Category: Uncategorized
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What Are We Waiting For?
The word advent means “the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event” (Oxford online dictionary). From a Christian perspective, Advent is the time period encompassing the four Sundays preceding Christmas. Each year we reflect on and prepare for the coming of the Christ child. We read special devotionals, sing carols, decorate trees, light candles,…
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Light
The second Sunday in December is Worldwide Candle Lighting Day to honor the memory of children who have died. It started out specifically to commemorate children who died of cancer, but in 1997 The Compassionate Friends organization expanded it to include all children who left this world too soon. Families light a candle at 7:00…
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Bleak
Last week I wrote about a song called Thanksgiving Song. I talked about how the words encourage me to think about an eventual Heavenly banquet where we will know eternal gratitude. If you’re like me, you’re still finishing up Thanksgiving leftovers. Maybe you have your Christmas tree up and lights on your house. Perhaps you…
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Thanksgiving Song
There’s a beautiful song by Mary Chapin Carpenter called simply “Thanksgiving Song.” The words are spare with repeating phrases almost like the blessing a child would say at dinner. It is poignant for anyone listening to it, but especially thought-provoking for a grieving parent. It goes: Grateful for each hand we holdGathered ’round this tableFrom…
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Here They Come Again
Here they come again. I should be better prepared by now. This will be my 65th time I’ve celebrated them. You know, the holidays. Although I don’t really remember the first few, but there is photographic evidence that I was there for them. As a child, I was always filled with joyful anticipation of the…
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Appreciation
Last week I wrote about our rural neighborhood and our interactions with our neighbors. If you’re a frequent reader, you may have wondered what that post had to do with child loss. I’ll tell you something I’ve learned in the seven-and-a-half years since my daughter died. It’s the little things in life I’ve come to…
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Neighbors (or why it takes an hour to get the mail)
We live in a rural area on a dirt road. The neighbors all know each other. If you’re driving down the road and meet another vehicle, it’s expected practice to wave even if you don’t recognize the driver. Before we moved here almost five years ago, we lived in a suburb of Tampa. We lived…
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Why I’m Still Here
This Thursday, the 31st will be Rachel’s birthday. It would be her 38th if she were still here on Earth; her 7th birthday spent in Heaven. I don’t know if birthdays are celebrated in Heaven. There is no passage of time in eternity. And every day is a celebration in the presence of God. But…
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Imperfect
Nobody’s perfect, right? We are all human. We know we are flawed, but it’s still so easy to compare ourselves to others and come up lacking. I mentioned in last week’s blog that I was going to be attending a retreat with some other bereaved mothers. It was even more of a blessing than I…
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What’s Your Story?
Psalm 107:2 says: “Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story.” We all have a story to tell. If you’re anywhere near my age, you’ve had some adventures, some tragedies, some comedies, some romances, some horrors, and some thrillers. Some of your stories might be reserved for certain audiences only. Also, if you’re like…
A Light for My Path 