With You

Isaiah 43:1-2

This past week a couple we know who go to Covenant Life church (where Dave went to the Pastor's College) lost their 5 week old baby girl suddenly and unexpectedly. I cannot imagine the deep pain and grief that they are experiencing. We've been praying for them and their two little girls ever since hearing the news. I have been holding my two boys a little tighter too. I read this hymn in Spurgeon's "Beside Still Waters" this week:

"There is no adversity so dark, so deep, or so apparently pathless that you cannot discover the Crucified One's footsteps when you kneel. In the fires, in the rivers, in the cold night, and under the burning sun He cries:

Fear not I am with you, O be not dismayed.
For I am your God, and will still give you aid.
I'll strengthen you, help you, and cause you to stand,
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand

When through the deep waters I call you to go,
The rivers of sorrow will not overflow,
For I will be with you, your trials to bless,
And sanctify to you your deepest distress

When through fiery trials your pathway shall lie,
My grace all-sufficient shall be your supply
The flames shall not hurt you, I only design
Your dross to consume and your gold to refine."

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. - Revelation 21.4

I read this blog post a few months ago and I think it's excellent. It's by a woman who had a stillbirth baby girl and it's "How to Help Your Grieving Friend."

http://thepipers.wordpress.com/2008/03/25/how-to-help-your-grieving-friend/

May the Lord comfort this family and be so, so near to them in their loss.

Elise Hope

Today I've been thinking a lot about our baby girl who is in heaven. My friend in PA, Jen, and her family are grieving the loss of her oldest brother's and his wife's baby. She was about 5 months along and today found out at a scheduled ultrasound that their baby had died. She will have to deliver the baby just like I did. Our hearts go out to them and their entire family which I've always felt were like a second family to me. I've been thinking about them and praying for them all day. This has brought back the terrible memories of the day we found out our baby had died and being induced later that night and then delivering her the next morning. Feeling the grief that will never completely go away as there will always be someone missing in our family. I wish she was here with us. Sometimes when I look at our two boys, I think to myself that she should be here with us too. I know someday we will be all together and the hope is what I cling to. This verse was true and was a great comfort to us especially during the first weeks after losing Elise:

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.

Isaiah 43:2

We miss you Elise and look forward to our reunion in perfect joy.