I recently have been following the following story about a family who had been told their baby would be born with a birth defect.
Upon hearing the news, they made a list of every place they would want to spend with their child. They visited each and every place and experienced each and every adventure. The baby was born early this morning, and after proud parents held and dressed the baby, took photos, and held the precious child he returned to spirit just a few hours later while being held by his mother.
There are a lot of people that need to say good bye to their little ones either while they are still in the womb or because circumstances are not right for the child to survive on this planet at this time. I have friends that deal with miscarriages, people that come for readings that want to know if their little babies are alright, I know one family that went through something similar as this family.
This family, however, chronicled their time with their child. This family allowed people into both their joy and pain of parenthood.
This is very easy to do in this electronic age. There is a another little girl and her family that I read about how progeria is affecting her and the family’s life. Progeria is an accelerated aging disease.
We can be uplifted by hearing each other’s stories. We know that we are not the only ones with problems. We know that some people around us have issues and problems that perhaps we don’t feel like we would be able to handle. We see, hear and feel how other people cope and handle their issues, at least publicly.
That, there is the real kicker. Publicly. We awe at how well some handle their situations. We learn from them to look at the positive side. We learn that there is much more to life than the immediate problem and it is possible to be strong and loving through adversity. Those people and those stories touch us in ways and allow us to learn in ways we may not have been able without social media. We pat them on the back. We send them notes and gifts. We start to lose track when the story line seems to come to an end. There are other stories that peak our interest. Other people struggling against all odds and making it through this world and sharing what they have learned along the way.
For little baby Shane’s family, however, I can’t help but feel their story and their learning has really just begun. All along they had prepared themselves for this possible ‘ending’. They made a plan to get through it and went about the process lovingly and bravely. Now is when they need the most prayers and the most comfort and the most love sent to them.
I know I have referenced Martha Miller before in this blog. Beautiful lady that I had never met but knew Dean through work. The entire time Dean was sick she sent cards. For two years after his passing she sent more cards. St. Pats Day, Easter, Halloween. If there was a Hallmark occasion this house received a card. Simple. Yet a beautiful reminder that there were prayers and love and thoughts still being sent to strengthen the days. Those cards are priceless. One of the most wonderful acts of service I have ever been witness to and beautiful to be on the receiving end of. The best part was the recognition that even though this house had started to prepare for the ‘ending’ that ‘ending’ was really just the beginning of another story story line. She was more than willing to send some loving energy to help that along. There was also the every so subtle acknowledgement that it would take LOTS of time. Something I remember when I see stories like Shane’s.
I thank them very much for all they were willing to share. I send love for their days ahead. For their adjustment without being with Shane in the way parents dream of being with their children. I love the way they coped with this situation and send love for their healing. Perhaps they will be willing to share that aspect of themselves as well. It may not be as photogenic, but it is a beautiful lesson in how we love ourselves after having someone we love so completely being physically moved from our lives. Also, not one that is often shared. It is the messier part of the story. It is the one that makes us the most uncomfortable and vulnerable. Yet, it is also the one that makes us strong.
