If you’ve ever wondered how children can learn to face grief with courage and creativity, episode 370 is for you. Author and educator Jerry Woodbridge joins Emily to share how her experiences of loss and widowhood inspired her to write Joy Overcame Sorry, a middle-grade novel that helps kids process the death of a parent through story and journaling. With wisdom drawn from her own grief journey, Jerry shows how writing, empathy, and faith can guide children—and their families—toward resilience, healing, and hope.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

(01:01) Jerry’s lifelong calling as a teacher and writer

(02:30) The devastating losses that shaped her perspective on grief

(06:45) How journaling provided clarity and emotional release

(10:40) From grief to creativity: writing her first book Trading My Sorries for the Joy of the Lord

(13:40) Why empathy—not casseroles—helps grievers feel seen

(16:30) Turning pain into purpose and helping others heal

(20:36) The differences between sudden and anticipatory grief

(23:06) How children process grief—and why resources like camps and books matter

(25:21) Choosing joy while holding sorrow at the same time

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Jerry Woodbridge, an educator, author, and grief advocate who helps children and families process loss through storytelling and journaling. After the deaths of her husband and four babies, Jerry turned to writing as a way to find clarity and healing. Author of Joy Overcame Sorry and its companion Joy’s Journal, she draws on her decades of teaching experience and personal journey to guide middle-grade children in expressing emotions. Through her books and commitment to grief literacy, Jerry shows how writing and empathy can transform sorrow into resilience and hope.

Throughout this episode, Jerry shares how journaling became her lifeline after losing her husband and four babies. What began as private writing grew into books that help children put words to their grief. She introduces Joy Overcame Sorry, a story of a ten-year-old coping with her father’s death, and Joy’s Journal, a companion that guides kids through their own emotions. Jerry highlights the value of early grief literacy, the difference between sympathy and empathy, and the healing power of presence. Her message shows how sorrow and joy can coexist, with love as the bridge between them.

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