The Other Shoe
For Oma Janie and her Pat, whom she and many will miss dearly. It always drops, ya know: that darn other shoe. Just the other night, Jack and I stayed up way too late talking about how hard it is to not live in fear when so many hard things have happened. It’s easy to believe that life is dominated by the drop of that second shoe. It’s easy to believe that happiness is not attainable, peace cannot reside permanently in our hearts. It’s hard to live happily, even when everything is happy. We found a scripture that night that we wrote on our black board at the bottom of…
“Beacon of Hope”
My dear friend, Sheri Blumberg, shared this note on Facebook about her journey grieving her daughter, Tessa. I think it is so important to be highlighting other moms who have survived the loss of their children, and who are fervent in helping others through their pain. Sheri spends much of her time volunteering with the TEARS foundation. Here are her words: After Tessa September 11, 2011 My daughter’s death does not define me. I will not let my life be found in her death. Rather, I will let her life bring meaning to mine. September 28, 2008 split time into two realms for me: before Tessa, and after Tessa. Before…
Mother of 3
Yet they say, “My Lord deserted us; he has forgotten us.” Never! Can a mother forget her little child and not have love for her own son? Yet even if that should be, I will not forget you. See, I have tattooed your name upon my palm, and ever before me is a picture of Jerusalem’s walls in ruins. Soon your rebuilders shall come and chase away all those destroying you. Look and see, for the Lord has vowed that all your enemies shall come and be your slaves. They will be as jewels to display, as bridal ornaments. Even the most desolate parts of your abandoned land shall soon…
Helping Helps with Grief
In honor of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month . . . It had been a month since Caleb died. The dust was settling, and people were getting on with their lives. I was sitting on the couch in the living room staring at the television, googling crazy things like “Why did this happen to me, God?” and watching youtube videos made by other grieving moms that made me cry so hard I would eventually pass out from exhaustion. FUN TIMES. (Note: one of the unfair things about a late-term still birth or infant loss is that I (like many moms) was already on maternity leave. Our bodies are still…
Miracles and Murmurings
And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to His riches in glory. Philippians 4:19 I must confess: I have spent my whole life judging the Hebrews during their wilderness sojourn. It is difficult for me to watch them murmur against the God who continually, faithfully provides for them. They witness the ten plagues against Egypt, including the smiting of every firstborn male in Egypt. They leave Egypt weighted down by their captors’ treasures after 430 years of bondage, led by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. And yet, when Pharoah gives chase, they cry to Moses, Was it because…
