Monday, March 24, 2008
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One day eight-year old Michael went to the pet store with his dad to buy a puppy. The store manager showed them to a pen where five little furry balls huddled together. After awhile, the boy noticed one of the litter all by itself in an adjacent pen. Michael asked, “Why is that puppy all alone?” The manager explained, “That puppy was born with a bad leg and will be crippled for life, so we’re going to have to put him to sleep.”
“You’re going to kill this little puppy?” Michael said sadly while patting it. “You have to realize that this puppy would never be able to run and play with a boy like you,” the manager said.
After a short conversation with his boy, Michael’s dad told the manager that they wanted to buy the puppy with the bad leg. “For the same amount of money, you could have one of the ‘healthy’ ones. Why do you want this one?”
To answer the manager’s question, Michael bent over and pulled up the pants on his right leg, exposed the brace underneath and said, “I want this one because I understand what he’s going through.”
Today Grace Kathryn who was born on March 17 and went to be with Jesus on the same day, was honored by friends and family with a brief graveside memorial. I can’t imagine what parents, Peter and Rachel, and grandparents, Jann and Glenn, and other family members feel, for I have never lost a child. In fact, with over 40 years of experience in pastoral ministry, I find I still do not have answers to some of life’s toughest questions. I can certainly pray… and I can show compassion… but understand what they are going through?
However, I know a Person who can!
“He is… A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” ( Isa 53:3 NKJV), and my prayer is that Peter and Rachel will feel His arms about them just as He is holding their little one in a wonderful place called Heaven.
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Comments (6)
With you there-- every parent's nightmare. Praying for your family Jann & Glenn.
Thank you for your comforting words. Little baby Grace Kathryn was my grandniece, and although we never had the chance to get to know her, we feel the loss. We appreciate your prayers for all of the family.
Wanted to say thank you for the comments you had left.. and also to let you know we will be praying for this family. Like, you, even after so many years in pastoral ministry.. and even with my degrees in counseling, it is often very difficult to find the words to say in a situation like this. But I thank God we have a Savior who can do more than we could ever think or imagine.
Phil
Larry,
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts as well as prayers. The family of God has been so loving and supportive. We know Peter and Rachel are special, but it was awesome to see how people poured out their love to them, and the rest of us too. At the graveside service the pastor shared different instances in the Bible about infants in the womb and infant loss. Of course, that included Psalm 139:13-16. I was reminded of you as he expressed, as you did on the phone, that we will know our little one, Grace Kathryn, by her DNA. What a wonderful mystery. We look forward to that day.
PS This picture is amazing! I am alerting Peter and Rachel to this blog post.
What a comforting post for Jann and Glenn!
Bless you!
Darlene