Grief

Broken relationships. Sickness. Miscarriage. Death of a loved one. Loss of a pet. There are so many different things that might contribute to a feeling of grief throughout the Christmas season. During this time of year, grief sometimes feels unwelcome or misunderstood. It seems out of place with the joyful decorations and parties and parades that occupy the days between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I think the stark opposition between grief and joy only serves to intensify the feeling of grief for one who is sad. You’re not supposed to feel unhappy during the holidays, right? But what if you do? Is it wrong? Should Christmas just pass you by?

In December of 2015, I experienced a miscarriage. It was my second in six months. Medically, I needed a D&C to help my body complete the
Have you ever felt broken? It might be a sudden and significant loss that turns your world upside down. It might be more of a continual stress that eventually leaves you broken. I think back to when my son broke his wrist and we had to figure out how to handle the break.

First, we had to recognize the brokenness. If you have an injury that suddenly swells and leaves you unable to walk or raise your arm you know you have a serious injury and need to seek help. If you lose someone you care about suddenly, you feel an instant, gut wrenching pain. But, if you have ever had a stress fracture this occurs as a part of the body is
Caitlyn Michelle…It’s been 22 years since we met the baby girl we never got to know. We never saw her smile or heard her laugh. We never got to experience the little personality emerging in toddlerhood and through the elementary years. We never got to hear about future hopes and dreams or see her life’s goals come to fruition.

She came into this world too soon, her little body not yet ready to sustain life outside the safety of my womb. Caitlyn was our first—prayed for and rejoiced over—and the loss hit hard.

I wept and cried out to the Lord. There were so