Storms in "Real Life"…

I preached on Sunday that “storms happen”… no matter who you are. This morning I got a call that I thought would be a joyous one. Even though Josh and Dwan were actually there at church yesterday I knew that today was the day they were planning to induce labor. When Josh called I was expecting him to announce the birth of their new daughter…instead he told me that the doctors could no longer find a heartbeat…that their daughter would be still born.

Michele and I were able to spend a few minutes with them today in the labor room. I wish I could say we had great words of comfort or wisdom to share…we just shared our broken heart and our prayers for them.

If you know Josh and Dwan, please let them know they are loved, supported, and prayed for… If you don’t, maybe we could send up prayers and sympathies for their loss in the comment section and I can send them a link later.

I don’t claim for a moment to understand or speak for God but our heart breaks for this couple…
I heard this song on the way to the hospital and it seemed to say it pretty well…

5 thoughts on “Storms in "Real Life"…”

Although I don’t know them personally, I send my sympathies and prayers that way. I have friends that went through that a few times, so I know that it isn’t an easy time.

Rob and I also do not know them personally, but our hearts go out to them in such a difficult time. We have also had a couple friends who have gone through this and we’ve felt quite helpless (because what words can ease that pain?). We will definitely pray for them both and keep them in our thoughts.

Although we don’t go to Action church, our kids do, and I like to keep up by reading this blog. When I read this today, I had to stop and say a prayer. I don’t understand their pain, but I hurt for them. Please pass along our sympathies, love, and prayers.

Dear Josh and Dwan, Michele and Don are like my own children. Guess you could say they are my “spiritual children”, When I read the notice that your precious baby daughter is stillborn, tears came into my eyes,and my heart went out to you, as I have experienced similar pain with a baby daughter that I never got to see in 1989 due to a misscarriage. Reading about your tragedy brought back all of those horrific memories. Words will never ever be enough to bring comfort to your hearts and souls over this child. I won’t give you platitudes because all that does will make you angry. People will say all kinds of things to you,, but you are the one’s who have experienced this horrendous loss and nothing they say right now will help you. All I want to say is I pray for peace in your hearts. When I lost my little baby daughter, she was 1 of three babies I lost over the course of 8 years.At times, the sorrow was so bad I wanted to die, but I didn’t. The sorrow will always be there and your heart will broken for a very long time. Time doesn’t heal all things, as the saying goes. Time does ease the pain so you can go on living. I’m sure you don’t even want to do that right now, but in time, you will learn to go on and one day you will be reunited with her. I was a minister’s wife for almost 26 years when he died in 1991, at age 49, in the prime of his life and in the prime of our ministry in the church that Don and Michele attended in Mo. After 17 years, I still don’t understand the “why” of that either. I think there are things in this life that none of us will know the answer’s until we are in Heaven and then it won’t matter because we will be with our Savior and our families who have gone on before us. I wish I had the “magic” answer, but I honestly don’t! There are many things I could share with you in this situation, but for now just let me say,, eventho I don’t know you personally, as brother’s and sister’s in Christ, we can pray for you. If ever you need to talk to someone, I’m sure Don and Michele would give their recommendation to you of me. My email is: Idaholady@cableone.net in case you ever want to pour out your heart. There will be many, many rough days ahead for you both and you will need someone to share those days with you. Don and Michele are terrific “kids” and they will help in anyway possible. This is a road you have to walk, and with other’s standing by with love, prayer, and support, you will make it. In Christian Love, Milliie J. Grams, Meridian,Idaho

What can anyone say at a moment like this? No one can truly understand your pain . . . no one can truly feel the depth of anguish you feel . . . no one can grasp your incredible sense of loss right now . . . no one can . . . except One — our great and mighty and loving God. And I pray that in the midst of your anger and grief and pain and loss, He and His body will love you and minister to you and lift you up and give you strength again. But I also pray that those around you will give you the freedom to grieve. I heard a story several years ago of a little girl who was late coming home from school. When her mom asked why she was late, the little girl explained that, as she was coming home, she came across a friend who had fallen off her bike. “Oh, did you stop to help her?” the mother asked. “No,” the little girl replied. “I just stopped to cry with her.” We weep for you and with you during your time of loss. And we pray . . . oh, how we pray for you!!!

jpowelly on June 16, 2008 at 7:57 pm said:

Although I don’t know them personally, I send my sympathies and prayers that way. I have friends that went through that a few times, so I know that it isn’t an easy time.
a.z. on June 17, 2008 at 5:42 am said:

Rob and I also do not know them personally, but our hearts go out to them in such a difficult time. We have also had a couple friends who have gone through this and we’ve felt quite helpless (because what words can ease that pain?). We will definitely pray for them both and keep them in our thoughts.
kkatz on June 17, 2008 at 10:51 am said:

Although we don’t go to Action church, our kids do, and I like to keep up by reading this blog. When I read this today, I had to stop and say a prayer. I don’t understand their pain, but I hurt for them. Please pass along our sympathies, love, and prayers.
Anonymous on June 17, 2008 at 1:41 pm said:

Dear Josh and Dwan, Michele and Don are like my own children. Guess you could say they are my “spiritual children”, When I read the notice that your precious baby daughter is stillborn, tears came into my eyes,and my heart went out to you, as I have experienced similar pain with a baby daughter that I never got to see in 1989 due to a misscarriage. Reading about your tragedy brought back all of those horrific memories. Words will never ever be enough to bring comfort to your hearts and souls over this child. I won’t give you platitudes because all that does will make you angry. People will say all kinds of things to you,, but you are the one’s who have experienced this horrendous loss and nothing they say right now will help you. All I want to say is I pray for peace in your hearts. When I lost my little baby daughter, she was 1 of three babies I lost over the course of 8 years.At times, the sorrow was so bad I wanted to die, but I didn’t. The sorrow will always be there and your heart will broken for a very long time. Time doesn’t heal all things, as the saying goes. Time does ease the pain so you can go on living. I’m sure you don’t even want to do that right now, but in time, you will learn to go on and one day you will be reunited with her. I was a minister’s wife for almost 26 years when he died in 1991, at age 49, in the prime of his life and in the prime of our ministry in the church that Don and Michele attended in Mo. After 17 years, I still don’t understand the “why” of that either. I think there are things in this life that none of us will know the answer’s until we are in Heaven and then it won’t matter because we will be with our Savior and our families who have gone on before us. I wish I had the “magic” answer, but I honestly don’t! There are many things I could share with you in this situation, but for now just let me say,, eventho I don’t know you personally, as brother’s and sister’s in Christ, we can pray for you. If ever you need to talk to someone, I’m sure Don and Michele would give their recommendation to you of me. My email is: Idaholady@cableone.net in case you ever want to pour out your heart. There will be many, many rough days ahead for you both and you will need someone to share those days with you. Don and Michele are terrific “kids” and they will help in anyway possible. This is a road you have to walk, and with other’s standing by with love, prayer, and support, you will make it. In Christian Love, Milliie J. Grams, Meridian,Idaho
Anonymous on June 19, 2008 at 8:01 pm said:

What can anyone say at a moment like this? No one can truly understand your pain . . . no one can truly feel the depth of anguish you feel . . . no one can grasp your incredible sense of loss right now . . . no one can . . . except One — our great and mighty and loving God. And I pray that in the midst of your anger and grief and pain and loss, He and His body will love you and minister to you and lift you up and give you strength again. But I also pray that those around you will give you the freedom to grieve. I heard a story several years ago of a little girl who was late coming home from school. When her mom asked why she was late, the little girl explained that, as she was coming home, she came across a friend who had fallen off her bike. “Oh, did you stop to help her?” the mother asked. “No,” the little girl replied. “I just stopped to cry with her.” We weep for you and with you during your time of loss. And we pray . . . oh, how we pray for you!!!