Valley of the Shadow
a journey through grief
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
GRIEF BEGUN With no goodbyes, You died last month Unexpectedly! Questions bombard. Memories flood. Silence reigns. Memory has no body Nor does it speak. I am lost and lonely And angry over Alienations And wasted days -Sybil Austin Skakle My grief journey covered many miles, literally and emotionally. You will see that my safe trip had both detours and roadblocks. However, I made it. Counting off the days, wanting the pain to end, hoping each new day would be better than the day before. I expected improvement with the passing of time, and that I would feel less helpless with my hope strengthened. It would be many days before I realized any true difference. My story reaches backward and forward in time, as I sought to come to terms with the issues that were a critical part of my grief journey.
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
When Sybil Austin Skakle’s husband of thirty-three years dies suddenly, she begins a journey like no other. Her poignant memoir shares her unforgettable passage through her first years as a widow and how her strong faith and the faith and support of others eventually helped her heal.
April 18, 1980 began like many other days in Sybil’s life, except this day she would receive shocking news that would change her life forever—her husband Don, a tennis coach in seemingly good health, would never come home to her again. As Sybil begins to deal with the harsh reality that accompanies grief, she shares her spiritual struggles as well as the humorous events that ensue as she and her sister-in-law tour Europe. As Sybil attempts to come to terms with her new single status, she feels compelled to seek the advice of a professional, as well as God’s guidance, and discovers her own strengths and weaknesses in the process.
Journal entries, prayers, and poetry of Valley of the Shadow reveal an emotional and inspiring glimpse into the seasons of life and the indomitable human spirit.
About the Author
Sybil Austin Skakle, retired pharmacist, author of two books, and many published poems, essays, and stories, resides in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where she came fifty years ago with her husband and three sons. She enjoys writing and is active in her church and community. Her sons and seven grandchildren live elsewhere in North Carolina.