Granger Smith's children helped him overcome his struggles after losing his son: "God's gift to me were my kids."

Granger Smith is helping his community talk about grief.

The author of "Up Toward the Light," who left his 24-year career in country music to pursue ministry, recalled a "rock bottom moment" and entering a dark place following the death of his 3-year-old son River in 2019. Smith is also releasing a children's book aimed at kids aged 4 to 8 to help them cope with grief and loss.

Smith found the strength to continue fighting for his family and himself after seeing a "ray of light" with the help of his son and daughter.

""During a moment of despair, I thought of my children, Lincoln and London, and their faces brought me joy. However, I lost my son River," he exclusively told Planet Chronicle Digital."

Knowing that they needed me as a father was a powerful understanding, for he added, 'God's gift to me were them.'

"When the walls are closing in and you're in the darkness, any ray of light you can take is a godsend, as it becomes more obvious."

River drowned in the Smith family's pool after slipping through the gate. Despite being quickly pulled out of the water, River did not receive enough oxygen and passed away at a hospital two days later. Both Lincoln and London were present when the accident occurred.

In August 2021, Amber and Smith welcomed a new addition to their family, son Maverick, while continuing to advocate for children's water safety and donating $200,000 to the hospital that treated River following the accident.

"It sounds kind of obvious when I said it that way, but man, when the walls are closing in, and you're in the darkness – any ray of light you can take is a godsend." — Granger Smith

Smith has since written his latest book, "Up Toward the Light," which chronicles his family's tragic loss and how he found peace and healing through his faith.

Granger acknowledged that initially, grief resembles "survival" and the ability to "inhale."

If you love someone deeply, you will experience grief when they pass away. However, suppressing your love is not a solution, as no one wants to do that. Therefore, the alternative is to accept the grief and move forward.

WATCH: GRANGER SMITH DISCUSS ‘WAVES OF GRIEF’ FELT AFTER TRAUMATIC LOSS

"We love fiercely and with full intention, but if we lose them, we must be prepared to face the heavy grief that comes with it."

He stated, "The heavy grief that results from love is a burden that is carried with pride, knowing that it is a consequence of the love that was experienced. This makes it easier to endure, as the reason for the burden is known and appreciated."

The musician of "Backroad Song" stated that although grief is not all-encompassing, it becomes easier day by day, but it requires daily effort to overcome.

"A lot of times the more you love someone, the more you'll grieve them." — Granger Smith

"Just making it through today is all I need to do. If you go, 'That might be too much.' Then you can say, 'Just this next hour' or 'Just this next minute.' That's how it all starts," he said.

"The realization that grief comes in waves is the first step in understanding it. This understanding is crucial for coping with grief, as it allows individuals to recognize and prepare for the emotional ups and downs that come with it. Journaling can be a helpful tool in tracking these waves and gaining insight into one's own grief process."

WATCH: GRANGER SMITH HOPES NEW BOOK CAN HELP OTHERS STRUGGLING WITH GRIEF

Through this process, Smith has discovered the strength in numbers and the importance of seeking assistance from friends.

Knowing that everyone goes through this process and being part of a community that understands the pain can make it easier to cope with the physical and emotional aspects of heartbreak.

"This book aims to prompt reflection on grief by encouraging individuals to examine their loss from an external perspective."

Granger's new children's book explores a "significant" skill he discovered in therapy, which involved communicating with a tree - an unbiased listener that could only provide a listening ear.

He said, "This is weird, but as I settled in, it was very therapeutic, which is exactly what I thought of."

"I thought, what if there was a book that mirrored my situation as a kid who lost his grandpa and wanted to talk to a tree about him? The tree would have the wisdom that he couldn't find elsewhere. That's exactly what happened to me, and it inspired me to write the book."

The release date for "Up Toward the Light" is April 2, 2024.