“When Words Are Not Enough” by Jane Harris and Jimmy Edmonds

When Words Are Not Enough
Published by Hawthorn Press

Jane Harris and Jimmy Edmonds are on a mission to “change the landscape and language of grief.” The Good Grief Project is their joint effort to help families dealing with grief as a response to the sudden loss of a loved one. Harris and Edmonds lost their son, Joshua, in a road accident in 2011, and the pain caused by his absence inspired the couple to help others make sense of their losses as well. Their new book, “When Words Are Not Enough,” explores creative responses to grief as a way to express feelings after a tragedy.

Harris and Edmonds begin their introduction, “When we received news that our son Joshua had been killed in a road accident in South East Asia, we were thrown into a state of utter confusion and despair. Nothing had or could have prepared us for such a calamity. We had encountered death before – a father, grandmothers, grandfathers, some friends and distant relations – but nothing that came close to the trauma we suffered that January day in 2011.”

Many adults are prepared to lose a parent as they watch their mothers and fathers grow older; however, the sudden loss of a child is a reality for which one could never prepare. Though time may have felt arrested in the aftermath of their son’s accident, Harris and Edmonds have channeled their grief into giving back to others who find themselves in similar circumstances.

Joshua’s Funeral, photo featured in “When Words Are Not Enough”
Credit: Briony Campbell

“When Words Are Not Enough” is a compilation of essays and examples of how responding creatively to sorrow can be both therapeutic and cathartic. Jane Harris’ background is in psychotherapy and film production, while Jimmy Edmonds is a photographer and documentary film editor. Their careers forged the initial path toward artistic responses.

In chapter one of their new book, Edmonds shares that their first creative response was to build their son’s casket together. The couple explains that it may feel easiest to hand over the funeral planning and details to someone else during a time of great sorrow. However, for Harris and Edmonds, creating the funeral and making it into a community experience helped begin the healing process. People who loved Josh were invited to sand and varnish the simple box that would hold his body. Taking charge of their own mourning ritual created a path forward where grieving and celebrating were combined.

A Mother’s Love: Jane with Joshua, age 7

Throughout the book, Harris and Edmonds share ways they coped with and responded to the loss of Joshua. The couple also invites other families to share the ways they mourn and celebrate their loved ones. Many parents who lost their children to a variety of tragedies, such as rare cancer and suicide, are featured. All these grieving parents found solace in art, some through photography, others through painting.

Edmonds shares a few how-to snippets in the book, instructing families on how to create an anthotype, which is a way of making fine art from plants. He gives readers new ways to bring life to their memories of loved ones.

Jimmy Edmonds creates an anthotype using an image of Joshua

“When Words Are Not Enough” features lovely photography and sincere stories of families who’ve experienced great tragedy but have turned their pain into art. There are pieces on post-traumatic growth, the language of grief, and attachment theory. This book would be a thoughtful gift for a person who may feel stuck in their mourning as Joshua’s parents have continued to walk and grow through their grief. Their book offers many ways to move toward healing as it’s not a one-size-fits-all structure, but a layered experience that is different for everyone.

“When Words Are Not Enough” can be purchased wherever books are sold. You can view the BBC piece on the couple’s documentary, “A Love that Never Dies,” below.