A Scots minister has penned a touching book on loss after the death of her husband.

Rev Fiona Gardner wrote Love Songs for Healing and Hope to support those who are bereaved or have experienced complex grief or trauma.

The Church of Scotland minister of Knightswood Anniesland Trinity Church began writing as a way to cope with her grief.

In 2020, the minister wrote a book, Love Song for a Wounded Warrior, about her late husband, Colin, who died two years previously.

It tells the story of a military veteran trying to come to terms with his wounds, physical and psychological, she said.

Mrs Gardner added: “He had always wanted to tell his story but was too unwell to do so I had the privilege of doing so by compiling some of his writings and speaking of the issues that he wrestled with.

“However, as time went on I realised that I also had a story to tell, about bereavement and loss, and what had helped me in my struggles.

“I started to blog about the experience of loss and trauma, and how it affected my daily life.

“As I shared, I became more acutely aware of a whole community of people who had experienced loss, but didn’t always find safe places to talk, whether it was about a recent bereavement or one from long ago.”

Love Songs for Healing and Hope is a collection of devotional blogs, stories from individuals and resources to support others in times of turmoil and disorientation.

She said: “It is my prayer that this pastoral book might be a resource for anyone who is struggling with grief, trauma and sadness.

“It doesn’t have lots of answers, but gives permission to acknowledge the human struggle to connect and belong.

“It is a book to remind us of God’s grace when we feel lost, His strength when we feel helpless, His steadfast love when we feel unseen.”

Mrs Gardner said she hoped it would help people who find the Christmas season a bit of a struggle and believes "telling our own story is so important".

She added: “Often we seem to have so much stuff locked within and pushed down.

“In the days of the pandemic, so many of us experienced physical, emotional and spiritual isolation.

“And this has meant that we are not as connected as we would like to be.”

The book costs £15 and all proceeds will be split between two charities, Quiet Waters and Richmond's Hope.

Richmond’s Hope was set up by Richmond Craigmillar Church in Edinburgh in 2003 to help children, aged 4-18, who have been bereaved.

The free service is provided to people across the capital, the Lothians and Glasgow.

Quiet Waters provides counselling and bereavement support for people across central Scotland.

The charity was established in 1995 by churches from different denominations and operates in towns including Falkirk, Stirling and Bathgate.

For more information or to order a copy of Love Songs for Healing and Hope, please email woundedwarriorfg@gmail.com