I never knew.
I never knew that babies could die.
...at least not like that.
//2020//
As we turn over a new month, a new year, a new decade, I look back on the past and reflect.
The past decade was one of great joy, but still great pain. Early in the decade, getting to marry the love of my life. Four beautiful children joined our family throughout the decade. Sadly, we don’t get to raise one of them, but her life is far better as she gets to be in a place with no pain, no suffering, no tears.
TO THE BABY WHO CAME AFTER
Before you came, our family took a hard hit. The Lord blessed us with a “surprise pregnancy” and it was the last thing we ever saw coming. We thought learning of your existence, picking out your name, decorating your nursery, and preparing to raise three children in our home was going to be the biggest curve ball God had for us…and now how we wish it were.
HOPE IN THE MIDST
Alexa and I have been working on this Bible study/support group for about a year now. We started writing this class because we wanted some way to honor Harper. As I have prayed since day one that we found out we were pregnant with Harper, I want God to use Harper for His Kingdom. When we lost Harper, I was truly baffled at how my prayer would be fulfilled. However, in our conversations with other couples who have walked this road, our story and our testimony has helped them walk their own road.
I remember at the Hope Mommies' balloon release, a woman walked up and told Alexa that our blog, our story, had helped her in the midst of her loss. This is why Alexa and I do this. We want to use Harper and her story to make a difference in the lives of others who have a similar tragedy enter their lives.
Our class begins on 9/11 at 6:45 PM at Prestonwood Baptist Church-North Campus in Prosper. If you are local or have any friends who are local, please have them register at http://prestonwood.org/connect/group-studies/midweek-adult-classes and select North campus.
I am proud of my wife for ensuring that we got this class off the ground and working with me to make sure that it is filled with great Biblical content.
For those who have not lost a child, please pray that this class will bless those who come to it and that Harper's story will be used to better God's Kingdom through this class.
We look forward to seeing you and/or your friends who have walked the terrible road of loss.
-ERIC
STAGES OF GRIEF: BARGAINING
Everyone loves finding a good bargain. We walk to the back of the store to find the clearance items. We travel a little bit further to save that $1 at another store. We also are willing to negotiate. When I go to the car dealership, I am not satisfied until that Sales person has talked to their boss at least three times with my different offers.
Sometimes we make grief like that.
10 THINGS NO ONE TELLS YOU ABOUT STILLBIRTH
It’s been over a year since I held my sweet, stillborn daughter- Harper Jane. My heart and my arms still ache for her each day. And as I suffer in this valley I have found myself in, I look around and realize I am not alone. There are so many others suffering from miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss all around me. They’re all around you, too.
STAGES OF GRIEF: ANGER
Merriam-Webster defines anger as “a strong feeling of displeasure and usually of antagonism.” Well, I guess I need to define antagonism too now. Antagonism is “actively expressed opposition or hostility.” Anger causes displeasure and hostility to manifest itself to those you love and those around you if it is not dealt with in a healthy way.
