Today Den and I attended the Memorial Service for the baby of friends of ours (their third child). We wondered what the minister could possibly say to console both the family and those in attendance. The homily he gave was both uplifting and pragmatic. The baby had been born on Josie's birthday. The parents knew that there was a problem in utereo, but it was thought the problems could be worked out once he was born. The baby and his family endured test after test and never reached a diagnosis, only that he couldn't exist without mechanical and medical assistance.
In six weeks time, he explained, this baby's ministry involved getting others to think about their relationships with God, life and family. He renewed and strengthened connections amongst people. For Den and I, this baby made us hug our own children extra tight, spend the extra time with them. He made us appreciate what we have, both our children and our lives. He brought out the best in people as everyone pitched in to help out in whatever way they could. He made you search deep as over the course of his short six weeks everyone kept hoping for a miracle.
I'm watering down and missing large parts of the sermon, but we were just truly amazed at while we were so sad for our friends, for the baby and his family, we walked out of the church with not so much an explaination, but rather a point of view that went beyond 'why this baby?'. We took comfort in his words, yet find ourselves unable to stop thinking about this little boy.
1 comment:
Thanks for sharing your tho'ts with us. They demonstrate your empathy and faith. Hug the kids for us too.
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