When Anniversaries Stir the Heart

When anniversaries stir the heart, something deep within us begins to awaken. Weeks—sometimes even months—before the date arrives, our hearts seem to instinctively rewind. We relive final conversations, last moments, and tender memories on repeat. If you’re reading this and nodding along, please know you’re not alone. Many of us experience this same revisiting of the past as an anniversary draws near. It can feel like Groundhog Day all over again, replaying moments we never asked to remember so vividly.

Soon it will be six years since my daughter ran ahead to Heaven, and even now, that still feels like such a short time without her. There are days when it feels as though she was just here—dancing around the kitchen, helping me cook dinner, filling our home with laughter. And I know many of you have moments like this too. Maybe it’s a song on the radio, a favorite meal, or a movie that suddenly brings your loved one rushing back into the room. The other day Sister Act came on television, and in an instant, I was transported back in time. No matter how many times we had seen it, if it came on, we were snuggled on the couch watching it together, eventually singing My Guy. Ordinary moments often carry extraordinary weight when we’re grieving.

A few years ago, I realized something that surprised me: the anticipation of the anniversary is often harder than the actual day itself. If you’ve noticed this too, you’re not imagining it—and you’re not failing at grief. Many of us discover that the weeks leading up to the date feel heavier, filled with uneasiness and emotion we can’t always explain. I’m grateful that my grief isn’t as raw as it was in those early days, but the ache still visits. When it does, I ask Jesus to hold my wounded heart close and to cover me once again with the same undeniable peace He has given me since she left this earth.

People often tell me I’m strong, and that always surprises me. I’m not always strong—hardly. There have been seasons when survival meant taking life one moment, one hour, and one day at a time. If that’s where you find yourself today, please hear this: moving forward in small, faithful steps is still strength.

Grief never ends. The only reason I’m able to continue this journey is simple—my faith in Jesus. He has been my Rock and my fortress. We simply learn how to live our lives around it as it becomes part of who we are.

However grief is showing up in your life today—raw or softened by time—your experience is valid. You are not grieving wrong. And whether you find yourself on a mountaintop or deep in the valley, this truth remains: our God will not fail us.