188: Keri Spring | Hope After Suicide Loss

Hope After Suicide Loss | Keri Spring

Keri Spring | Hope After Suicide Loss

Keri Spring is a passionate, energetic leader tasked with delivering a message of hope and purpose to everyone needing encouragement through their circumstances. 

After the tragic loss of her teenage son to suicide in 2013, Keri has had played an active role in suicide and bullying prevention. Her motto is “Never choose a permanent solution for a temporary problem”

At the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation, the Gregory D. Spring Perseverance Scholarship  Fund was created to aid students that are pursuing a trade or technical program.

Keri is the Director of Digital Discipleship at Carol McLeod Ministries, co-host of The Real. Raw. Truth. Podcast, a leader on the Unborn Movement Team, and she uses her technical skills in ministries across the U.S. and Canada.

Out of everything she has accomplished and overcome, Keri’s greatest blessing is her husband and two children. Despite the heartbreaking loss of her son, Greg, the Lord has restored the joy in her family and is using her today in ministry!

Keri Spring and Amber discuss the loss of Keri’s son, Greg, to suicide.  They also talk about the bullying he experienced, her journey of forgiveness, and the Gregory Spring Perseverance Scholarship Fund she founded in his honor

Hope After Suicide Loss Questions Discussed:

  1. (1:33) Share a little of your faith journey with us.  When did you begin walking with Jesus?
  2. (3:10) Your family experienced a life changing event that no one hopes to experience. The loss of your son, Greg, to suicide.  Share a little about your family and life up until Greg took his life.
  3. (6:29) Will you share, as much as you feel comfortable, about that day and the few days that followed?
  4. (13:11) In hindsight, can you look back now and see some signs that you didn’t recognize at the time or even now?
  5. (14:38) Would you say one of the hardest parts is not having answers to why Greg took his life?
  6. (19:50) If your daughter would feel comfortable with you sharing, how did she deal with the loss?
  7. (22:17) Share about the bullying Greg experienced.
  8. (29:27) I’m going to ask a tough question, and please feel free to pass, but do you find yourself ever having to go back and forgive Greg again?
  9. (30:19) What would you like to share with parents when it comes to teen suicide?
  10. (36:05) You’ve set up and are passionate about the Gregory Spring Perseverance Scholarship Fund.  Share a little about that with us.

Quotes From Hope After Suicide Loss:

“One of the things to know about Greg is….he was diagnosed with Tourette’s…There’s extremes of Tourette’s and for Greg, it was mild tics.”

“Bullying began at an early age. but sports were his outlet.”

“There are still hard days, even nine years out. What I learned is, I know those questions I still have, but I don’t care anymore about the answers. Because it’s not going to change the fact that Greg is in heaven and never coming back to Earth.”

“As Christians, we need to be supportive, not hindering to people who are grieving.”

“We had to say, ‘Greg, we forgive you.’ Because no matter what led up to that moment….he made that final choice.”

“I would also say, teach your kids about Christ, because nobody’s guaranteed tomorrow.”

“The other thing when it comes to suicide, whether it’s from bullying, depression, anxiety, whatever the thing is seek counseling.”

“If your kids getting bullied, and you’re just going to trust the police or the schools to make sure that the bullying stops or the discipline is proper for the others, DON’T. You’re your child’s best advocate.”

“Educate yourself, because you’re going to be your child’s best advocate.”

If you or anyone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or emotional distress, call 988 for help.

Scripture References

Resources Mentioned:

Related Episodes:

If you or anyone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or emotional distress, call 988 for help.

If your kids getting bullied, and you're just going to trust the police or the schools to make sure that the bullying stops or the discipline is proper for the others, DON'T. You're your child's best advocate.
We had to say, "Greg, we forgive you." Because no matter what led up to that moment....he made that final choice.

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