The sun is shining. Ah, the wonder of spring becoming a reality! Don't we need the coldness of winter to feel the pleasant light of the sun?
Isn't that what life is all about? Difficult life events create rest and serenity that others cannot recreate.
The older people in my life who are full of the kindness and gentleness that I crave are often the ones who have overcome the intensity of life's battles and learned to accept situations as they are. I found out something.
Last week we experienced one of those things that reminds us that life doesn't always go as planned. A 6 week old baby died overnight from SIDS. For the young family, the pain is real and acute.
I didn't know the family well, but when I was a teenager I babysat a girl who was a cousin of the baby's mother. Although they are not an Amish family, we became friends through this connection. Even though we rarely met, I felt that closeness even after all these years. Our children were fascinated by the story of such a small baby going to heaven.
We all decided to go for a tour. Even in these difficult circumstances, it was a wonderful opportunity for the children to experience God's sovereignty.
That was valuable to me. Our six children gathered with me around a white cradle with a baby Stetson in it. Together we marveled at such sweet innocence. My heart goes back to my two sisters who were stillborn many years ago and are now blooming in heaven.
We don't understand the overwhelming disappointment over this. Three-year-old Joshua, who I was holding, whispered, “Is this real?”
“The baby went to Jesus and where Daddy is,” I answered. This reality, sometimes too deep for us adults to understand, left an impression on his young mind.
The children shook hands with grieving parents and realized that these people too are facing the grief of bereavement. As I shook his father's hand, I told him how beautiful his son looked in a little shirt cut from his father's favorite shirt. His father specifically requested that his best shirt be used for his son's new shirt. beautiful. That's love.
The baby's mother held her baby throughout the funeral. Despite their sadness, they rejoiced that the baby was safe with Jesus. What a beautiful picture of resilience.
Yes, we thought he was supposed to stay, but God intended for him to fly with the angels. I love the scripture in Revelation 7:14, “These are they that came out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
No matter how long or short the road to eternity is, if we follow our Savior Jesus Christ, we are promised a rich life that lasts forever, filled with the glory and joy of love.
That afternoon, Julia and Austin sang at the cemetery with more friends. On a sunny but cool afternoon, people gathered by the grave, sharing a common sense of pain and joy. Although he is no longer with us, he is safe in the arms of Jesus, just like the songs they sang.
In the evening, when we prayed as a family in a circle in the living room, there was a special accent. We are blessed with each other.
As life continues, we continue to pray to our Father with all our hearts for our loved ones and all those we have lost. Indeed, such a tragedy would bring us all closer to each other, crying out to the Lord and to Him.
Finally, here is a recipe from my cousin Judith, who is a friend of Baby Stetson's mother. Judith has blessed many people with this recipe over the past few months. Food can provide comfort during difficult times, and dishes like this are easy to make and people seem to really enjoy them.
easy taco skillet meal
1 pound ground beef
1 pint tomato juice
3/4 cup water
1 pack of taco seasoning
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 cup of rice
1-2 cups shredded cheese (your choice)
Optional: lettuce, sour cream, salsa
Brown beef in a frying pan with a lid. Add the remaining ingredients and cook, stirring a few times, until the rice is tender. Add cheese and let it melt. Serve with lettuce, sour cream, and salsa.