Dear friends, this always seems an exquisitely beautiful but melancholy time of year. The leaves of the trees are a myriad of soft yellow, orange and brown, but are flying in the breeze and landing on the ground, leaving branches bare and lonely. Sunlight makes it a luminous time, but there is also a sense of transition and loss.

After much prayer and pondering, I am inviting you to a book promotion evening on 7th November at 7 for 7.30pm at St George’s Tron Church, 163 Buchanan Street, G1 2JX. I am a little anxious about this, but trusting that this is the right choice, so please bear with me as I explain why.

I started writing about 5 years ago, after the death of my husband Colin, who was a veteran. His story was untold, and I felt compelled to honour his memory by writing ‘ Love song for a wounded warrior’ so his writing about his service in Northern Ireland could be published, alongside our struggles as a family, to try to support him. I was so grateful to Jock Stein and Handsel press for publishing this.

I started to blog about my attempts to process my grief and trauma, complicated by other family losses and then the pandemic. The isolation, sadness and questioning were very real, and I wanted to form an online community where people knew that they were not alone in their sorrow.

This lead to a second book ‘ Love songs for healing and hope’ published last year. It is a compilation of blogs, personal stories of others facing personal challenges and sadnesses, and of resources offered to help others who are struggling.

The idea behind this is just to support others who have experienced complex loss and trauma, and to say to people that they are not alone, and that they are loved. As a Christian, these are devotional resources, but are offered to all, to encourage healing of wounds, and hope that things can get better one day.

For various reasons, I have not given this book much publicity, and feel called by God to do so. Especially in this period leading up to Christmas when memories are so raw, and grief so strong, this seems a significant time to offer this resource.

If you would like to buy a copy, please email woundedwarriorfg@gmail.com The book is £15 plus £2.30 postage. All proceeds go to two charities- Quiet Waters Counselling service, based in Camelon, and Richmond’s Hope, that provides support for children and young people who have been bereaved. Or come along to our promotional evening, where there will be a presentation about the book, and an opportunity for questions.

Thankyou for reading this. It is such a tiny contribution to such an important area, it seems like just a pebble thrown in the ocean. But my prayer is that the ripples might bring healing and hope to others, and that somehow this might make a difference.

Gracious God, in autumn, we let go of so many things, of our old ways of thinking, of our faded hopes and dreams, of expectations and assumptions. They end up like the soggy leaves at the bottom of the forest floor. It is painful and messy. Yet Lord Jesus, after a long time of gruelling winter, you bring new buds, possibilities of growth and hope. Whatever stage we find ourselves in life this day, even if it is a weepy out of sorts day, may we find strength to keep hoping, to find connection with others, and with God, safe places of lament and listening and solace, of deep healing and peace. May God provide all that we need, and the sweet encouragement of his holy spirit, until the light of hope burns strongly once more. Amen.