Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep: losing a child

The gift of life is pretty prominent in my mind these days. This morning I discovered a blog dedicated to a loving family's baby who passed away just prior to his due date due to an umbilical cord injury. Two days shy of birth and meeting their baby, this mother had to endure labor and delivering the baby knowing she would not be able to raise him in this life. It was very humbling and touching. Another new friend lost her husband at the age of 25. She is now a widow raising 3 kids and a new little baby. My heart breaks. It really puts my challenges which seem very hard at times into perspective and helps me to really appreciate those quiet moments when I have felt the Lord's presence in my life witnessing to me that these things will be for my good and I can endure through them and grow from them. I pray with all my heart these sweet families have the same necessary moments confirming God's love for them. 

In reading that blog, I came across an amazing cause. The Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation provides free professional photography services to families who experience the loss of a baby. Professional photographers donate their time and talents to these families. I think it is really an amazing gift. What an amazing use of talent and gift to give. Here's the link to their website: http://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/. I hope that everyone who experiences this loss would have the chance to capture the memory of their child. The website shares their belief that through photography and remembering this little baby aids in the healing process.

I have experienced an ectopic pregnancy and a miscarriage and we struggle with having more children, but I can't even imagine what it would be to experience the loss of a child or spouse. I do know that God and His angels are very near in these moments and those families are blessed to experience great outpourings of the Spirit and God's love. 

Sorry for the downer of a post, I just had to share this amazing service. I'll be back soon with a post on last night's dinner.