A sweet lady that I attended high school with had a baby January 23rd, after a difficult pregnancy. Their baby boy passed away after two days. I will protect her story and allow her and her husband's awesome words to provide the details because I could never do justice to the amazing things that happened both before and after their baby boy's birth. They are two of the most spiritual people that I have come across in many, many years and I am in awe of how they are handling such a tragic situation and reminiscent of a time when I witnessed a similar story unfold in front of me with a different, amazing couple more than 10 years ago. Reading their story on Facebook and Caringbridge has prompted me to take a look at my own stagnant spiritual journey and think about where I want that to be in the future. A few of their sweet friends have started several causes like http://www.gofundme.com/BabyTennesseeand https://squareup.com/market/tj-shirt-project
where the proceeds are going towards their great family in memory of sweet baby Tennessee and I urge you to take a look at their story, and if you are moved to, donate some money to this family.
Most of the time on Facebook, I see stories of what is currently going on with people and am pretty quickly able to shrug it off, but with their story I was not. I knew of Brooke in high school, but didn't know her personally, but her story with this pregnancy really touched a special place in my heart. As a mother, I find it hard to not be moved by stories like this. Heck, I have even cried when I saw an ambulance from a children's hospital speeding down the freeway. They say that being a mother is learning to live with a piece of your heart on the outside. I completely believe that is true, but I believe that it doesn't just mean that you have a piece of your heart for your own children. I think that it means that you have a piece of your heart for all children.
Reading about a story like the Butler's rips my heart apart and I just felt, for the last few weeks, that anything that I would say in a post would be insignificant compared to what their family was going through. I can't imagine the pain and sadness that they are going through and I pray to God to never have to experience anything like that. But, because they have experienced such a trial, they have been drawn closer than ever to the church, to God and to their amazing friends and family that are praying for them every step of the way. It is awe-inspiring to witness and just a great testimony to the amazing and wonderful power of our Lord and that healing does come to the faithful. It is never easy to lose someone, and I can imagine that it would be 900 million times harder to lose a child, but they are leaning on their faith in God to see them through this time of darkness and to know that they will see their sweet baby again someday.
I am grateful to God that I have four healthy, wonderful children and will hug the three that I have in my home a lot tighter from this day forward. Now is the time to appreciate what you have, cherish what you have been given and never take a single day for granted.
If you pray, please say extra prayers for this family in the upcoming days.