"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
-2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Our glory baby,
My time with you will never be forgotten. The silence of the sonogram was the most painful sound I had heard. I didn't want that to be the last glance I had at you. Never had I imagined how difficult it would be for us to part with you after having you for a short 12 weeks. You had already become such a big part of our family. We had a stocking hung for you, once your ears developed, Noah started talking to you. You may have not heard him over your sister's loud voice :) We've been anxiously waiting to find out more about you, your gender, who you would look like, your personality, and we've been counting down the weeks for your arrival since day 1. We loved you more than we knew.
But you are a blessed child. As much as we would have loved to have kept you, the Lord had something far better than we could have offered. You have passed through the sin & suffering of this world into the eternal & joyful presence of your Maker. You make us long more for heaven and turn our eyes away from the temporary things of this world. In the days and months to come we will still be grieving, but our God has been so near to our broken hearts and our crushed spirits. As you rejoice with the saints above, we rejoice with the saints down here below. We have an amazing church body here on earth. He has been faithful to give us peace and comfort, and we know that only comes through knowing Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. This is the hope that we have and for this we are most grateful. We don't need to worry or wonder, because the Truth has been revealed to us. We love you and we long to rejoice with you at our Father's throne soon!
Love,
Mommy, Daddy, Noah & Chloe
"I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be continually in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the LORD;
let the humble hear and be glad.
Oh magnify the LORD with me,
and let us exalt his name together!
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed...
Oh taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack...
When the righteous cry for help,
the Lord hears and delivers them out of their troubles.
The Lord is near to the broken hearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord delivers him out of them all."
-Psalms 34
As I read this passage in the pre-op room, I couldn't help but rejoice that I truly felt this way. My heart is so prone to anger and bitterness, but my heart was guarded from that. As Danny and I grieved together, we experienced much peace. We felt everyone's prayers and found comfort in the emails and scriptures that were sent to us as we waited in the pre-op room. We needed so much help within a short period and the Lord provided all that we needed through you. Hannah gladly took Chloe off our hands the morning of, the Winn's picked up Noah from his first day of school, my loving and supernatural mother came and took every load off my shoulder here at home, and the comfort of your emails and texts overflowed our inboxes. Thank you friends for displaying the love of Christ and his faithfulness to us! Thank you for your thoughts, your prayers, your presence and your friendship. We love you and are so grateful for you all!
