Healing Hearts with Messages of Love and Hope

I’ve always loved printed messages—on greeting cards and other personal notes, bookmarks and other mementos—and the gesture of choosing just the right sentiment for a special person and hoping it would touch the recipient in just the right way.

But the importance of these messages took on a deeper meaning when I lost my 37-year-old daughter, Elisha, to suicide. We both loved written greetings and exchanged many over the years. In the immediate aftermath of Elisha’s passing, I discovered she had kept the messages of love, hope, and encouragement I had given her.

Overwhelmed with Grief

After her death, I was overwhelmed with grief, anger, disbelief, regrets, guilt, and helplessness. And I so dearly missed this beautiful, fun-loving young woman with such a caring and compassionate heart. Memories of her life visited me often. Growing up, she loved playdates, dressing up, gymnastics, dance, and slumber parties. She loved animals—especially dogs and horses—and connected with them easily. She had graduated from cosmetology school but decided to go into pet grooming instead. Elisha loved her job and often laughed and said dogs were more fun and easier to deal with than some women.

Our family has great memories of her 37 years with us. When she was grooming pets, she was patient, loving, kind, and compassionate. When she was riding her horse, she was fearless, strong, and happy. When she participated in style shows, she was poised, flirtatious, and a little sassy. We can picture her dancing and singing to the music she loved. When she was with friends and family, she poured out all her love and attention on us.

But there is a dark side to those happy memories. At age 13, Elisha was bullied by jealous classmates. Cruel comments gutted her confidence, sense of belonging, and self-esteem. Eating disorders ensued and depression, anxiety, and bipolar episodes followed. Her recovery journey was a roller coaster, marked by encouraging highs and devastating lows, involving multiple treatment centers and intermittent stable periods. Through it all, our love and support were constant, and Princeton, her French bulldog, was her companion with unconditional love when she was down.

I wanted to honor Elisha’s memory and help others who are struggling the way she did or who are left to cope with a loss such as I suffered.

I began to heal through counseling, meditation, faith, and the support of family and friends. I wanted to honor Elisha’s memory and help others who are struggling the way she did or who are left to cope with a loss such as I suffered. My mind returned to cards, which we realized had made a lasting impression when we discovered them among Elisha’s belongings.

Glimmers of Hope

Knowing that words are powerful and written words can be preserved, reread, and cherished inspired me to have a special card designed in Elisha’s memory. I discovered beautiful artistic cards in a local store and knew I had to find the artist and share my vision. Marva Sheriff of Credo Designs agreed to create a greeting card using the widely known H.O.P.E. (Hold On, Pain Ends) acronym often used in suicide prevention messaging.

Family and friends provided input and financial support. Together, we selected several cards to complete the Glimmers of HOPE card packets. Their generosity allowed me to distribute the first packets for free. I brought the project to area schools after recalling a teacher who had been understanding and kind to Elisha. His acknowledgment and acceptance of her made such a difference in her recovery at the time. Marva supported my mission with her bookmarks by donating many and offering me a substantial discount to purchase more. I gave away more than 10,000 bookmarks to schools and libraries. The personal interactions with counselors, teachers, and other professionals within the school system and libraries left me feeling overwhelmed and deeply encouraged. The Glimmers of HOPE Project has been healing for me. I’ve created more awareness for mental health and affirmed that written words can make a difference. I’ve also received numerous small signs from Elisha, each one a glimmer of hope that encourages me to continue the project.

If you are having thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Visit opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines.