When You're Doing Your Best Just to Enter the Sanctuary

So Mother's Day is this Sunday. One can hardly miss it, what with the explosion of pinks and florals in every store. Its a great holiday that technically everyone should be able to celebrate... after all, none of us would be here with out our moms. I love my mom, mother-in-law and grandmas. They are all wonderful, amazing women of God, whom I am so thankful for and I appreciate the Hallmark holiday of an opportunity to let them know how much I do love them. Its one of the few times I year I actually send out snail mail! But there's another side to Mother's Day and all the hoopla that surrounds it that causes my heart to break when I see the frilly displays of cards and Whitman's Samplers. Its the reminder that I am a mother who has lost her child. While that is part of my daily reality, of course, special occasions and holidays such as this one are even stronger reminders of the emptiness in my arms. 

Many people may not understand this, since I now have two adorable little girls. Empty arms? Aren't my arms (and hands) full with a toddler and an infant? Just ask anyone who saw me at the grocery store this morning, both kids in tow, my little stroller basket overflowing with much needed groceries as one baby cried and the other ran along beside me "trying" to calm her down. The looks of pity were enough to slay a kitten. Yes, my hands are full but my arms still feel achingly empty at times. While I love Gia and Joanna more than I ever thought possible, I still miss Whitney tremendously. Having children after a loss will not replace the baby who's gone any more than adding salt instead of sugar will sweeten your coffee. Something, some one is still missing.

A lot of churches have a Baby Dedication Sunday usually in the same week or month as Mother's Day. While I understand that this completely makes sense, its kind of like a double whammy for a heart that is already grieving. The year Whitney was born, I didn't go to church the entire month of May-- I just couldn't handle it. And when I was at church, I wanted in and out with as little interaction as possible. I was doing my best to enter the sanctuary. My absence was not met with compassion or understanding, rather criticism and judgement. God-forbid I miss the Hallmark sermon, and the gift afterwards of a carnation and Bump-it. (yes, they gave away Bump-its to moms. No, I am not kidding.) What I would have given to have been met with open arms, understanding and good gracious, grace! We are no longer at that church and I'm thankful we are now serving at a wonderful church, full of grace and caring people who love us deeply.

But my point in sharing all this is not so you will feel sorry for me. Its to give you permission. Permission to grieve however you damn well need to grieve. And permission to do whatever the hell you need to do on Mother's Day. Nowadays, I don't mind Mother's Day so much. I enjoy going to church and even accept the pangs of longing I usually feel... longings for Heaven, where death is conquered and eternity with Christ is reality. Where I'll get to hold my baby girl again, and she will praise our mighty God alongside her sisters. I enjoy the day as a mom of three beautiful daughters, for whom I am so deeply thankful to God. Its definitely one of those bittersweet days. But I can't help thinking of the many people who are struggling on Sunday. Who are just doing their best to enter the sanctuary. The daughter who's mom died this year after a fierce battle with ALS. The couple who just had another negative pregnancy test after years of infertility. The man who's mom died when he was 16. The young woman who's mom was emotionally absent and chemical-dependent. We all enter with wounds that can only be healed by the wounds of Jesus. (1 Peter 2:24; Isaiah 53:5)

So if you're a mom (or even a grandma, aunt, dad, etc) who is dreading this Mother's Day because your baby is missing from your arms, know that you are not alone. If your relationship with your mother is more complicated than the commercial cards you can find at Kroger, you're not alone. If the only address you have to send a Mother's Day card is "Heaven," you are not alone. And please know that we won't judge you if you want to stay home, or if you need a "bathroom break" when all the babies go down front, or it just gets to be too much. Know that I am praying for you, from the depths of my soul to the feet of Jesus, praying his grace and mercy on your heart. I am praying that the God of hope will fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13), even in your seasons of grief. 

And if you are doing your best but still can't make it into the sanctuary this Mother's Day, please know that's ok. Because our God is so big, he will come to you. He will meet you from wherever you are seeking him-- broken heart, shambled soul, empty arms, cried-out eyes. In fact, he wants that part of you, because he wants all of you. No need to pretty it up for Sunday. Don't cake make-up over your tear-stained cheeks. Run to him who is able to do infinitely more than we could ever ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). Give him your grief and accept his grace, which is so much more than sufficient for all of our needs (and even made perfect in our weaknesses- 2 Corinthians 12:9). And know that you are loved and I am lifting you up in prayer. And if you happen to be at my church tomorrow and need an extra hug, let me know you're doing your best just to enter the sanctuary and I'll know exactly what you mean.

He's Still Carrying Me

One of my favorite songs that God gave us when we were pregnant with Whitney was the song by Selah, "I Will Carry You." It affirmed our decision to continue our pregnancy, despite our doctors recommendation to terminate. It gave me strength and reminded me that as I continued to carry Whitney, He would carry me. (I wrote about that HERE) If you've never heard this song, listen below. (NOTE: Trigger warning. Don't listen to this in public. You think I'm joking but it hits all the feels.)

I listened to this song again today for the first time in years. I was transported back to a time when I felt each word with such visceral emotion, my body shook. Nine years ago, this song was me begging...pleading... I was putting it out there to God as my PRAYER, in the hopes that he would carry me like the song suggested. I sang it for STRENGTH just to get through each appointment, each awkward conversation, each moment that never would come to fruition. Today, I sang that song as a PRAISE. Through a waterfall of tears, at the top of my lungs, I sang it as a love song-- not only to my baby girl who I carried for 31 beautiful weeks, but to the ONE who gave her life and loves her more that I could ever imagine. I sang it with a SIGH OF RELIEF... knowing that He is who He says He is.

Can I tell you something I'm learning about that? About God being who He says He is? I know we say this a lot but God is so good. He is better than I could have ever dreamed, imagined or hoped for. We say that a lot, but every time I say it, my mind floods with the million instances where he has gone ABOVE and BEYOND to lavish me with his mercy and love. I could write a book on the coincidences of God's grace.... moments and gifts He gave us with Whitney that weren't necessary, but moments that God arranged as GIFTS just for us because of how much He loves us.

There are the BIG THINGS like

-how my mom was able to be there when Whitney was born because of a pre-planned trip many months before. My mom lives in EGYPT so that was kind of a big deal.
-Whitney was born on February 11... the same day that I had accepted Christ and was baptized 21 years before she was born.
-MY JOB at the time was as the director of a mobile ultrasound clinic.  I could get an ultrasound any time I wanted/needed, and as a result I got to see Whitney on the ultrasound screen so much! What a gift!

Then there were the little ways God reminded us of his goodness:

-Seeing "her flowers" randomly
-Seeing her name somewhere we didn't expect
-People we didn't even know praying for us

But the thing that floored me today as I took some time to reflect on our journey with Whitney is that God is STILL showing his goodness after all this time!!!! Not only did he carry us then, but HE IS STILL CARRYING ME!! And He is STILL redeeming Whitney's story. He is using her story-our story- bring HOPE to people in the same situations. And this is what gets me the most--- he is STILL lavishing his love on us in unexpected ways.

The lyrics of "I Will Carry You" got me thinking about how it could apply to other burdens you may be carrying right now. Perhaps its not a child you are losing but you've lost your job and you need hope. Or maybe your marriage is in shambles and you don't see how it could possibly be restored. Maybe your relationship with your kids is all screwed up and you don't know what to do to make it right. Or maybe things are happening to you right now that are completely out of your control-- cancer, death, loneliness, depression. Can I share the words of this song for you, as an encouragement to make it your prayer? Pray it with all the desperation within in. Then wait in eager, hopeful anticipation of the day that you WILL sing it as a praise and reflect back on the beautiful, extravagant ways that He carried you through.

I Will Carry You by Selah

There were photographs I wanted to take
Things I wanted to show you
Sing sweet lullabies, wipe your teary eyes
Who could love you like this?

People say that I am brave but i'm not
Truth is i'm barely hanging on
But there's a greater story
Written long before me
Because He loves you like this

So I will carry you
While your heart beats here
Long beyond the empty cradle
Through the coming years
I will carry you
All my life
And I will praise the One who's chosen me
To carry you

Such a short time
Such a long road
All this madness
But I know
That the silence
Has brought me to His voice
And He says
i've shown her photographs of time beginning
Walked her through the parted seas
Angel lullabies, no more teary eyes
Who could love her like this?

I will carry you
While your heart beats here
Long beyond the empty cradle
Through the coming years
I will carry you
All your life
And I will praise the One who's chosen Me
To carry you

God is Good + a video

The longer I live, the more I am convinced that God is SUPREMELY GOOD. And not just good because he has to be good (because he's God), but good even when he DOESN'T have to be. Like, when I wouldn't notice one way or the other, if he didn't show his goodness. Does that make sense? He is constantly surprising me in the intimate & extravagant displays of his love for me. He not only wants me to know he loves me, its like he just keeps saying "See??? I LOVE YOU! I will shout it from the mountains and surprise you in the best ways possible. I. LOVE. You, Sheyenne." 

We've been studying Kings in church the past couple of weeks and reading from 1 and 2 Samuel. This week's sermon was so relevant to my heart-- it was about David's tragedies of sin. How David had choices to make, and even though he messed up, God still used him to bring forth our Messiah. One of the points our pastor, Nathan, spoke about was this: Will my story  be a story of regret or of restoration? He went on to talk about some of the Psalms that David penned while he was in the midst of his transgressions and crying out for God's forgiveness. Psalm 51 is one of those, but then he mentioned another Psalm... Psalm 145. 

Tear-wrinkled pages of my Bible on Psalm 145

Psalm 145.... its a Psalm I know with the very core of my being. In my Bible the pages of this Psalm are wrinkled with tears that have fallen on them through the years. Here is what Psalm 145 says::

Psalm 145[a]

A psalm of praise. Of David.

1 I will exalt you, my God the King;
    I will praise your name for ever and ever.
2 Every day I will praise you
    and extol your name for ever and ever.

3 Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
    his greatness no one can fathom.
4 One generation commends your works to another;
    they tell of your mighty acts.
5 They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.[b]
6 They tell of the power of your awesome works—
    and I will proclaim your great deeds.
7 They celebrate your abundant goodness
    and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

8 The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
    slow to anger and rich in love.

9 The Lord is good to all;
    he has compassion on all he has made.
10 All your works praise you, Lord;
    your faithful people extol you.
11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom
    and speak of your might,
12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts
    and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
    and your dominion endures through all generations.

The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises
    and faithful in all he does.[c]
14 The Lord upholds all who fall
    and lifts up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you,
    and you give them their food at the proper time.
16 You open your hand
    and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways
    and faithful in all he does.
18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,
    to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
    he hears their cry and saves them.
20 The Lord watches over all who love him,
    but all the wicked he will destroy.

21 My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.
    Let every creature praise his holy name
    for ever and ever.

I read Psalm 145 for the first time when I was pregnant with Whitney. The Holy Spirit led me to these verses and my heart was so confused. At first, my tears that fell on the pages were tears of pain. Disbelief. Longing and searching.

Could these words be true, Lord? 

Are you really good to all? 

Are you really as good and as gracious as David is saying you are??? 

How can you be good to me in this time right now, when my baby girl-- that you formed inside of me-- is going to die before she even takes a breath? 

How are you good to all you have made? 

And how can one generation show your works to another, when the next generation of my family is going to die? 

What splendors of majesty will we have to tell about? 

I fear you, Lord and yet this desire of my heart is seemingly not going to be fulfilled. 

Do you truly hear my cries???

Those were my initial thoughts when I read through Psalm 145. Disbelief. Skepticism. The words "incompatible with life" and "terminate immediately" were ringing in my ears. I prayed and wept and kept pouring over this Psalm that the Spirit kept gently guiding me toward. And slowly, in a matter of days, a peace like none other flooded my soul and God SPOKE the words of this Psalm to my heart. He said, 

"I am good. I do have compassion on all I have made, even Whitney. Even you, Sheyenne. I am trustworthy, and I am faithful. I will hold you up, and I hear your cries. Whitney's story will indeed tell of my wonderful works, and you will tell of my goodness for many generations to come. I am gracious and compassionate. Praise my name without reservation."

From that moment on, I read this chapter every day and did not waver once on our decision to carry Whitney despite her adverse prenatal diagnosis. When you hear the voice of God so clearly speaking through scripture, its kind of hard to go back on it! This Psalm continued to play an integral part in our journey with Whitney... my mom read this Psalm over me while I was in labor, about to give birth to our precious firstborn. Tears streamed down my face, but I could recite the words with confidence and conviction, knowing they were true. He IS gracious and compassionate, even now. He DOES see me in my pain and hears my cries. I WILL tell of his goodness all of my days, and Whitney's story will be a centerpiece to the millions of ways He has shown his faithfulness and love to ALL he has made. 

Back to the sermon today.... Pastor Nathan said that too many people live a life of regret. And the thing about God is, you have to keep reading to the very end! God's restoration is coming!!! We read all through the Old Testament to get to God's redemption of King David.... all through the Old Testament, and then, finally, in the first verses of Matthew, in the New Testament, there is this:

This is the genealogy[a] of Jesus the Messiah[b] the son of David, the son of Abraham:

The Messiah!!!!! From the lineage of King David!!! Oh, sweet restoration and a story only God could write! I am so thankful that God directed me to Psalm 145 and that he is still restoring and writing my story of brokenness. And even more than that, I am thankful that God would see fit to use a man like David, as flawed as he was, to write the greatest come back story of redemption that history has ever seen. 

Our worship leader, Guy Roseen and band played this song, Psalm 145. I had never heard it before but knew it was going to be good and so I recorded it. Excuse the shakiness in some parts... its hard to cry and hold a camera still! But friends, God is so good. He is so, so good. And back to my point about God showing his goodness even when he doesn't have to.... today was one of those examples. I was having a perfectly fine day, but God in his goodness used this song, and these verses to remind me just how good he really is. 

When You're Doing Your Best Just to Enter the Sanctuary

So Mother's Day is this Sunday. One can hardly miss it, what with the explosion of pinks and florals in every store. Its a great holiday that technically everyone should be able to celebrate... after all, none of us would be here with out our moms. I love my mom, mother-in-law and grandmas. They are all wonderful, amazing women of God, whom I am so thankful for and I appreciate the Hallmark holiday of an opportunity to let them know how much I do love them. Its one of the few times I year I actually send out snail mail! But there's another side to Mother's Day and all the hoopla that surrounds it that causes my heart to break when I see the frilly displays of cards and Whitman's Samplers. Its the reminder that I am a mother who has lost her child. While that is part of my daily reality, of course, special occasions and holidays such as this one are even stronger reminders of the emptiness in my arms. 

Many people may not understand this, since I now have two adorable little girls. Empty arms? Aren't my arms (and hands) full with a toddler and an infant? Just ask anyone who saw me at the grocery store this morning, both kids in tow, my little stroller basket overflowing with much needed groceries as one baby cried and the other ran along beside me "trying" to calm her down. The looks of pity were enough to slay a kitten. Yes, my hands are full but my arms still feel achingly empty at times. While I love Gia and Joanna more than I ever thought possible, I still miss Whitney tremendously. Having children after a loss will not replace the baby who's gone any more than adding salt instead of sugar will sweeten your coffee. Something, some one is still missing.

A lot of churches have a Baby Dedication Sunday usually in the same week or month as Mother's Day. While I understand that this completely makes sense, its kind of like a double whammy for a heart that is already grieving. The year Whitney was born, I didn't go to church the entire month of May-- I just couldn't handle it. And when I was at church, I wanted in and out with as little interaction as possible. I was doing my best to enter the sanctuary. My absence was not met with compassion or understanding, rather criticism and judgement. God-forbid I miss the Hallmark sermon, and the gift afterwards of a carnation and Bump-it. (yes, they gave away Bump-its to moms. No, I am not kidding.) What I would have given to have been met with open arms, understanding and good gracious, grace! We are no longer at that church and I'm thankful we are now serving at a wonderful church, full of grace and caring people who love us deeply.

But my point in sharing all this is not so you will feel sorry for me. Its to give you permission. Permission to grieve however you damn well need to grieve. And permission to do whatever the hell you need to do on Mother's Day. Nowadays, I don't mind Mother's Day so much. I enjoy going to church and even accept the pangs of longing I usually feel... longings for Heaven, where death is conquered and eternity with Christ is reality. Where I'll get to hold my baby girl again, and she will praise our mighty God alongside her sisters. I enjoy the day as a mom of three beautiful daughters, for whom I am so deeply thankful to God. Its definitely one of those bittersweet days. But I can't help thinking of the many people who are struggling on Sunday. Who are just doing their best to enter the sanctuary. The daughter who's mom died this year after a fierce battle with ALS. The couple who just had another negative pregnancy test after years of infertility. The man who's mom died when he was 16. The young woman who's mom was emotionally absent and chemical-dependent. We all enter with wounds that can only be healed by the wounds of Jesus. (1 Peter 2:24; Isaiah 53:5)

So if you're a mom (or even a grandma, aunt, dad, etc) who is dreading this Mother's Day because your baby is missing from your arms, know that you are not alone. If your relationship with your mother is more complicated than the commercial cards you can find at Kroger, you're not alone. If the only address you have to send a Mother's Day card is "Heaven," you are not alone. And please know that we won't judge you if you want to stay home, or if you need a "bathroom break" when all the babies go down front, or it just gets to be too much. Know that I am praying for you, from the depths of my soul to the feet of Jesus, praying his grace and mercy on your heart. I am praying that the God of hope will fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13), even in your seasons of grief. 

And if you are doing your best but still can't make it into the sanctuary this Mother's Day, please know that's ok. Because our God is so big, he will come to you. He will meet you from wherever you are seeking him-- broken heart, shambled soul, empty arms, cried-out eyes. In fact, he wants that part of you, because he wants all of you. No need to pretty it up for Sunday. Don't cake make-up over your tear-stained cheeks. Run to him who is able to do infinitely more than we could ever ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). Give him your grief and accept his grace, which is so much more than sufficient for all of our needs (and even made perfect in our weaknesses- 2 Corinthians 12:9). And know that you are loved and I am lifting you up in prayer. And if you happen to be at my church tomorrow and need an extra hug, let me know you're doing your best just to enter the sanctuary and I'll know exactly what you mean.

Where there is Life

I saw this tonight while I was, you know, browsing Pinterest and it stopped me in my websurfing tracks. "Where there's life, there's hope."  YES! This immediately made me think of Whitney... even after her fatal diagnosis, her heart was still beating. There was still life. And because there was still life, there was HOPE. Hope for healing, hope for a miracle, hope for the sake of HOPE. And now, having come through that time in our life without the healing, without the miracle that we were hoping for, I can still say with all the certainty in my heart, that HOPE was not wasted. Hope is never wasted... In fact, its because of Whitney that I have learned hope is a gift. It teaches us to long for and believe in something bigger than ourselves. And even when that hope doesn't unfold like we, well, hoped it would, I am still grateful-- oh, so grateful-- for it. So yes, where there is life, there is hope. Is your heart beating? Is there a glimmer of green beneath the cold, dead ground in your life? Then There. Is. HOPE. Don't be afraid of it... run towards it, embrace it, believe it-- Believe HIM with all your heart. romans 15:13 tells me that God is a God of HOPE-- yes, that is my God! And that is my HOPE. We could have chosen to end Whitney's life, but her heart was still beating... and there was still hope. Even now, as her heart is not beating in this life (or even in the next), I still have hope. I carry a piece of her with me always ("I carry your heart, I carry it in my heart...).  My hope in her healing was fulfilled and because of Christ and the fact that my hope is ultimately in Him, this HOPE I have will never return void. 

Welcoming the Waves

via

I've gone about today in pretty much the same way I've shuffled through the past 6 weeks or so. Wake up earlier than I usually would to feed a squirmy ball of love and delight. She's been sleeping such long stretches at night that I usually have to pump a little bit of milk so I don't overwhelm her when she nurses.  Rock her back to sleep. Try to sleep again myself. Wake up again to a usually happy squirmy ball of love and delight. At some point in the day (usually just before bed) I will pour the precious ounces of liquid gold sustenance into a baggie to freeze for later use. I'll pull apart the pieces of the pump's plastic and plunge them into hot, soapy water. Scrub. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. Routine.

But this afternoon, my routine was interrupted. That strange, ugly monster who's been graciously silent for quite some time, reared his ugly head again. Grief. As I disassembled my pump, I thought back to life 4 years ago. There was no sink full of soapy water. No bleary-eyed late-night feedings. Instead, there were frozen peas and ice cold cabbage stuffed into a sports bra that was two sizes too small. Whitney had passed away, but apparently, my body didn't get the memo. My milk came in just as it would have if she had been there to receive its nourishment. And it hurt. It stung. It burned. My body was betraying me, a constant reminder of my baby who was not in my arms. As I wept from the physical pain and the raw emotion of her loss, it seemed that even my body was weeping too. 

The wave of grief washed over me, I felt something new and strange towards the familiar, ugly monster of Grief: I welcomed it. I steadied myself with wet hands on the side of my cold kitchen sink and let salty tears fall to my cheeks. I let myself feel the squeeze of loss as my heart physically ached. Moms who have empty arms know just how real this kind of physical heart ache is. For that moment, I welcomed every bittersweet memory and emotion Grief threw at me. The tide rolled in, and faster than real time, the tide rolled out. "They" (whoever "they" are) always tell you Grief is a journey. (Here's another post from a few years ago about this Grief journey.) Four years in, I'm beginning to learn what that means. And I'm learning with greater clarity what it means in 1 Thessalonians that we do not grieve as those who have no hope. I'm learning its okay to grieve, to miss what should have been-- the birthday candles that will never be blown out, the gifts that will never be opened... well, the list of "should have been's" is endless. But in my grief, I can't forget the future that I know will be. And I know that it will be far greater than anything we're missing out on in this life. As it says in The Message translation of 1 Thes: "Since Jesus died and broke loose from the grave, God will most certainly bring back to life those who died in Jesus."

Tomorrow, Whitney would have been 4. We've all been a little busy lately, what with a newborn and all. When we haven't been busy, we've been hopelessly snowed in. I haven't had time to plan much at all for Whitney's birthday... no special planned acts of kindness, no gifts for the hospital nurses- I haven't even bought a cake mix yet. (Yes, keeping it real- cake mix.) I'm trying to practice giving myself grace in this area this year. Its hard to picture what life would be like with Whitney... Gia is only 2, so I don't know what its like to have a 4 year old running around. I'm only just learning what its like to have two kids... some days I drift off to Neverland, wondering what we'd be doing as a family of 5. There's always Neverland... a place where time stands still, and Whitney is whatever beautiful age I imagine her to be. But in reality, I know nothing of that life what should have been. I only know what is true for now, the life we are given and living for real. So tomorrow, we will bake a cake, sing happy birthday, and blow out a candle for our first born girl who is in Heaven. I'll stumble over words as I try to explain Heaven to my 2 year-old. I'll shed a few tears as we look at her pictures, and tell Gia its ok to be sad sometimes. I'll hold Whitney's bunny and try desperately to remember the tiny details of her face, her hands, her hair, that time has slowly erased. I'll remember the supernatural goodness of our Lord and the unbelievable graciousness in his provision. And I'll remember the Reason for our Hope. As waves of grief sneak up behind me, I'll welcome the warmth as they wash over me. The waves remind that Whitney is real, she was here, I held her in my arms, and she is worth crying for. The after that, I'll go back to the sink full of soapy water and continue to love my babies more each day. Love. Hug. Kiss. Cuddle. Repeat. Routine. 

Sovereignty

On Facebook, I came across a song by Shane & Shane that I had never heard before called "Though You Slay Me." Everybody needs a little more Shane &; Shane in their life, so I clicked the YouTube link to listen to it. What I found after the jump is one fo the most beautiful things I''ve ever heard, but some of the lyrics I didn't completely understand. So before you listen to the song, watch this short clip explaining the story behind the song.

Now you can listen to the song... It has an excerpt from John Piper that is the best part of this video... be sure the listen to that, too. What gets better than some Shane & Shane + John Piper?



I've copied the lyrics here below, in case you want to follow along as you listen. (I always like to do this when I hear a new song for the first time.)

Shane & Shane - Though You Slay Me Lyrics
I come, God, I come
I return to the Lord
The one who's broken
The one who's torn me apart
You struck down to bind me up
You say You do it all in love
That I might know You in Your suffering

Though You slay me
Yet I will praise You
Though You take from me
I will bless Your name
Though You ruin me
Still I will worship
Sing a song to the one who's all I need

My heart and flesh may fail
The earth below give way
But with my eyes, with my eyes I'll see the Lord
Lifted high on that day
Behold, the Lamb that was slain
And I'll know every tear was worth it all

Though You slay me
Yet I will praise You
Though You take from me
I will bless Your name
Though You ruin me
Still I will worship
Sing a song to the one who's all I need

Though tonight I'm crying out
Let this cup pass from me now
You're still all that I need
You're enough for me
You're enough for me

Though You slay me
Yet I will praise You
Though You take from me
I will bless Your name
Though You ruin me
Still I will worship
Sing a song to the one who's all I need
Sing a song to the one who's all I need
__________________

If you haven't been in a hospital room like Shane describes in the first video, or in one of the trial Piper references, you will be. If you haven't experienced misery in the path of obedience, you will. Not being a Debbie Downer, just being realistic about life on this Earth.

October is Infant Loss awareness month. Its easy to go through my life now, several years removed from the loss of Whitney and not think too much about her. (I think this is a self-preservation thing, not meaning I love her any less.) Gia keeps me hopping and the new one growing inside joyfully wears out whatever energy is left over in a day. And to be honest, sometimes remembering Whitney hurts. Ok, it always hurts. But some days more than others. So it gets easier to ignore it, and just get through the days as they come, without looking at the things that have passed. But when I do that, I am neglecting a season of life where the goodness and sovereignty of God has never been greater. And who doesn't need to be reminded of that? I sure do. And it seems I'm entering yet another season of life where I am having to seek out and remind myself of God's sovereignty. He hasn't shown up with an answer yet, but I know He will. Looking back at the time we had with Whitney, and the way His goodness radiated through every millisecond of that season brings me hope and renews my faith. So if reminding myself of the truths about God involves some pain from the loss of the past, I know it is worth it to remain faithful to the calling that we have received. Even better than that? I know ultimately there will be a day where there is no pain in remembering Whitney, because she will be right beside me or  better yet, in my arms, and we will be praising the sovereignty and goodness of our God at His very feet.