Nothing can prepare you for an unexpected loss.
Whether you have years, months, or days to say goodbye to your loved one, or you don't get the chance at all due to sudden tragedy, the response is the same: Disbelief.
You can't believe it. You won't believe it. You're angry. You're sad. You're confused. You ask, "Why them," and then, "Why me?" And you have to be okay with not receiving an immediate answer to your valid questions. Your days are gloomier, and your thoughts are darker, and no matter how much time passes, every day feels like the day you heard these life-shattering words, "They're gone." There's a looming hole in your heart, and it seems there is no way to mend it—no way to live your life as it used to be.
But there is hope. Yes, there is life after the death of someone you love. In many ways, this hard experience can turn out to be an unexpected gift.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Caroline Dinnall is a storyteller, speaker, and creative thinker who finds beauty and meaning in life’s most tender and transformative moments. She is the voice behind The Life Journal, a Christian lifestyle blog, and the host of the Care to Talk podcast, where she creates space for honest dialogue around grief, identity, faith, and personal growth.
A lover of words and visual storytelling, Caroline blends her background in journalism, content creation, and producing to craft experiences that connect and uplift. Whether through writing, podcasting, or simply holding space for others through conversation, she is driven by a passion for helping people feel seen, safe, and understood.
In The Unexpected Gift, her debut book, Caroline shares the raw and redemptive journey of losing her mother to lung cancer and what it taught her about life, death, and faith. She invites readers to consider what pain can teach us—and how even our deepest losses can become our most unexpected gifts.