The best things
I look down into her precious eyes. I see her smile. I hear her gurgle and coo. Why me, Lord? Why did you entrust me with this precious gift? I'm not worthy, Lord.
These thoughts have been running through my head a lot the past few days. Some friends of ours - friends who were married soon after us and had twins soon after Kathrynne was born - lost their little three-month-old baby boy this week.
My heart breaks for this young couple. I can't even begin to imagine the pain, the heartbreak, the agony of losing a little precious child, a child you loved so dearly. There are no words to describe what the pain must feel like.
I look at my two precious girls - one scampering about the house, the other cuddled in my arms - and a lump arises in my throat. I don't deserve these precious gifts. I never want to take them for granted. However little or much time God gives me to be their mother, I want to be faithful, I want to make the most of it.
There are so many good things in life that constantly creep in to try and crowd out the best things. The good things can wait, being a mommy and investing in these precious lives cannot.
Lord, help me to be faithful!
posted by Crystal Paine at 4:00 PM
20 Comments:
My heart brakes for your dear friend. I also have a friend from my college days that lost their twin boys at 23 weeks. After struggling to get pregnant, going through fertility specialists and then to have the babies leave this earth prematurely!! It is a mystery to me, and I too, hugged my twin boys (almost 10) and my two other children a bit tighter last Wednesday, the day those precious boys went to be with Jesus. I will pray peace and comfort for your friend, as I lift up my friend to our Lord. God's ways are mysterious and I only hope that both these families will find the strength to see a hope and a future for their families!! He is a faithful Lord, even in the midst of unexpected tragedy.
Blessings, Pamela
Crystal, thank you for posting this. Yes, the good can wait, we have to be there for the best. The Lord has been teaching me lately....even though I am not a mother right now, in my life and family I have things and I hope I will be faithful to choose the best things, not just accept the "good" things that come along. So many things look good, but we have to be so in tune with Jesus that we are actively living in His will, and won't sacrifice the best because of the good. You are an encouragement to me, keep writing!! In Christ, Ruth Ann
Every moment is a precious gift. . . . I think the same things you have expressed here every time I see my three blessings from God. May He enable us to be faithful!
Gina
Just imagine our Lord loves them and us even more than we do.....WOW how spectacular is that?
Pam, South Bend
It is such a blessing to see young mothers like you who understand these things early. Oh to have had your wisdom when my big girls, now 17 and 14, were the size of your precious girls!! Thankfully, the Lord is faithful and He turned my thinking around while my children were still somewhat young. Now I cherish every moment of my big girls lives but also the lives of all my younger ones as well including our little newborn Noah born four weeks ago. Aren't these newborn moments uniquely precious? There is nothing like them! And, that is true of all the stages of childhood and motherhood! May the Lord bless your sweet family!!
Continue to lovingly care for your precious daughters! I've been reading your blog for about a month now, and it is such an encouragement. We have not been able to have children yet, but it's such a blessing to see how your daughters are being trained in the Lord's ways. Blessings as you strive to walk in His steps!
~Eunice
You are so right, Crystal. Enjoying each day is definitely the way to think about it. I lost my first baby at 10 weeks and I'm just enjoying my time in my current pregnancy as much as possible, and hoping that I get to enjoy this child being in the world with me for the rest of my life. I'm praying for your friends.
Jennifer
I feel this way even with the amazing Godly friends that the Lord has put in my life! God is so good to put so many blessings in our lives.
I just love Kathrynne's smile in the photo - you've got one happy little girl there Crystal.
Diana
It certainly is the hardest thing to go through in this life I believe. No one ever thinks they will lose a child. We are raised to know we will lose our parents and the possibility of a losing a spouse is there as well (eventually one will go before the other). But to lose a child, it rips out the very core of your soul - to not hear the words "mom" anymore, the deafening silence, the absence of laughter, the ending of what the future was to hold, for it is no more. It is often too much to bear.
Let's remember that life tomorrow is not promised to even one of us.
So sorry to hear about your friends.
There is nothing worse than the loss of a child. I have two boys whom I love to pieces but I always mourn the loss of my daughter. I lost my daughter at 6 months, it was and still is devastating. I take refuge in God and know that his master plan is so much greater than my little world. And I do believe He has a purpose for all of it. Her birthday was last Saturday- that is the hardest day of the year.
Dear Crystal,
I feel the same way many days. I also often feel scared because I so desire to be a good mother and instill in them all that they need to be God loving, moral, hardworking young men. I have often thought "God, what if I forget to teach them something?" But we are trusting God to give us the wisdom I need to do the job the right way!
Ruth, PA
Such a beautiful post. God has blessed you abundantly, and it is so wonderful to see your gratitude to Him.
His ways are always the best ways-- my husband and I have just found out that we have lost our second child, after losing our first and waiting for 18 months to get pregnant again. But He is faithful in our sufferings as well, and always gives grace and strength proportionate to the trials He brings into our lives. My heart breaks for your friends, and I will pray for them.
Thank you so much for this post. It is exactly what I needed to be reminded of today. Your writing is such a blessing and I hope you know what a difference it can make to people.
I am truly sorry to read of your friends' loss. I can't begin imagine the pain they must be suffering right now. I think we all hold our children a bit closer when we hear of such losses. I will be praying for them.
Paula
So sorry to hear about your friends.
Each day is definitely a gift from the Lord and that is something we should all remember and not take for granted.
I speak from experience as last year I had cancer. It was very scary, but the Lord has blessed me with healing and given me more time to live for Him and to love and be with my husband and children. When you go through something like that, it really puts things in perpective... We are all just a breath away from eternity and what we do now, even in the little everyday mundane things, matters.
Blessings,
~Gina
Keep enjoying your little ones
My heart goes out for your friends.According to my siter losing a child is very hard-she lost twins prematurely and a son who was 21.
That is so heartbreaking! What a sobering reminder to treasure these blessings. Your two are precious.
Crystal, yes, these are the best things...
A mother's grief is beyond words. We never really know how much time we have with our loved ones... so, yes, let's invest in what will matter for eternity!
I am so sorry for your friends. What a terrible loss. I recently lost my first pregnancy at 9 weeks and have been devastated by this loss; I still can't imagine your friends' loss, though. You are so wise to recognize the blessing of your beautiful and healthy daughters; children are the best gift and biggest blessing in this world. I am so horrified when I see people who don't realize this, but have such an easy time making healthy children. I was due at the same time as the jail-going, drug-doing Nicole Richie and I want to scream everything I see something about her pregnancy in the news! You are a wonderful mother and person to realize how blessed you are and what an important calling motherhood is.
Susan
This is a very sobering post and my heart and prayers go out to your friends and to all who have responded sharing their own sad and personal experiences. As the Bible teaches, we must weep with those who weep.
Love in Him,
Carla
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