Caring For Aging Parents

11:45 When Mom goes to a Nursing Home and Dad is in Hospital

15:03 Dealing With Home Life When Your Spouse is Away Helping Ailing Parents

23:44 Strain on the Marriage

28:46 How To Help When It's Hard

31:50 Ministry Before Tragedy Versus Ministry After

36:15 A New Boldness

39:12 Unpacking Matthew 8

In this powerful episode, Curtis invites his girlfriend Crystal to speak live at Sunbury Nazarene Church in Sunbury, Ohio to answer the question, what does Thanksgiving and gratitude look like right in the middle of devastation and pain?

Stay until the end for a huge surprise!

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In this powerful episode of Run to the Hard, host Curtis sits down again with longtime friend and pastor Tristan Borland to delve deeper into the journey of grief and the search for hope. Both Curtis and Tristan have endured profound personal losses, and their discussion centers on how faith, community, and finding purpose can help navigate the dark seasons of life. Tristan shares his experiences as a pastor counseling grieving families, how his own loss of his daughter,Maria brought him to a new understanding of boundaries, and the ways his congregation ministered to him in his time of need.

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Buy Tristan and Jill's Book- https://www.amazon.com/Life-After-Death-Struggle-Child/dp/1666711411

Tristan's other podcasts-https://www.youtube.com/@UCmbJvnwGgCS3v039dcwlpOw

01:30 Tristan's Pastoral Story

03:17 Managing Grief and Boundaries

05:12 The Role of Community in Healing

07:40 The Weight of Grief

11:24 Helping Others Through Grief

24:27 The Theology of a Three-Year-Old

29:52 Jesus Loves Me

34:46 Two Different Lives

39:15 Love as a Multiplying Force

43:32 Pain into Purpose

49:08 The Cosmic Story of Redemption

51:25 Amen

This audio podcast is for grievers who have experienced loss of a child and the devastating impact of grief on a young family.

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Buy Tristan and Jill's Book- https://www.amazon.com/Life-After-Death-Struggle-Child/dp/1666711411

Tristan's other podcasts-https://www.youtube.com/@UCmbJvnwGgCS3v039dcwlpOw

CHAPTER

01:00 Tristan & Curtis's Connection

04:39 A Grief Conversation with a Friend

07:55 Experiencing Sudden Loss of a Child

13:00 Therapy Writing that Turned to a Book

18:25 Forced to Postpone Daughter's Funeral

19:30 Welcoming a New Baby With No Joy

23:08 A Profound Metaphor Describing Grief

26:45 The Awkwardness of Grieving

32:28 Theology of Suffering

37:22 The Reality of Doubt

40:32 The Messiness of Grief

42:00 Responding To Weird Comments

46:36 The Risk of Loving Again

49:06 Sacred Relics

59:10 Redeeming Pain

01:02:59 Everything is Uncomfortable

01:06:35 Giving Hope Through Tristan's Book

01:10:00 Joy in Sorrow

01:12:10 Closing

In this episode, Chris and Curtis delve into the profound journey of grief, exploring how to find motivation amidst loss.

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CHAPTERS

00:60When Did Curtis Find Motivation in Grief?

03:40 Was There a Turning Point?

06:49 What is God's Purpose For Us?

11:33 Why You Shouldn't Alienate Others

17:51 Griever's Responsibility in Healing

20:48 Celebrity Stories

21:13 Deion Sanders

22:20 Darryl Strawberry

22:56 Hulk Hogan's Story

23:41 The Common Denominator

27:01 The Message of the Gospel

28:10 What is Spiritual Laziness?

33:55 Laziness Vs Brokeness and Living to Our Full Potential

36:25 Why Can't I Find Motivation in Grief?

39:59 A Prayer for the Grieving

In this episode, Chris interviews Curtis, particularly focusing on the transition from the first to the second year after the loss of his wife and the lessons he has learned.

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TIME STAMPS
01:20 Navigating Grief: Year One vs. Year Two
08:40 Taking Charge of Grief
13:40 Building Supportive Friendships
19:54 Setting Boundaries in Grief
26:43 Gaining Perspective Through Loss
30:26 Finding Purpose in Tragedy
31:18 A Heart for Helping Others
35:42 Living Out Our Purpose
39:33 Living with Eternal Perspective
42:28 Responsibilities of the Church and Community
52:24 How To Find Support
56:15 The Michal Foundation: A Legacy of Love
58:32 Concluding Thoughts and Prayers