i can't sleep. i told you last week was one of the most emotion filled weeks in a long time and now it all seems to dim in the light of news that we received yesterday. one of the three triplets that i introduced to you just after thanksgiving has slipped away to snuggle in the arms of his maker. i really can do nothing but cry for this family. the pain and sadness in my heart is so real and raw that i can not begin to fathom the heartache that they are experiencing. it was just four years ago this month that we walked down such a scary road with caleb, but we never had to see it to this step. it was our worst fear. i so badly want to take that away for my friends, jeff and sabrina.
Jeremiah Hay was the precious little life that i had the opportunity to hold, change, feed, burp, and all together get some special time with. i never knew what a tremendous blessing and special memory that would be until now. i haven't been able to peice much together in my head, but i did run to the book from which he got his name and found several verses...
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. THEN YOU WILL CALL UPON ME AND COME AND PRAY TO ME, AND I WILL LISTEN TO YOU. - jer 29:11-2
But i will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declares the Lord. - jer 30:17
I have loved you with an everlasting love, i have drawn you with everlasting kindness. -jer 31:3
one of the hardest parts of tragedy during the holidays is that it is a time of year where things so evidently DO NOT stop for your pain. homes will still flaunt their twinkle lights, christmas morning will still come, the jolly music will still play on the radio and all while their whole lives come to a stand still. i remember those feelings vividly.... nothing is normal for you while everything seems so merry and bright for those around you. so i'm asking you a favor this christmas.... before you bake another batch of cookies, attend your christmas eve service, or venture out for a cup of hot chocolate will you say a prayer for the hays? will you ask the healer of hurts to flood their hearts with His goodness? with His peace? with His comfort? we can give them no better gift this christmas than the gift of prayer... strength when they just can't find it!thank you friends... now go hug your loved ones just a little bit tighter!
Praying alongside you with the sweet Hays family, specifically 2 Cor 1:
ReplyDelete3 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort."
My heart breaks for this family. I will pray for peace and understanding to come to them.
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ReplyDeleteSuch wonderful words shared in tribute to Jeremiah and comforting scripture from God's word. I'm so glad you got to have a special time with this family while you were home for Thanksgiving. My heart is breaking and can't get my head around the heartache either, yet I am praying without ceasing. Today, I had the opportunity of helping a friend care for Emma and Jenna while their Mommy and Daddy took care of funeral arrangements. Such brave, sweet little "big sisters". It was amazing to see God's work in their minds today, especially as Emma spoke of their brother with such love.....sharing how Jeremiah tried hard but grew tired....that it was too much for him and he went to be with Jesus in Heaven and that they would see him again someday. Wow.Thank you Jesus.
ReplyDeleteContinuing to pray for this family. So heart-breaking.
ReplyDeletePerfectly stated. Beautifully written. Heartbroken with you for the Hays.
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