Shining through the Sorrow

Hello, friends.  I don't know if you heard about the little boy in Cleveland, Ohio who shared a picture of his family for a school project - a photo with his parents and his baby brother the day he was stillborn.  The teacher and principal at the school both agreed the picture was "not appropriate" and had to be removed from the student's project.  You can watch video of the original story HERE , and you'll find the article at Still Standing Magazine HERE , perfected titled "Death does not Negate Existence." I cautiously opened the online articles, and came to this conclusion:  All the pictures are absolutely beautiful, showing a loving family with the raw emotions of both admiration of their son and the profound loss of a precious life.  As the author stated, it could have been made into a very teachable moment, one of compassion and empathy.  Instead it taught this lesson to the student instead - Your little brother is not worthy of being i...

Wednesday evening was the annual Labor of Love Memorial Service.  One of the most treasured evenings of my year, our infant loss support group gathers in a beautiful church for a time of traditional Christmas hymns, loved ones sharing their stories, and a special tradition where we all light candles and say our precious babies names - one by one.  It is the perfect way to start what should be a very joyous holiday, but one that can sometimes feel too heavy and sad for some.  It's a time to honor our babies' short lives and praise God for the time we did have. We go through a Litany of Loss, Remembrance, and of Hope.  In unison, we all speak the words, "We remember them."  It's always a memorable event.  But this year was the best yet. What I'm feeling the need to share about, and always remember for myself, are the two gentlemen who were brave enough to stand in front of a very full church and express their heartfelt stories.  The first was a yo...