Widowed After 45 Years: How Writing Gave Me a Reason to Get Up
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- Pamela Joy Dlugos shares her profound grief journey spanning more than three decades, including the loss of her only sibling, both parents, and her husband of 45 years.
- Writing became a vital lifeline for Pamela, giving her a reason to get out of bed and helping her process wave after wave of devastating loss.
- Through her books and spiritual encouragement, Pamela aims to help other grieving hearts find hope, healing, and joy in life's unexpected next chapters.
- Faith served as a steady anchor for Pamela, walking beside her through every heartbreak and guiding her pen to bring comfort to others.
Have you ever had an ordinary afternoon that turned out to be one of the most important of your life?
Pam was 38, living a life she calls a blessing, with a loving husband, great friends, and a house that was always ready for the next party. Then one afternoon around her pool, she got to know her younger brother as an adult for the very first time. Less than three weeks later, he was gone.
That was the first of many losses. Her brother, her mom, her dad, and then Jim, the husband who walked beside her through all of it since she was 26. Through every one of them, her faith stayed with her, and so did her pen. She started writing after her brother died, and she picked it back up after Jim passed, hoping something good could come from it all.
This is a gentle and honest conversation about grief that keeps changing shape, the things we get to say and the things we never do, and what it looks like to find your footing when part of you went with the person you loved. It is also Pam's very first video podcast, and she told me she was nervous. I am so glad she came.
What You'll Hear
- An afternoon by the pool with a brother she barely knew
- A decision about organ donation that honored who he was
- Grieving a mother before she was gone, and finding each other again
- Asking the Lord for more time, and getting almost two more years with Jim
- Why the last chapter does not get to be the whole book
- Stepping outside her comfort zone, and the message from a recent widow that made it worth it
Guest Bio
Pamela Joy Dlugos is an award-winning author, educator, and spiritual encourager whose writing brings God's Word to life through messages of comfort, hope, and inspiration. A former teacher and founder of ReJOYce Publications, she is the author of four faith-filled books for readers of all ages. Her grief journey spans more than three decades: the sudden loss of her only sibling, both parents, and most recently, her beloved husband of 45 years. Those LIFE SHIFTS inspired books on subjects she never planned to write about, guided by the Holy Spirit every step of the way. Today, Pamela's calling is to help grieving hearts find hope, healing, and joy while discovering what God may be leading them toward in life's unexpected next chapter.
Website: authorpamelajoy.com
YouTube: @authorpamelajoy
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Pamela Joy Dlugos?
Pamela Joy Dlugos is an award-winning author, educator, and spiritual encourager who writes books centered on faith, comfort, and healing after experiencing profound personal loss.
What inspired Pamela Joy Dlugos to start writing?
Pamela started writing after the sudden loss of her younger brother and later picked it back up after the passing of her husband of 45 years, hoping to help others find something good within grief.
How long was Pamela Joy Dlugos married to her husband Jim?
Pamela was married to her husband Jim for 45 years, and he walked beside her through many of life's deepest trials until his passing.
