Life After Loss
As much as I’d like to post something light and fluffy, perhaps a post about Hudson scaring himself with his own burps, or how Brooks and Clark have been writing some of the best narratives, or how Isaac scored 12 points at his last basketball game, or how Henry can’t get enough of Jedi Academy – this has been on my heart for some time and I just can’t shake it.
I haven’t wanted to write this post for several reasons. One being because it could be misunderstood. One because it’s just plain hard. But I think it’s needed. Maybe someone needs to read it, or more likely maybe God needs to work inside my heart as I continue to grow through grief.
Brad asked me a few months back if having Hudson has healed some of the wounds I felt from our miscarriage. It was a question I had already been working through, because being given life after a loss has brought forth a lot of emotions, feelings, and perspective.
In so many ways the answer is a resounding YES! We’ve been given LIFE after walking through the dark shadows of death. The redemption and grace shown through this sweet baby has been such an outpouring of God’s goodness. It’s bandaged my seeping wound like nothing else.
And part of me only wants to acknowledge the good. Part of me feels like that is what I’m supposed to do. A gift of life has been given to us that we didn’t think was even a possibility. No one expects you to grieve after you’ve been given life. It seems greedy, ungrateful, or selfish.
The reality is, we have both cried more tears over our loss of our “5” in the last four months than we have in over a year. There is something about holding this life we’ve been given – taking in every wonderful way he’s been created, breathing him in, soaking up these sweet babies days, that gives the loss more weight. You see the life you’ve been given and see the significance of the life taken. It’s this bittersweet dance of gratefulness and a different kind of sorrow.
You appreciate the way God designs, grows, shapes, and sustains life. We watched this baby grow from a blinking heartbeat to a crying, moving, breathing proof of His creation. Yet, the scar feels deeper and more profound knowing what you are missing.
He gives. He takes away.
There is something about grief that richly acknowledges life. And for that I am grateful. Where there is great love, there is great loss when that love is taken. One thing that has been disheartening in this journey has been how “pro-life” doesn’t always give enough significance to miscarriage. If we fight for life of babies in the womb, we must also grieve it when it is lost.
I was processing some of this late one night, as I held life in my arms in the dark of his nursery. There were tears in my eyes as I watched him doze off with a drip of milk on his sweet lips. I was thanking God for his life and giving me the opportunity to be a mother again, for healing my heart, for giving me joy through the journey. I was thinking about a verse that was shared with me shortly after our loss,
“Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.” Luke 6:31b
At the time that verse was hard for me to fathom. Tears to laughter seemed like such a disconnected contrast.
In that very moment, Hudson laughed in his sleep – a full out giggle.
What a kind way for God to show me the truth of this verse through the bliss of baby laughter!!!
There is great gratefulness, joy, contentment, and fullness along with a dull pang missing the life we didn’t get to hold this side of heaven. And the great peace of hope, passing our understanding. The hope that promises of love that will be reunited. So yes, life brings healing, but it can never replaces the pain of a life lost.
I understand that bittersweet feeling. You have such deep gratitude and wonder for the baby you have been given, but it doesn’t take away from the loss of another life. It’s a strange and complicated journey mixed with many highs and sadness too.
Hudson is gorgeous. I hope he continues to bring you lots of laughter and love.
You’re completely right, Jenn. Keep bringing the truth! Life is life and should be grieved when it’s lost, no matter how long it lasted.
Well written. Our hearts will always ache the side of heaven.
Thank you for beautifully written thoughts on loss and grief. In a slightly different way, I can understand where you’re coming from. I’m a young widow and think that if I am to find love again, I’ll always grieve the loss of my first husband because no two people are the same!
One last thing, I think the text is maybe Luke 6:21?
Blessings!!
Job suffered much but was greater after his sorrows – God gave him twice as much (Job 42).
Thank you for this. I love your line, “If we fight for life of babies in the womb, we must also grieve it when it is lost.” I broke when we lost ours eleven years ago. We have never been able to conceive since then. We have five adopted kids and one exchange student, so my hands and heart are full. But a mom’s heart can never forget the baby she once carried – no matter how short a time it was.
Yes, and Amen.
Have you read the book Inheritance of Tears: Trusting the Lord of Life When Death Visits the Womb.
I wish I had that book when I went through my miscarriages, but reading it now after grieving through those and rejoicing through the children that He has given to us has been a huge blessing and help.
I agree and understand so much of what you said. Three weeks before our first child was born, my Mom passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at only 50 years old (she was packed and ready to come help me with my baby). I rejoiced in the birth of our beautiful daughter, but was still grieving so deeply the loss of my dear Mom. Thank you for sharing your heart, it helped me heal a bit more too.
My parents went through losing parents while they were pregnant with me, and I was unable to have grandparents in my life. Loss and Life so often go hand in hand. The bitter and the sweet. So thankful you shared this…