The Day that Wasn't
I'm trying not to make a big thing of it, but I cannot completely ignore the reality of what today is. Or what today could have been. Had I not had a miscarriage in September, I'd be in the hospital right now, coming out of surgery, holding a brand new little baby in my arms.
My eyes have been opened a lot over the past nine months. Strangely, in the face of a death of this kind, I've become more and more aware of how miraculous life really is. When I was pregnant with Gideon, everything went so smoothly, I'm afraid I took the whole thing for granted. I probably even took God for granted. Now, in empathizing with other women who have had miscarriages, struggled with infertility, or seen their child live only a matter of hours, I don't take the miracle of life for granted anymore.
At our church, our pastor sets aside every Mother's Day to pray specifically for all of the married couples who are struggling with infertility. Though I have several friends who fit into this category and have prayed for them in previous years, I never really felt the weight of it before. Now, I do.
Just like I asked you to pray for all of the singles in your life on Valentine's Day, I ask you to do the same on Mother's Day. Pray for those in your life who want a baby or have lost a child. The Bible is full of examples of women who were barren and prayed for a child and conceived. It's one of God's specialties, I believe!
Finally, I'll leave you with another mother's story of life, death, and a child who's time was too short. Bring The Rain is the blog of Todd and Angie Smith (he performs with the Christian group Selah). Set aside a box of Kleenex and an hour or two to read from the beginning. You will be changed by Angie's raw emotion and godly wisdom.
So on this day that wasn't, while I am sad and wish we could have known our child even for a moment, more than anything, I am joyful. I am joyful that God is in control. That He has a plan. For life, for death, for hope, for timing, for today and for tomorrow. And in the meantime, I am joyful that He has once again, given me the gift of empathy.
My eyes have been opened a lot over the past nine months. Strangely, in the face of a death of this kind, I've become more and more aware of how miraculous life really is. When I was pregnant with Gideon, everything went so smoothly, I'm afraid I took the whole thing for granted. I probably even took God for granted. Now, in empathizing with other women who have had miscarriages, struggled with infertility, or seen their child live only a matter of hours, I don't take the miracle of life for granted anymore.
At our church, our pastor sets aside every Mother's Day to pray specifically for all of the married couples who are struggling with infertility. Though I have several friends who fit into this category and have prayed for them in previous years, I never really felt the weight of it before. Now, I do.
Just like I asked you to pray for all of the singles in your life on Valentine's Day, I ask you to do the same on Mother's Day. Pray for those in your life who want a baby or have lost a child. The Bible is full of examples of women who were barren and prayed for a child and conceived. It's one of God's specialties, I believe!
Finally, I'll leave you with another mother's story of life, death, and a child who's time was too short. Bring The Rain is the blog of Todd and Angie Smith (he performs with the Christian group Selah). Set aside a box of Kleenex and an hour or two to read from the beginning. You will be changed by Angie's raw emotion and godly wisdom.
So on this day that wasn't, while I am sad and wish we could have known our child even for a moment, more than anything, I am joyful. I am joyful that God is in control. That He has a plan. For life, for death, for hope, for timing, for today and for tomorrow. And in the meantime, I am joyful that He has once again, given me the gift of empathy.
posted by Emily Ryan at
3:42 PM
1 Comments:
i am praying with you for all these mommies who are hurting. thanks for the link to audrey caroline's story. so many of those words hit my heart as if it were yesterday. i am praying for that family.
have a special mother's day!
By
mandy, at 2:00 PM
Post a Comment
<< Home