Peace in the Storms
How a Grieving Mother Survived the Loss of Her Two Adult Sons, Fought for Her Daughter’s Life, and Found a Calling Along the Way
by Marion M. Jones (guest author)
There are seasons in life when the storms come back-to-back, and the heart feels stretched beyond what it can bear. My hope is that, as you read this article and watch my interview (below), you find comfort, connection, and the reminder that God still meets us right in the middle of our brokenness.
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
Walking Through Grief With an Open Heart
Grief is a language we never asked to learn, yet somehow we become fluent in it. And when you’ve lost more than one child, people assume you “know how to handle it,” but let me tell you every loss is different. Every experience cracks you open in a new way, in a deeper way, and in a way you never see coming.
I say this openly because someone needs to hear it today: Your grief doesn’t get easier just because you’ve been through it before. Each child, each loved one, carries their own space in your heart. And yes… I’ve had to carry that truth more times than any mother should. But God, He continues to breathe strength and purpose into my story.
Learning to Speak the Language of Grief
One thing I’ve learned through personal experience, through support groups, and even through people trying to “comfort” me is this:
A lot of people truly don’t know what to say to someone who is grieving.
Some say the wrong things.
Some say nothing.
Some try to fix you.
And some, honestly, say things that hurt more than they help.
Nobody teaches us grief etiquette. But we need to talk about it, because silence and discomfort only make the pain heavier.
TJ at the Beach
TJ was four here. We had a lot of fun times at the beach. Just me & him. He would say, “Mom, you’re more at peace when you’re here.” That was true, being with him there. He had a way of always inspiring me.
When Someone Says the Wrong Thing… and Doesn’t Even Realize It
I remember being in a support group meeting, still walking through the fog of losing TJ, and later James. There was a woman who had lost her only child, and she would look at me and constantly say:
“Well Marion, at least you’ve got two more children.”
Every time she said it, I felt a part of me collapse. Losing one child does not erase love for the others. And having other children doesn’t minimize the pain of the one who’s gone.
Two Peas in a Pod
Can you tell from this Polaroid that I bribed Ta’Sha and James to smile? Haha. They agreed to it, so they could go and get a Happy Meal, their favorite treat. But it was pretty funny how they struggled to make the smile work. Now, this picture is priceless.
Then one day she saw me at the grocery store. By that time, James had passed, and Ta’Sha was sick. She asked,
“How is James and Ta’Sha?”
I looked at her, told her about what happened to James and Ta’Sha’s stage four cancer, and said,
“You know… you used to say things that made me feel afraid I was going to lose them too.”
She screamed and then paused…tears coming down her face…And she said,
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know. Please forgive me.”
Sometimes people don’t understand the impact of their words until life lets them see through a different lens. So on that note, we as grievers can sometimes say the wrong thing too.
The Forgotten Grievers: Siblings, Fathers, and Grandparents
One thing we don’t talk about enough is the others who are grieving too.
Siblings
Sometimes as grieving mothers we are so crushed inside that we forget our other children lost someone too. They slept in the same room, shared secrets, walked to school together, and grew up together. Then suddenly, everything changes. We don’t always stop to think: “What does this loss mean to them?” We shouldn’t beat ourselves up for that, grief overwhelms even the strongest heart. But we can do better in acknowledging that siblings hurt deeply too.
Fathers - biological, stepfathers & father-figures
We don’t expand on fathers enough either. I think about Eric…He wasn’t just a stepfather. Those kids loved him. And he loved them. They called him dad. A man can feel the same depth of loss but hide it behind protection, behind strength, behind silence. Fathers grieve too. Deeply.
Grandparents
We don’t hardly say anything about grandparents. Yet sometimes they are the ones who babysat, loved daily, held their grandchild close, and gave a piece of their heart that never returns fully after loss. Grandparents need space too, to cry, to talk, to heal.
A Proud Father
My husband Eric was both a grieving brother and a grieving dad. He lost his sister when she was five. And he, a devoted stepfather, lost TJ and James as well. It cut him to the heart when they died. But this picture reminds him he still has Ta’Sha.
The Power of Communication + Seeking Help - the Road Back to Light
When traumatic things happen, we often shut down. But healing requires communication. Talking to someone you trust. Letting your emotions breathe instead of suffocating inside. Support groups. Counseling. Friendships. Faith circles. Prayer. Journaling. Crying when you need to. You don’t have to be strong every day. You just have to be honest with yourself.
A Special Thank You: Honoring Dr. Coralease Ruff
Before I close this blog, I need to pay homage to a woman who helped shape my journey: Dr. Coralease Ruff, whom I met at Howard University while she was teaching. She may not know this, but she was the one who sparked my very first book, “A Grieving Mother.” Her encouragement helped me pick up my pen at a time when grief had almost silenced me.
If she ever reads this, I pray she knows:
You helped strengthen my life.
You helped me find my voice.
And because of you, countless others are being helped today.
Your impact is still living in me.
My Champion
Dr. Coralease Ruff is a featured member of the National Association Memoir Writers and the author of “Her Light Still Shines: A Beloved Daughter's Story and Her Mother's Grief Journey”, featuring writings from her daughter Candice, who died at the age of 21.
Grief Is Love That’s Trying to Find a Place to Rest
Grief is not a one-time event. It is a journey. A conversation. A slow learning of how to breathe again.
My prayer is that my words remind someone out there:
You are not alone.
Your feelings are valid.
Your pain is real.
And your healing is possible.
When we speak openly, when we honor the forgotten grievers, when we learn to communicate, when we accept help, when we lean on God, we rise, little by little, even with the tears. And one day, joy comes back, not instead of grief, but right alongside it.
Thank you to everyone who has given me strength to keep moving forward, while never forgetting my loved ones.
As a Single Working Mom
In the early 80’s, when I would leave to go to work at the Navy Yard in D.C., James would always cry. My work was important to me, but never as important to me as my children and making sure they had the right care. They were my world.
My Journey Back Through Grief
This video is a window into my heart—a journey through love, loss, motherhood, faith, and the kind of grief that tries to break you, but ends up shaping a strength you didn’t know you had. It is a glimpse into the emotional landscape of a grieving mother, the resilience inside me, and God’s quiet presence guiding me through storms I never asked to walk through.
In this conversation, I opened up about my childhood, my years as a young mother, and the beautiful souls God trusted me with my sons, TJ and James, and my daughter, Ta’Sha. I shared the joy of raising them, the laughter, the memories that made my heart overflow and then the days that took my breath away.
Through every loss, God kept teaching me that healing is not a straight line. Healing is a walk, sometimes crawling, sometimes running with God holding your hand in the dark until the light starts to feel real again.
Healing Through Grief. Episode 3
This interview captures my journey of motherhood, loss, heartbreak, faith, and the grace that carried me when I had no strength of my own.
In the video, I talk honestly about the moments when I questioned God, cried out to Him, sat in silence with Him, and slowly felt Him restore me piece by piece.
I share the wisdom grief has taught me: how every loss is different, how some people don’t know what to say, how words can comfort or cut, and why we must learn to communicate our pain instead of carrying it alone. It also opens the door to conversations we don’t have enough—how support matters and how silence can leave lingering wounds.
This story isn’t just about loss. It’s about love that lives on. It’s about the family bonds that grief cannot erase. It’s about the strength God places inside a broken heart. And it’s about allowing my testimony to be a lifeline for someone who feels like life is closing in on them.
My prayer is that as you watch or read, you feel seen, understood, and held. I pray you feel supported in your own journey and reminded that even in your darkest places…God is still moving. He is still comforting. And He is still healing broken hearts.
And to everyone who has poured strength into my life, helping me move forward while never forgetting my loved ones, thank you.
Does Marion’s story speak to your heart?
Please share in the comments below. Whether you’re grieving or supporting someone who is, we pray this video brings comfort and reminds you that you do not have to walk through pain alone.
Want to share your own grief or healing journey?
At Fields of Plenty, we believe that your story can be a seed of hope for someone else. If you feel led to share, please contact us here. We would love to hear from you.