Tears from the Heart

About the Book

There is a principle in grief counseling that states, “In telling the story the healing takes place.” The book entitled Tears from the Heart by Mark Hodapp provides a springboard in which the healing can begin. Death brings grief which is a response to loss. The whole person, physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally reacts to this loss. If the loss is not addressed appropriately, it often times goes underground and can cause further pain. God created the human person to deal with loss, which is a part of the human condition, by giving the human person the ability to share his tears and his story. This work which is a collage of stories that covers the whole spectrum of ages from the child to the senior citizen as well as varied types of deaths provides the reader an opportunity to tap into his or her own story which can lead to healing. The season of grief, which each person experiences differently, can last for a year or more. The various seasonal photos selected in this work take this grief reality into account. Important to the grief process is the healing role of faith which the author brings to the forefront by his use of photos and grief story selections. No matter what stage of loss the individual may be in this book could assist them in the process. It allows them to go through the valley of tears and sadness and rise to the mountain top of hope and joy.

About the Author

Mark Hodapp is an award-winning sports writer with the Republic-Times in Waterloo, Ill. In 2003, tragedy struck Mark’s family. His father succumbed to cancer. On the day of his wake, his oldest nephew, Ryan, was diagnosed with leukemia. He has successfully won his battle. Three weeks after his father’s death, his wife, Marlene, miscarried. Now, Mark and his wife have a beautiful son, Christian. They live in St. Louis with their three children.