Photo credit: Daves Portfolio, Flickr Creative Commons
My patient held her baby today, like every mama here does … except her baby had only lived for 16 weeks and could be held in one of her hands. We took pictures and gave mementos. And the family was there and the chaplain came. And I continue to be amazed, at the bravery of women in the face of losing a very part of themselves. Their ability to endure the process of labor knowing that there will be no reward for the pain they experience. It is the pain itself that will be the only gift. Pain that will linger for all time, changing the fiber of their existence with its ravaging presence.
And I heard him, the father of the patient, utter it with his very lips. Through his shaking voice he offered holy words–he gave thanks. The giving of thanks that this loss was now, and not at term, or at age 2, or at age 10. Oh the wisdom … to focus on gratitude amidst the raw suffering–all of them only having known this news for 48 hours–and the room together agreeing with his words.
He spoke of memories of his mother and how she had endured loss, and how she had been strengthened by the suffering she had faced. Having had one child for only 14 years and one for a brief 2 months. And after many years had passed, how she would cry when reminiscing of them–the children to whom she had said goodbye. And he told of how she had modeled to Him tenderness and the proper placing of grief. And how he wanted that this day for his sweet daughter.
This grief that always is, but doesn’t control.
That exists, but doesn’t define.
That lingers, but doesn’t always sting as strong as it once did.
And the questions beg where the pain resides:
What will we allow it to accomplish?
What choice will we make?
Will the pain make us angry and bitter, jaded and cynical … us losing hope altogether?
Or will we allow it to refine our rough edges and melt our hearts?
Will we be better because we suffered?
More understanding of others when they suffer?
With more of a richness to our character as a result?
What a privilege to care for this family; to witness their hope amidst pain. And I am coming to learn there is this, that is certain: we will have pain in this life. Suffering is universal, and inevitable. But I am also learning that it is not its existence that has to define us. We can choose our response. We can choose to trust, and to hope, and to give thanks to God who loves us so–in the midst of it, in the depths of it, and through the years of it. It is our response to the suffering that hallmarks our journey.
And as followers of Jesus, amidst our suffering there is always hope.
He is with us in every moment.
He hears our cries,
and bottles our tears,
and loves us with a love that has no end.
Psalm 91:1-4, 10-12, 14-16 (NASB) 1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” 3 For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper And from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. 10 No evil will befall you, Nor will any plague come near your tent. 11 For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways. 12 They will bear you up in their hands, That you do not strike your foot against a stone. 14 “Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. 15 “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. 16 “With a long life I will satisfy him And let him see My salvation.”
In your times of suffering, may you feel His covering, His protection, and His comfort … and may you one day, be able to see how He used it for good, in and through you, is my prayer.
Are you in the midst of suffering?
How can I pray for you today?
Tuesdays Unwrapped, Chatting at the Sky
Amazing post. I pray none of the pain in my life is ever wasted. Blessings!
I love this line: Or will we allow it to refine our rough edges and melt our hearts?<–I pray that my suffering has refined me!!
What a blessing you were to that family, and what a blessing their faith is!
Yes, may we embrace and never waste the purpose of the pain, surrendering to His work in us. Have a wonderful day!
Ahh, yes! Those rough edges always needing more smoothing and our hearts always better for melting with the capacity for empathy. Blessings to you!
“Will the pain make us angry and bitter, jaded and cynical-us losing hope all together” yes this, friend! And so I refocus, recharge with Him. Jesus never promised us that we wouldn’t suffer. He knew it was the only way we could learn. I am finding when I learn, I experience more of Him. I want more of Him! Thanks for this 🙂
Beautifully, beautifully written–and such wise words. There is much suffering in this life, I know. Loss and grief are part of the fabric of life. But what joy comes from knowing that we have a Great Physician! What comfort in knowing that we do not bear our sorrows alone! Thank you for the reminder.
I dont have words for this. Just thank you. Thank you for sharing the heartbreak and the encouragement, for reminding us what it means to suffer, and what it means to find Christ in it. What an amazing job you have, what tremendous stories you see…. God bless you, my sister.
Thank you, my friend!
Thank you for your kind and sweet words.
Beautifully written, friend. I can hear your voice reading it, and so appreciate your perspective in sharing this tender moment. Thank you.