Shaped by love and sorrow: A journey of transformation
The painful loss of his beloved wife has shaped him into a new man.
For long stretches of my life, I lived in the middle of the road, neither experiencing great love or great suffering.
But then I met Jody, and over the years we shared I got to experience a love so deep, so pure and true, that it drew me closer to God and transformed me into the man I’d always wished to be.
Then, I experienced great heartbreak when I lost her. And as painful as that has been, it has also been a deeply transformative experience. My pain and sorrow has shaped me into a better man: more empathetic, more resilient, more grateful, more loving. God is transforming my suffering by picking up the broken pieces and reshaping them into a new version of me for this next phase of my life.
My vision for the future, my seeing, is very limited. Like walking alone on a darkened road with a small flashlight to guide my path, I put one foot in front of the other and trust that I’ll be shown what’s next, seeing by faith and not by sight.
In this way, I honor God, Jody and the man she would want me to be by moving forward, in great love, one small step at a time.
And while there are times when I fear greatly and feel so tired, so broken, there are other moments that are simply beautiful. And I hang on to those.
Love you all
💜
About Paul
If you've navigated the complexities of love, loss, or life's unpredictable twists and turns, this blog is for you. Paul, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2022 and lost his beloved Jody in 2024, is also a father, new grandfather and a speaker/writer. Paul writes to make sense of the world around him, sharing his personal journey through grief, Parkinson’s, and life's challenges. With a mix of lightheartedness, thoughtfulness, and unwavering authenticity, Paul offers a relatable and heartfelt perspective on the human experience. His writing is often described as warm, genuine and deeply moving.