Two days ago we were scheduled to spend the morning with friends. Before we headed over my friend sent me a message this message:
I was going to tell you today that we are expecting, but now I’m spotting.
The day before Thanksgiving was planned to be busy for this mama. They had shared the happy news with their kiddos already and she had made a beautiful video to share with their family on Thanksgiving.
We visited still, she cleared her schedule to stay off her feet, and we prayed for a saved pregnancy. Later that night she sent me another message.
I just lost a couple of huge clots. I think this is inevitable.
Such sadness for my friend. Such sadness as my prayers changed to prayers for her heart, and maybe for a miracle. Her thanksgiving was spent among family, no happy news to share, with heavy bleeding and a heavier heart. I hurt for her. Even now I shed tears with her because she’ll never know her child this side of Heaven.
At the same time, during these last 3 days, I’ve been taking with another dear friend. She is like a sister to me, she has been like a second mother to Nicolas, and she has wanted a baby for so long. She and her husband have tried for years to conceive, they’ve lost several pregnancies to miscarriage, and this year they were finally able to carry a child to term.
She had a planned cessarean for this morning. Two days ago we talked with great anticipation of the arrival of their already much loved, long awaited for baby. My heart was burting with happiness for my friend who just wanted a baby so badly. I knew she would be a wonderful mother.
This morning I woke up to news of his birth!
He is here! He is healthy! He is such a beautiful baby! I can not imagine the pure joy of the moment they saw his sweet face.
I have 4 children. I remember those sweet first moments, but I didn’t weep countless tears over a desperate longing for any one of our children. I never struggled to conceive, I think 2 months is the longest we ever tried. There is a measure of their joy I can not know.
This morning I asked Steve if he could even imagine having a baby today, after all if the years of our married life spent just trying? The only thing I can compare would be to find myself expecting a baby girl after years and years of hoping to mother a daughter. Words could not describe such a gift.
Yesterday during our Thanksgiving dinner we talked about the things we are thankful for and I brought up my friend who was so soon to have her baby. I mentioned this is probably the best Thanksgiving ever, but Steve corrected me. He said, “Next year will be the best. It will be their first with him”. And I could have just burst into tears at the thought of it.
He is here, likely in his mama’s arms right this minute. I wish I could drive across the state today just to feel the weight of him in my arms and kiss his sweet head. I am overwhelmed with thanksgiving to God for giving my friends this gift.
I had the radio on this morning while cleaning and rearranging the living room to fit the Christmas Tree. This song came on and I just stood with my broom and wept. I imagined my friend holding her son for the first time.
He has changed her world.
And today I remember that He gives and takes away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
Yes. He gives and takes away. Sometimes in the taking away it’s hard to remember and really believe He is good – always. Yet, HE IS.
Praying for your friend who lost her baby. May she find comfort in her Father’s arms tonight!