Monday, October 18, 2010

Can you imagine?

More, I'm so, so sorry if you didn't have to imagine it, but it WAS or is your situation....
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Mondays are usually the days I try to mark the week's progress for Luke. There's lots to write about, but we see Dr. Sweeney today and will get pictures (hopefully, and that's another story) so I'm going to update tomorrow.

A good friend sent me this link about a sweet little baby girl, Emma Grace, who died as she was waiting for a heart transplant. That of course is tragic, tragic, tragic.

What's more heartbreaking is apparently there is difficulty in finding the funds for funeral costs.

I cannot even imagine, and yet, know some who read this blog not only can imagine it but LIVED it...and were not able to do what they wanted for their precious baby.

I know that in the days (and still now, months later) after Matthew died, the kindness and compassion and generosity of complete and total strangers was such a blessing to us. We were fortunate enough to be able to do what we wanted (which is weird to say, because what DOES one WANT when planning a funeral for one's child?) and have some wonderful things done in Matthew's memory. What a blessing.

I don't know much about this family other than they need help, even if just a few dollars, so I figured I'd see if anyone reading felt moved to do so.

In doing Bible study this morning, I came across a verse again that really, really meant something to me. Zechariah 12:10 speaks of the end days where people will mourn the suffering and death of Christ as one who mourns for an only child....as one who grieves (or weeps bitterly) for a firstborn son.

What I got out of that this morning is that for those of us who are told we should be past our depressions or moving on/forward/over it--whatever--the people who tell us that need to be reminded that the grieving and mourning and weeping bitterly for a child is POWERFUL. It is not some shallow bed of emotion just to be worked through and forgotten. If Christ Himself is comparing how people will feel about condemning Him to death with the bitter grief of losing a child.....well, that seems like He takes that grief pretty seriously and understands it's depth and it's life-impacting change.

And if others don't, that's their problem.

Can you imagine that grief and then the added stress of wondering how you are going to bury/cremate your child?

Again, here's the link. I know that sadly, stories like this are a dime a dozen. I'm not sure why this one just broke my heart this morning. Maybe because it's Emma Grace--and that's the first name we chose for the little girl we wanted to adopt. Maybe because my heart is especially tender today after a very restless night of sleeplessness and worry. Maybe because I realize how really blessed I am and instead of buying lunch on the way to the doctor's today, I can eat at home and send that $15 to this family just to let them know that they aren't alone and strangers care. Maybe it's just God telling me that we are to love them like Jesus, whether we know them or not.

In any event...it's on my heart.

http://levibeers.com/2010/10/18/help-needed-for-baby-emma-graces-funeral-costs-please-share/

11 comments:

  1. thanks for the link! unfortunately, i understand... we sold her nursery things to pay for her funeral..... but the Lord has begun to change our circumstances! and now, i can reach out to someone else.

    love the scripture, i've never thought of it that way..... but you've heard me say it over and over, there is an answer for EVERYTHING! in the Bible.... even an answer for those ugly enough to say "get over it"! God is soooo good.

    praying for your appt today, can't wait to see more pictures:))))

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  2. Thanks for sharing this. After reading it, I feel incredibly selfish.
    People from all over the united states sent money in for Lilly's funeral.
    The funeral home that we chose to go through actually doesn't even charge for infant services. They dont' even charge for the casket.
    And the cemetary that we went through wouldn't let us pay for the plot, because they people that donate them.
    We were/are so blessed. Thanks for reminding me of that today.

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  3. Thanks so much for sharing this link. It is so heartbreaking that they have found themselves in this situation at all. I am going to click your link after making this comment.

    And that verse is powerful - thanks for sharing. Just wow!

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  4. sent her the link to back in HIs arms again...the ministry in ohio that pays for baby funerals....however, they help all over the US< and in 8 different countries:-) hope she contacts them!

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  5. Lori,

    Thank you for placing this on my heart today. No, I can not imagine what this family is going throught and thus I felt compelled to go there and leave a little gift to honor this precious little girls life.

    Reaching out to help others in their time of need is a beautiful quality and I'm so happy you brought this to us. Like you, I can think of a zillion things that I would otherwise spend money on that are not as important as this.

    Love you for the sweet, comapssinate person that you are!

    xxxx

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  6. Okay, so the word was compassionate :)

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  7. Funeral costs can be a burden. If it wasn't for our parents we'd prolly still be paying off the costs but my dad was actually told us he wanted to pay for everything. I think he felt it was all that he could really do for us. I'm extremely grateful.

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  8. Thanks again Lori for sharing this link. Like you, this story just touched my heart. I don't normally pass on every link I am sent, but for some reason I felt I needed to send this one. Such a long battle for such a sweet girl and amazing family. And if my taking 2 min to send a link helps take one worry away, then it is well worth it.

    Can't wait to see more pictures and *really* hope we can get together soon! Maybe you could come over (and bring some friends!) for the vendor/craft fair I am putting together to raise money for the Children's Heart Foundation. :)

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  9. That is horrible. Thank you for the link. What a horrible thing to have to worry about after losing your precious girl.

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  10. Thank you Thank you for sharing Zechariah 12:10. I'm sure the last time I read it, before losing Gracie it didn't mean nearly as much to me as it does now. I remember reading this post a few weeks ago and I had to come back to it cuz I couldn't quit thinking about it.

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