grief

Last night I celebrated with the women of my church the birth of a new baby. It's a joy to welcome a new little one into the fold. In the warm room of our hostess' home there was laughter mixed in the sounds of "oohing" and "ahhing" over his sweet face, as well as admiring the new gifts that were being showered upon the new mom. However, I knew there was something else in that room...Something not being expressed loudly, but I could see it and I could feel it.

~Grief~

I knew at least two of the women had suffered the great loss of a child. One lost her first baby boy as a young infant to Trisomy 13. Another had lost her 19 year old son to meningitis several years ago. I watched the mom who had lost her grown son hesitate, ever so slightly, as she introduced her self. I could see her trying to decide if she should say she is a mom of two or a mom of one. She ended up saying she was a mom of two and I was glad she did.

In my own life, I am dealing with a potential loss that I am unable, as this time, to discuss openly. A few of my friends "with skin on" are aware of the grief that I am experiencing, and I am thankful that I am able to talk about it with them. It helps to not feel alone in this sadness. I am grateful for their compassion and love...

As I was saying goodbye to the hostess, I mentioned that I almost didn't come and the tears that are never too far away began to freely flow. She asked me to wait a second...She ran up the stairs and came down with a book in her hand she had purchased for me. She explained she had read it when one of her friends had lost a child so she could understand the grief her friend was dealing with and support her during that time. She said she was waiting until the right time to give it to me. To say I was deeply touched, is putting it mildly...

The book she handed me is titled, "Holding On To Hope: A pathway through suffering to the heart of God," by Nancy Guthrie. I couldn't wait to read it, so when I woke up at 4:30 this morning, instead of snuggling in for a couple more hours of sleep, I got up and grabbed a cup of coffee, my box of tissues, the book and my hubby showered me with chocolate as he made his way to the basement to work out. I settled into my chair and began to read...weep...read...and weep some more. It's a short and easy read that is filled with, well, hope. Would I recommend it? Absolutely!! Would I recommend you give it to someone you know who is grieving? Yes, however, I would recommend you read it first and then decide how to share it with them. Every situation is different. Some situations, like mine, it would be fine to give them the book or suggest the book for to them to read and let them read it when they are ready. Someone else may need someone to read it with them.

I leave you with these words from the Apostle Paul.

 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Chris and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. ~Philippians 3: 8-11

Be blessed...

Last night I celebrated with the women of my church the birth of a new baby. It's a joy to welcome a new little one into the fold. In the warm room of our hostess' home there was laughter mixed in the sounds of "oohing" and "ahhing" over his sweet face, as well as admiring the new gifts that were being showered upon the new mom. However, I knew there was something else in that room...Something not being expressed loudly, but I could see it and I could feel it.

~Grief~

I knew at least two of the women had suffered the great loss of a child. One lost her first baby boy as a young infant to Trisomy 13. Another had lost her 19 year old son to meningitis several years ago. I watched the mom who had lost her grown son hesitate, ever so slightly, as she introduced her self. I could see her trying to decide if she should say she is a mom of two or a mom of one. She ended up saying she was a mom of two and I was glad she did.

In my own life, I am dealing with a potential loss that I am unable, as this time, to discuss openly. A few of my friends "with skin on" are aware of the grief that I am experiencing, and I am thankful that I am able to talk about it with them. It helps to not feel alone in this sadness. I am grateful for their compassion and love...

As I was saying goodbye to the hostess, I mentioned that I almost didn't come and the tears that are never too far away began to freely flow. She asked me to wait a second...She ran up the stairs and came down with a book in her hand she had purchased for me. She explained she had read it when one of her friends had lost a child so she could understand the grief her friend was dealing with and support her during that time. She said she was waiting until the right time to give it to me. To say I was deeply touched, is putting it mildly...

The book she handed me is titled, "Holding On To Hope: A pathway through suffering to the heart of God," by Nancy Guthrie. I couldn't wait to read it, so when I woke up at 4:30 this morning, instead of snuggling in for a couple more hours of sleep, I got up and grabbed a cup of coffee, my box of tissues, the book and my hubby showered me with chocolate as he made his way to the basement to work out. I settled into my chair and began to read...weep...read...and weep some more. It's a short and easy read that is filled with, well, hope. Would I recommend it? Absolutely!! Would I recommend you give it to someone you know who is grieving? Yes, however, I would recommend you read it first and then decide how to share it with them. Every situation is different. Some situations, like mine, it would be fine to give them the book or suggest the book for to them to read and let them read it when they are ready. Someone else may need someone to read it with them.

I leave you with these words from the Apostle Paul.

 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Chris and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. ~Philippians 3: 8-11

Be blessed...