“An open heart is our greatest gift!”

For more than 25 years, Delilah Rene has captivated millions of listeners with her radio show, Delilah. Known for her smooth voice and hopeful words, Delilah has helped heal scores of heartsick callers. But last year, she found herself facing loss and pain no mother should ever have to bear. Here, Delilah shares the gifts that have guided her out of darkness

With her buoyant personality, radiant smile and warm, soothing voice that makes you feel like you’re sitting down with a close friend for a hot cup of tea, Delilah Rene, known simply as Delilah, is the personification of her nationally syndicated radio show’s tagline: “Slow down and love someone.”

Six nights a week, Delilah touches the hearts of 9 million listeners from her home studio near Port Orchard, Washington. The 58-year-old self-proclaimed “queen of sappy love songs” offers compassion and wisdom gleaned from raising 13 children—10 of whom are adopted—the pain of three divorces and the devastating loss of her adopted son Sammy to sickle cell anemia in 2012.

And though she’s become a beacon of light for the lovesick and lovelorn, last October, Delilah herself was heartbroken once again when her 18-yearold biological son Zachariah tragically died by suicide. “He was like me times a thousand,” Delilah shares with Woman’s World, her voice hitching. “He was compassionate and mischievous, and the apple of my eye. My heart was just torn apart to lose him, and most of the time, I just move through my day breath by breath, missing my Zack every second.”

Here, Delilah shares how love, laughter and faith have helped her through the past year and are leading her back to joy.