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Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008 (message contributor)
“Hope”
Dedicated to All who have lost a child to a tragic early death, stillbirth, Miscarriage or even an abortion that was later regretted
There is nothing quite as devastating as the loss of a child to an early death. There are always more questions than answers. There are many things we simply do not know. We do not know the answer to “Why my baby, Lord?” We do not know why this little life was taken before he really began to live. We do not know what talents and abilities that the Lord had already given this child. We do not know what impact this child would have had on this world. All these remain mysteries that are hid with Christ in God.
FIRST, we know from the Holy Scripture that this child’s life was unique and sacred. In Jeremiah 1: 5, the Lord Himself says, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart…” (emphasis added) In Psalm 139, King David says, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together…, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” The fact that none of these children ever enjoy life outside the womb does not make their lives less sacred to God. The “age” of each child to God is not figured from the day they are physically born, but from the day they are conceived, the day He puts a soul into that tiny, tiny body that only He can see.
SECOND, we know that this child has gone to be with the Lord. Jesus, while on this earth, had a special place in his heart for the children. They loved Him and He loved them. He scolded His disciples when they tried to keep them away from Him and told them to “Let the little children come to me for such is the kingdom of Heaven.” Hebrews 13: 8 tells us that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” He is still gathering the little children to Himself, loving and comforting them.
THIRD, we know that this child’s days, no matter how brief, had a reason. Often God uses the death of someone we love dearly and whom we know went to “be with the Lord” to draw our attention to Him in a new and greater measure. We know that we must be saved to ever see this person again. The Lord will use this to soften our hearts to Him.
I can testify that I am one Mom that cannot WAIT to hold the child someday that I’ve never known on this earth but who has been in heaven with the Lord for 24 years! What an awesome gift of God!
~By Bonnie Laughlin
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