By: Courtney Mount
"Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." -Hebrews 12:2 NIV
To the parent who wonders what good could come from the terrible loss of their child, I want to scream, “NONE!” Yet that’s not entirely true. Death has done so much more in our family than taken our daughter. It has forever changed us. We are not the same people we were before we heard the dreaded diagnosis that would steal our child away. It changed our children and our parents. It strengthened some of our friendships and damaged others. It rearranged our lives in ways that we had never considered.
So, while I would never want this set of circumstances in my life – I would rather have my baby safely in my arms – I can also see how these trials of loss make us stronger. They force us to rely on God. They bond us together as parents more than ever before. They give us a pinpoint focus on what we want in life. They are spurring us to have hard conversations, to seek tools to change what needs to be different, and to cherish the ordinary in our lives. They convict us to be more intentional, faithful, and devoted to what we believe.
Have we arrived at all of these things? Of course not! But as God whispers to our hearts, we are learning to lean a little closer and listen a little longer. We both WANT to personally know the heart of God and be in his will for our lives. We WANT a dynamic marriage that honors God in everything we do. We would love nothing more than for our children and grandchildren to love Jesus. We want to hear Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23, NIV). I have learned that good things can come from intense sorrow, but only if you lift your eyes to Jesus. This does not make the loss easier or less painful, but it makes it survivable. And only in Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, is that possible.
Courtney is a mama walking through grief by sharing her daughter Millie's story, which she reminds us is ultimately HIS story. She continually chooses to declare “All Glory to God.” Courtney also serves as a member of Praying Through ministries' Child Loss Prayer Team. Connect with her on her Facebook.
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