One of the quieter challenges of grief is learning how to walk through it as a family — especially when everyone is grieving the same loss differently.

In this episode of The NEXT Podcast, Jay Cookingham shares honestly about helping his seven adult children grieve the loss of their mother while continuing to navigate his own grief as a widower.

How do you support your children without pushing them?

How do you make room for different grief styles, timelines, and emotions?

And what does it look like to stay present for one another when no one really knows what to say?

Jay reflects on:

• Why “gentle modeling” often helps more than advice

• The sacred value of stories, memories, and family history

• Learning to listen without trying to fix grief

• Giving both yourself and your children grace

Through Scripture, personal reflection, and practical wisdom, this episode reminds us that grief is not something families “solve” together — it’s something we learn to carry together with compassion, patience, and God’s help.

“Sometimes the most loving thing we can do is stop trying to hurry each other through grief and simply stay present with one another inside it.”

If you are grieving alongside your children — whether they are young or grown — this conversation will encourage you to lead with presence instead of pressure.

Find out more about me here: www.jaycookingham.com

I’m on @buymeacoffee. If you like, even maybe love my podcast, you can buy me a coffee and support me. It’s a simple way of showing your support and helping me grow the podcast. Thank you!

Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/jcdude56t

Music by Paul Grimsland