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Ken Matthies/
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Articles by Ken Matthies

Browse published articles attributed to Ken Matthies, with full-archive search.

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By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

Memorial Stories and Poems - "A Sister's Farewell"

A SISTER’S FAREWELLrn(When Last We Said Goodbye) “You hugged and held me close, and then looked deeply into my face. I remember that look in your eyes, Sis…” I finally fell asleep last nightr With that image before my face, The depth of the look you gave me thenr Eclipsed all of Man as a race. It spoke first of your great joy For the beautiful day we had shared; The laughter and fun and wonderful foodr To which nothing on earth compared. It spoke of the love carried deep withinr A sister’s heart for her brother; And shone with a glow from a radiant facer

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

2,324 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

Memorial Stories and Poems - "At the Crossroads of Life and Death"

For my Aunt Helen Jantzen, at your Crossroads of Life and Death You Have ....... You have walked life’s road, lo, these many years together in body and heart; You have shared the dreams, the joys and the tears of two lives that now must part. You have been called to that test we are all called to take when a spirit you must release; You have been called to the shores of a mighty lake where that spirit will find it’s peace. You have reason to take the time to grieve and release your husband for life; You have reason to know that what you believer

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,512 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

Memorial Stories and Poems - "Leading Aircraftman John Matthies"

For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Ken Matthies, retired Canadian Forces Northern Ranger. I’m also John’s youngest brother, come down from the Yukon Territory to love, honor and pay tribute to him in my own special way at his passing. I have a story about John to share with you today…and it begins like this… ************************************************************

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,441 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

Memorial Stories and Poems - "In Remembrance of Private Cornelius Peter Buhler, my Uncle who Gave it All"

I’m speaking to you today… IN REMEMBRANCE OF a man known as Private Cornelius Peter Buhler – or – (Buller)… a member of the Calgary Highlanders Regiment who was killed in actio July 25, 1944 during the Allied combat offensive in France.

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,437 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

Grieving Advice Tips - “Golden Moments of a Long Term Dying”

“HeartSpun Talk from the Crucible of Experience”© From the life of Ken Matthies - Author, Poet, Real Life Storyteller How could anyone think it possible to find ‘golden moments’ in a loved one’s long term dying? There are many among you out there in the world that are grieving from the loss of a family member or close friend who faced a long term dying. You probably felt like a piece of you was dying right along with them over the many long months or years before their end finally came, and your grief for their loss finally broke loose to become a living reality within you.

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,397 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

#9 - Knowing The Truth In Your Own Heart

STAGES OF GRIEF HEALING Article Series “HeartSpun Talk from the Crucible of Experience”© From the life of Ken Matthies - Author, Poet, Real Life Storyteller Welcome back to the ninth in a series of ten special articles of homespun real-life talk about your grieving process. Today I’d like to talk to you about ‘Knowing The Truth In Your Own Heart’, and how this knowledge can positively affect perceptions about your own healing.

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,381 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

# 2 - Stepping Out Of The Shadows Of Grief

THE STAGES OF GRIEF HEALING Article Series “HeartSpun Talk from the Crucible of Experience”© From the life of Ken Matthies - Author, Poet, Real Life Storyteller Welcome back to the second in a series of ten special articles of homespun real-life talk about the grief still gripping your life – and the things you can do to step out from under its shadows.

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,374 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

#6 - Talking To Your Lost Loved One

STAGES OF GRIEF HEALING Article Series “HeartSpun Talk from the Crucible of Experience”© From the life of Ken Matthies - Author, Poet, Real Life Storyteller Welcome back to the sixth in a series of ten special articles of homespun real-life talk, about what has by now become the issue of healing while you grieve, as opposed to continuing to experience the ravages of outright grief. This will be the first of a three part series within these articles dealing with different aspects of reconnecting to your loved one.

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,354 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

Grieving Advice Tips - “The Healing Touch of Friends and Strangers”

“HeartSpun Talk from the Crucible of Experience”© From the life of Ken Matthies - Author, Poet, Real Life Storyteller How often during the course of your grieving days and months has something like this happened to you and helped you in your healing just by its happening?

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,344 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

Stories of the Grieving Process After a Child Dies - “A Mother’s Gratitude”

“HeartSpun Talk from the Crucible of Experience”© From the life of Ken Matthies - Author, Poet, Real Life Storyteller ‘A Mother’s Gratitude’ tells you a brief story of the grieving process from a mother’s perspective – and serves as an example of acceptance and hope for all of you readers looking for the affirmation that there are others out there like you who are also grieving the pain of separation from their child.

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,325 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

A Poetic Series - Grieving the Death of a Grown Child - "Anniversary Memories"

“HeartSpun Talk from the Crucible of Experience”© From the life of Ken Matthies - Author, Poet, Real Life Storyteller This was a poem written in still dreaded anticipation of the third anniversary of her death due to arrive once again on the following day. It would in fact turn out to be a landmark day in my healing process as I finally allowed myself to remember and experience its full effects on me for the very first time, in order to finally be able to give outlet to those deep feelings of grief still trapped within me. Anniversary Memories

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,292 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

Introduction to the Poetic Series "Grieving the Death of a Grown Child"

“HeartSpun Talk from the Crucible of Experience”© From the life of Ken Matthies - Author, Poet, Real Life Storyteller Every single death that occurs brings loss, grief and bereavement to someone who loved or cared for that individual, and its significance never can or should be discounted in its impact and meaning to those suffering and finding healing from its effects.

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,292 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

Grieving Advice Tips - “The Importance of Listening to those in Grief”

“HeartSpun Talk from the Crucible of Experience”© From the life of Ken Matthies - Author, Poet, Real Life Storyteller On a recent visit to the beauty of Southeast Alaska I was privileged to encounter an Elder of the Tlingit peoples who live there. He had recently lost his wife after many years of an illness which led eventually to her passing.

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,283 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

Stories of the Grieving Process After a Child Dies - “Go Rest High on that Mountain”

“HeartSpun Talk from the Crucible of Experience”© From the life of Ken Matthies - Author, Poet, Real Life Storyteller When I walked into the funeral parlor prior to my daughter’s funeral for a private family viewing time, the powerful music and words of Vince Gill’s song “Go Rest High on that Mountain” was playing on the speakers. The poignant words and haunting beauty of this song drove me into a pew at the time, curled up and covered in pain and tears with the harsh reality of her death before me.

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,282 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

Grieving Advice Tips - “Mixed-Status Families and their Grief”

“HeartSpun Talk from the Crucible of Experience”© From the life of Ken Matthies - Author, Poet, Real Life Storyteller In today’s world of rapid change on all fronts the integrity of family units has not been exempt from the effects of those changes. This has resulted in ever greater numbers of broken relationships, divorces and separations – and thereby new children, partners and spouses being added to the mixed equations of their family lives.

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,274 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

#8 - Hearing Their Words Of Joy

STAGES OF GRIEF HEALING Article Series “HeartSpun Talk from the Crucible of Experience”© From the life of Ken Matthies - Author, Poet, Real-Life Storyteller Welcome back to the eighth in a series of ten special articles of homespun real-life talk about your grieving process. Today’s topic of ‘Hearing Their Words Of Joy’ is the third of a three part series within these articles, which began with the article called ‘Talking To Your Lost Loved One’, and dealing with different aspects of reconnecting to our loved ones.

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,270 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

A Poetic Series - Grieving the Death of a Grown Child - "I Choose It Now"

“HeartSpun Talk from the Crucible of Experience”© From the life of Ken Matthies - Author, Poet, Real Life Storyteller This was my poem of decision – written in the realization that it was finally time for the ‘rubber to hit the road’ of my future life in a meaningful way despite the fact that I was still a healing dad. I knew I was on a journey of healing but felt the compelling force of these questions within me of…”where do I go from here, and how do I get there?” I needed to know their answers.

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,261 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

Grieving Advice Tips - “Let Your Little Light Shine”

“HeartSpun Talk from the Crucible of Experience”© From the life of Ken Matthies - Author, Poet, Real Life Storyteller “This little light of mine…I’m gonna let it shine…” So go the words of a Sunday school song of ancient memory as I sit down to write this story – and in them I’m finding a source of solace and strength as I continue walking my healing path more than five years after a daughter’s loss.

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,261 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

Stories of the Grieving Process After a Child Dies - “Anniversary Day Tremors of Change”

“HeartSpun Talk from the Crucible of Experience”© From the life of Ken Matthies - Author, Poet, Real Life Storyteller One thing that seems certain about healing from grief as time passes is that it’s a process of change for those of us living in it. How the earthquakes of pain we feel in the early anniversary days of our grief evolve over time is a perfect example of that process of change.

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,245 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

Stories of the Grieving Process After a Child Dies - “How Memorial Symbols Can Help You Heal from Grief”

“HeartSpun Talk from the Crucible of Experience”© From the life of Ken Matthies - Author, Poet, Real Life Storyteller In the early days of grief amid the numbness and shock of loss the thought of memorial symbols is not yet a part of your grieving or healing process. But there comes a point in the days following where suddenly it seems that’s all you can think about, and a drive to remember the one you’ve lost compels you to do something of lasting value to honor them and maintain your heart link to them.

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,240 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

A Poetic Series - Grieving the Death of a Grown Child - "Reality" (A Daughter's Death)

“HeartSpun Talk from the Crucible of Experience”© From the life of Ken Matthies - Author, Poet, Real Life Storyteller This was a poem written in trembling anticipation of the second anniversary of her death due to arrive in its full force and fury the following day – a harsh truth about anniversaries every grieving parent will know to be true. Realityrn(A Daughter’s Death) It’s been two years since my daughter’s deathr And my heart still feels empty and tight! I know and accept all the reasons she diedr And still – it just doesn’t feel right!

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,238 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

#5 - Finding The ‘Light’ Of Your Love And Memories

STAGES OF GRIEF HEALING Article Series “HeartSpun Talk from the Crucible of Experience”© From the life of Ken Matthies - Author, Poet, Real Life Storyteller Welcome back to the fifth in a series of ten special articles of homespun real-life talk about the issues surrounding grief. Today we’re going to talk about how to find the ‘Light’ of Love and Memories of your lost loved one again, and how you can use this Light to begin to completely change your experience of grief.

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,236 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

Grieving Advice Tips - “The Floodwaters of Grieving”

“HeartSpun Talk from the Crucible of Experience”© From the life of Ken Matthies - Author, Poet, Real Life Storyteller How often in the midst of your loss, grief and bereavement have you found yourself feeling as though you were about to drown in sorrow, not knowing what direction to reach out to in order to find the safety of something to hang on to and not go completely under from the pain of it all?

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,236 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

Grieving Advice Tips - “The Powerful Role of the Spiritual in Healing from Grief”

“HeartSpun Talk from the Crucible of Experience”© From the life of Ken Matthies - Author, Poet, Real Life Storyteller For many people dealing with issues of loss, grief and bereavement there’s also a spiritual aspect which can play a powerful role in their healing and recovery. Within the community of religion, and faith in a living afterlife of the spirit to be found in peoples around the world, there is an acceptance of death which transcends beyond the human pain of those left behind to mou their passing.

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,213 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

#7 - Feeling The Touch Of Their Spirit

STAGES OF GRIEF HEALING Article Series “HeartSpun Talk from the Crucible of Experience”© From the life of Ken Matthies - Author, Poet, Real-Life Storyteller Welcome back to the seventh in a series of ten special articles of homespun real-life talk about your grieving process. Today’s topic of ‘Feeling The Touch Of Their Spirit’ is the second of a three part series within these articles, which began with the previous article called ‘Talking To Your Lost Loved One’, and dealing with different aspects of reconnecting to your loved one.

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,205 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

Grieving Advice Tips - When Death Hurts, an Uplifting Perspective

“HeartSpun Talk from the Crucible of Experience”© From the life of Ken Matthies - Author, Poet, Real Life Storyteller My wife came home from the office last week with a discovery from among her filing which has brought me much comfort as the still healing father, son, brother and friend that I am. The simple beauty and imagery of these words has cast a new and profoundly peaceful outlook on the journey of all those whom I’ve lost throughout my life to dying – and eased my pain.

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,200 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

The Marker Stones of Grief – How Long Should it Last?

“HeartSpun Talk from the Crucible of Experience”© From the life of Ken Matthies - Author, Poet, Real Life Storyteller Every single person experiencing the pain of grief would like to know that there’s a hard and fast rule that can tell you when you can expect the pain to go away so your life can get back to “normal”. In the first place, who’s to say what “normal” really is after experiencing a death that’s taken away everything you ever considered to be normal before it happened?

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,200 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

A Poetic Series - Grieving the Death of a Grown Child - "A Father's Hope"

“HeartSpun Talk from the Crucible of Experience”© From the life of Ken Matthies - Author, Poet, Real Life Storyteller Written a month and a half after my daughter died, the poem you'll read below was a last ditch effort to hang onto my spiritual faith before I descended in a deep spiral into the ‘despair marker stone’ of *Confrontation - Entering the Depths*, the second of grief’s cycles I endured which led me onward to my healing. (You can refer to my Marker Stones of the Grief Journey series of articles available on this site to learn more about your cycles of grief).

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,198 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

Marker Stones Part III - Integration - ‘Mending the Heart’

“HeartSpun Talk from the Crucible of Experience”© From the life of Ken Matthies - Author, Poet, Real Life Storyteller The third cycle of grief is where the good news of your healing journey finally begins to outweigh the bad news and feelings from your experience of loss, grief and bereavement prior to this point, during that ete ity of time when it felt like it’d take forever for you to arrive here. Here are the marker stones of this final cycle of grief ‘Integration - Mending the Heart: • The decline of your grief • The waves of their intensity getting farther apartr

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,185 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

#1 - Connections That Help You Heal

THE STAGES OF GRIEF HEALING Article Series “HeartSpun Talk from the Crucible of Experience”© From the life of Ken Matthies - Author, Poet, Real Life Storyteller If you’re reading this article I’ve got good reason to believe parts of you are still flaming with the pain of your own loss. It’s my sincere hope this series of 10 articles will help in giving you a real sense of the possibilities that lie beyond those fires of hurt. I understand your pain because I feel it too. We have a connection because of it.

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,184 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

#3 - Letting Go Of The Pain And Torment

STAGES OF GRIEF HEALING Article Series “HeartSpun Talk from the Crucible of Experience”© From the life of Ken Matthies - Author, Poet, Real Life Storyteller Welcome back to the third in a series of ten special articles of homespun real-life talk about grief – and how you can begin to let go of the pain and torment of this hardest of all life experiences. By now you know exactly what I’m talking about when I call it “pain and torment,” don’t you – because you’ve been living with it while it burns holes not only in your heart, but in seemingly every aspect of your daily life.

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,183 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

Now That You Know About the Marker Stones, What’s Helping You Heal Today?

“HeartSpun Talk from the Crucible of Experience”© From the life of Ken Matthies - Author, Poet, Real Life Storyteller The journey of your healing from loss, grief and bereavement will continue for you through a lifetime of learning – and from my own experience of having gone through it I’ve come to understand that as a good thing – not something negative to drive me to further despair.

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,182 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

#4 - Stretching Yourself To Believe (Again)

STAGES OF GRIEF HEALING Article Series “HeartSpun Talk from the Crucible of Experience”© From the life of Ken Matthies - Author, Poet, Real Life Storyteller Welcome back to the fourth in a series of ten special articles of homespun real-life talk about grief; this time about how to start stretching yourself to believe in something (again) – something beyond the darkness and pain of your experience right now.

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,168 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

Stories of the Grieving Process After a Child Dies - “Out of the Mouths of Babes”

“HeartSpun Talk from the Crucible of Experience”© From the life of Ken Matthies - Author, Poet, Real Life Storyteller My granddaughter turned ten years old the other day, and it was as I was calling her to wish her happy birthday that I realized she was already twice as old as the day her mother died. On my granddaughter’s scale of years she has lived another whole lifetime over the past five years.

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,159 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

Marker Stones Part I - Avoidance - ‘Walking the Edges’

“HeartSpun Talk from the Crucible of Experience”© From the life of Ken Matthies - Author, Poet, Real Life Storyteller Every single journey of loss, grief and bereavement is individual and different for each person experiencing it. There can be no hard and fast rules saying that it’s the same for everyone or telling anyone going through the experience how long or short a time period it should last till they break through to their healing.

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,155 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

Marker Stones Part II - Confrontation - ‘Entering the Depths’

“HeartSpun Talk from the Crucible of Experience”© From the life of Ken Matthies - Author, Poet, Real Life Storyteller It’s in this second of the grief cycles that the waters of emotion get deeper and run heavy with the hidden currents of your pain – but again there are marker stones within this part of your experience to help you understand this part of your journey and know it will eventually lead you to your healing. The hard simple truth is that you have to endure the journey – but enduring it is so much less difficult if you understand what it is that you’re enduring.

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,145 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

Stories of the Grieving Process After a Child Dies - “Finding a Grief Buddy” (and the Tail Rotor of a Bell 206 Helicopter)

“HeartSpun Talk from the Crucible of Experience”© From the life of Ken Matthies - Author, Poet, Real Life Storyteller I’ll understand if you’re wondering what a grief buddy* could possibly have to do with the tail rotor of a Bell 206 helicopter…or what lesson of healing value could be found in either one of those subjects. Bear with me here and see for yourself the values of healing from loss, grief and bereavement to be found in both.

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,139 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

Stories of the Grieving Process After a Child Dies - “Road Construction Next ___ Kilometers”

“HeartSpun Talk from the Crucible of Experience”© From the life of Ken Matthies - Author, Poet, Real Life Storytellerr You’ve probably seen this sort of example a thousand times before in your life and never had cause to think twice about it on any of those occasions.

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,137 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

Stories of the Grieving Process After a Child Dies - “Keeping the Vision Alive in your Heart and Mind”

“HeartSpun Talk from the Crucible of Experience”© From the life of Ken Matthies - Author, Poet, Real Life Storyteller What are you doing to keep the vision alive in your own heart and mind of the loved one you lost? Finding a way to do so is a vitally important part of dealing with your loss, grief and bereavement because it helps lead you deeper into your healing. Whatever way you choose to help you do this, know that its constant presence around you will serve to keep that connection vital and glowing in your heart and offer a healing reassurance to your wounded soul.

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,135 views

By Ken MatthiesRecently published1 topic

#10 - Your Story – Telling It Your Way

STAGES OF GRIEF HEALING Article Series “HeartSpun Talk from the Crucible of Experience”© From the life of Ken Matthies - Author, Poet, Real Life Storyteller Welcome to the tenth and final in this series of ten special articles of homespun real-life talk about your grieving process. In this last of the series of ‘Healing Your Grief’ articles, I’d like to draw your attention towards a final vital component of your healing process; that of ‘Your Story – and Telling It Your Way’.

Primary topic: Grief and Loss

1,093 views

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