Friday, April 7, 2017

What Helps

We’ve had so many kind and thoughtful responses to David’s story. And thankfully, very, very few hurtful ones. While each situation is different, I thought I’d share a few things that have helped the most.

When we first announced our pregnancy and David’s diagnosis, one of my neighbors responded perfectly. He gave me a huge hug and said very few words: “This is a hug of congratulations and condolence. I’m happy for you all, and I’m so sorry.” Acknowledging the joy and the sorrow simultaneously felt exactly right.

Sweet friends and family have helped us celebrate the joyful moments—finding out David was a boy, throwing a prayer party, oohing and aahing over ultrasound pictures, making a beautiful quilt with each family member’s prayers and wishes for David sewn into it. Hardly a day goes by that we don't receive an encouraging card, text, phone call, or email.

And you have covered us in prayer when we don’t know how to pray ourselves, and reminded us over and over again of God’s promises and His faithfulness. God is our rock and our ever present help in times of trouble. Jesus Himself weeps with us. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us in prayer. This broken, sorrow-filled life is not what God intended for us. And He sent His only Son to make a way for us to be unified to Him. And in the fullness of time, Jesus will return in triumph and banish death forever and wipe away all our tears. Just last week, I was reminded that David’s death is only a slipping behind the veil into glory. We live in the shadows, but he will be in the light of the glory of God. And someday we will slip behind the veil ourselves, and see fully the beautiful nature of our Lord.

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