When Christian and I were in high school we met through church. While we were there we got to know one particular family. They were sweet, hilarious, and wonderful. I came to learn quickly that they had lost a son when he was very little. I felt a slight kinship to him, though I never met him, because we shared the same birthday and he would have graduated high school when my older sister did.
I had the pleasure of typing up the story of her son. I remember as a teenager, not understanding motherhood in the slightest, crying as I typed the heartbroken words of this amazing woman. My mind could not even imagine the loss of a child then...though my own grandparents had suffered the loss of my uncle.
Last night Christian returned with sad news...this same family has lost another child...their oldest daughter.
I never met her, but I heard often of the loving words her parents had to say about her. My heart is broken for them.
I have often thought losing Declan is the hardest thing I will have to go through. But I realized last night, that isn't true. This family lost again. My grandma has lost her husband now.
I don't mean to make the future bleak, there is much to celebrate. I guess I just thought that family had suffered enough for a lifetime...but now they are longing for two of their beloved children. Whether they leave us as infants, children or adults all of it is difficult...the longing is always there.
Our hearts are with this family now and pray for them in this very difficult time.
