Losing Loryn...Lesser things

Lesser Things… Philippians 3:8(MSG)

Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant - dog dung. I've dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ

There have been days when I have seriously wondered if the tears would ever stop or the sorrow cease.  Staring into the twisted green branches being tossed about by the wind I deeply enjoyed the dance of the willow tree in the bright spring sunshine.  Soft green grass provided a cushiony bed for me to rest upon as the dog settled herself against my side.

I had meandered out to the backyard to plot out Loryn’s memory garden.  The patio resting underneath the willow would make the perfect place to write, drink coffee or visit with a friend.  Flowers would be plentiful, most suitable for cutting.  I had planned to make stepping-stones with scriptures that are speaking to me throughout this journey to be placed as a reminder of the beauty being formed out of the muck and mire.

The tender flowers would remind me of the hope I have, in having found Life in Christ.  Not in the things of this world, but in His.  Hope eternal, Hope everlasting… Hope that never dies, anticipating His return and righting of everything wrong, everything broken, hope of His person in person

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Hope… what is hope exactly? 

According to Webster, Hope means to cherish a desire with anticipation.

In examining my heart I have to ask myself some difficult questions.  First, what is it that I am cherishing with anticipation?

In these past months I have “cherished” having a baby…  I must go then to asking. 

Should I CHERISH anything other than God, His presence in my life?  His will for my life? 

Perhaps for some it is ok to cherish things other than Him, however for me, I can hold things and people dear, I can love… but cherish?

God is a jealous God.  He asks to be the ONLY God of my life, my first love.

Honestly, my thought life has been consumed with preparing for the baby, loving the baby, all things baby…  Where did my focus shift? 

Instead of spending the majority of my time on studying scripture or lifting others in prayers to Him, I became more focused on studying pinterest for the latest baby ideas or recipes.

Anything I spend more time reflecting or working on above knowing, loving and serving God is an idol.  Ouch, a difficult realization to come to.

It would be different if I were bringing God into the moment.  Not that I didn’t do this, I just see that wanted my way more than I wanted His.  I wanted this baby more than I wanted whatever He was going to allow to sift through His hands and into my life. 

I’m sorry this is ugly truth to read, and some of you may think less of me after this, however, it is of more importance to bring truth in struggling closer to God than to make everyone feel comfortable.  I think we all have a tendency to want our will above His to some degree- or at least have moments of frustration when things don’t go according to our plan or we don’t receive the desired outcome… right?  Haven’t you ever sat and pouted angrily when life throws you a curve?  Be honest with yourself… and God- it’s not like He doesn’t already know!  If you’re feeling defensive- ask yourself why?

In this journey, I believe God is asking me to examine where I spend my time, how I spend my thoughts, what do I give my energy to?  Is He in first place?  Am I embracing Him above ALL else? 

In recent days I have found that the more time I spend Embracing Him, I have peace in the midst of pain, I have strength in the midst of struggle, and Hope that exists above happy circumstances.

Philippians 3:8(MSG)

Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant - dog dung. I've dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ

Losing Loryn...

“Do you trust me?”  I drove on silently through the city streets.  Again, I heard that gentle quiet voice… “Do you trust me?”  My heart raced as I shuffled through the endless possible outcomes of todays ultrasound. 

The doctor said everything looked great last week.  Just a little behind where we thought I should be at this point of the pregnancy.  He stated there was no reason to be alarmed really; growth was just a little behind… perhaps my dates were off.  I knew they weren’t.  We’d been trying to conceive for several months now.  I knew everyday of my cycle like the back of my hand.  I had faithfully kept track of my body temperature, my mood swings, physical side effects during certain portions of my cycle.  I even knew when I ovulated that month.

“Do you trust me?”  I looked toward the sky and mustered a soft, “Yes Lord, I am determined to trust you no matter what.”  Deep inside I just knew.  I knew that something out of my control was about to happen.  Breathing deep I pressed on toward the office to see what , if anything, had developed in the previous week.

Only four days of development.  No heartbeat.  Not a good pregnancy.  In the words of the ultrasound tech… “You’re not going to keep this one.”  My heart sunk and a large lump swelled in my throat.  I watched tears fill my sweet husbands eyes as he stared at the ultrasound screen.  They wanted to do a D&C the next day.  I opted to wait one more week to see… four days of development was better than none.  I love and serve a God who works miracles.  This was our miracle baby…surely…

I ached.  I cried.  I sang…  Through my tears I sang in the shower…

“Oh no, you never let go through the calm and through the storm…Oh No, You never let go, every high and every low…Oh no You never let go…Lord You never let go of me.”

The water began to chill causing me to shiver.

“Blessed be your name on the road marked with suffering, though there’s pain in the offering…Blessed be your name.”

Wrapped in a soft white cotton towel I forced more sound out of my soul.

“His eye is on the sparrow…and I know He watches over me…”

 The voice I heard singing sounded foreign.  Some weary, broken soul who could barely carry a tune, pathetically singing in the shower…  it was raw…it was agonizing… it was real.

My prayers turned from begging God to help our little one to one much like my Lord prayed… “ Not my will, but Your will be done Father.”  Deep inside, I was screaming “Please!  Oh God!  Please!  Don’t make me walk this road!”

My head in my hands each morning, tears streaming down my face and onto the pages of my Bible as I read through my devotions praying for answers and longing for comfort… all about trust, all referencing waiting.  I knew God was speaking.

This baby held hope for us, a new beginning.  This was the one that would be “Ours”.  No one else to share this baby with.  No other homes.  No divided loyalties.  We would always have someone home for Christmas and holidays, no dividing of time or hearts here…  Our baby partly signified our love for God and for each other.  This baby would bring blood bonds to our family, a piece of each of us, which meant part of our kids as well…no step… a part of blood relation.   A piece to our puzzle in Stepville.

The labor had been intense.  Six hours of contractions and pushing… not what I had expected when I was told that I would more than likely miscarry.  I knew the precise moment it was finished.  I felt as though life had left my body.  Empty and unable to put verbiage to the carnage I felt physically, I trembled in fear and disbelief.  Staring wide into the eyes of my beloved husband I looked for something that would fix it.  There was no fix.  Hope forsaken.  No more prayers to be said for this little life that we had hoped, planned and prayed for.  Dream filled hearts were now broken, abandon and empty.  A ghost town of what resembled faith was all that was left. 

I cried out as I stared terrified into the face of my husband.  My sweet love embraced me as I sat sobbing and screaming on the toilet.  His sobs could be heard just under mine. 

Visions of kissing sweet little toes and fingers passed through my hands and were swept away into a large blackened sea.  Giggles and chasing through the house disappeared into a wind of desolation. 

The dream was over.  Hope was gone.  Life had left me.  Empty.

No baby to hold.  No cheeks to kiss.  No tiny hands to hold or feet to tickle.  No little one to take into my lap or place on my breast.  Just a hole where there was supposed to be a life remained.

Waves of despair passed through moments of anger pummeling me into a pit of brokenness.  How can the finite mind wrap itself around infinite purposes?  How can one who is nearly blind see the vast expanse of God’s Glory or plan?

I’d been through enough fire and nearly drown in enough storms to know that the “why?”  question is futile to ponder longer than a moment. 

So I lay there staring blankly at the flowering buds on the tree outside my bedroom window.  Longing for my sweet flower Loryn to be in my arms.  Stinging tears clouded my eyes, exhausted physically, emotionally and spiritually I sobbed and longed to touch her sweet face.  Tired of the fight, my aching clenched fist fell open and so did my heart.

“Okay God…okay… I wont ask why…I ask what… What am I to take from this?  What will you show me in this?  What can I learn?”

The upcoming blogs will focus on those things that He has and is teaching me through this journey of loss. 

I pray your heart is blessed.  I pray that you will be encouraged to ask “what?”  Instead of “Why?”…  To embrace the “Who” of Who He was Who He is, and Who He will continue to be… regardless of our circumstances.