Analysis Of Here If You Need Me By Kate Braestrup

In her memoir Here if You Need Me, Kate Braestrup reflects on her life as a widow. After losing her husband, Drew, in a traffic accident, Kate pursues his dream of becoming a Unitarian Minister. She works as a chaplain for Maine's game warden service. Braestrup recuperates from her husband's sudden death by consoling families while their loved ones were missing or hurt. She seeks to find the meaning of life and death by servicing the community. She cares for those deprived of a friend through their death as well as rescue workers. Kate is not religious in the slightest, but her husband was. So, in her husband's memory, she goes out with rescue teams when someone is lost in the woods. She supports search and rescue teams by praying if a body is found, helping support families, and rejoicing when

Through Braestrup's grief-stricken state, she finds clarity, love, commitment and hope. It is proven that Kate provides guidance when saying, "I'm here to be with you while you freak out, or grieve or laugh or suffer or sing" (Braestrup 58). While she aids in the recuperation of others, her view on faith expands beyond her belief. She never would have entered the occupation had she not endured the tragedy of her state trooper husband's death. While reading Braestrup's memoir on the loss of her companion, I realized that our stories are very similar but different at the same time. Both of our companions passed away, due to a tragic car accident. Due to the fact Kate lost her spouse as an adult, she had more experience with the world. She was able to cope. In the time of her grief, Kate took on the job her spouse aspired to. She let God heal her broken heart,