If you see a few extra tears coming from our family this weekend, this article will help you understand why.  Re-sharing this article helps us acknowledge that we have a son who is in heaven right now.  ~ Stephen

(originally posted 10/31/14)

This week has been difficult for my family.  On October 29th, 2009, my wife delivered our oldest son.  He was only 15 weeks old.  Sadly, miscarriages in pregnancies are very common.  But, they are still very real and they are always painful.  So, for us, this week marked 5 years since we held him in our hands.  In our home we have been talking about him all week long.  We have cried and laughed and cried some more.  But, I have also been reminded of several glorious truths.  I would like to share them with you today.

1. Life is a gift.  It is so easy to think that making a baby is easy.  In reality, life is very fragile.  There are no guarantees when it comes to life.  No one is guaranteed a baby.  Every life is a gift from the moment of conception.  Life is a precious gift.  Whenever I think of my son I am reminded that life is a gift.
2. My wife is a gift.  My wife suffered tremendously during each of her four pregnancies.  She endured numerous hospital stays, IV fluids, medications, blood transfusions, and a PICC line. She clearly fit the profile of a pregnancy where the life of the mother is in danger.  There were times when I (and our doctor) were considering the fact that she might not be here.  You may think I am exaggerating, but when I think of my son in heaven, I am reminded to thank God that Nicki is still here.
3. My son Josiah is a gift from God.  While every pregnancy was difficult, it was our third pregnancy that ended with a miscarriage.  After that you can imagine the range of emotions that we went through.  After some time we decided to see if God would allow us to have another child.  Keep in mind – nobody thought this was a good idea.  Everyone thought it was too dangerous for Nicki to get pregnant.  We got many strange looks when word started to spread that we were pregnant.  In short, God saw fit to bless us with another son – Josiah.  I cannot describe the joy I feel when I look at Josiah.  When I think of my son in heaven – I am reminded to praise God for Josiah – my son on earth.
4. God is good.  It is so easy to forget this truth.  There is an old song which says it well, “What God Ordains is Always Good.”  (The full text of the song is below.)  I do not always understand this, but for some reason whenever I think of my son in heaven, I am reminded that God is good.
5. Abortion is the modern Holocaust.  When I think of my son in heaven, I am reminded that he is not alone.  He is with God and he is with millions (perhaps even billions) of other babies.  Many of those babies went to heaven just like he did.  Tragically, many of those babies went to heaven because their mothers chose to send them there through abortion.  I hate abortion.  It is murder.  Anyone who calls it otherwise is simply wrong.  During the horrible days of the Holocaust, our country rose up to defend those who could not defend themselves.  Our nation recognized the evil that was occurring and stood up against it.  A similar evil occurs today and our nation gives millions of dollars to fund it.  How tragic.  How evil.  When I think of my son in Heaven, I am reminded of the thousands of babies that are murdered each day.

I miss my son.  I often wonder what he would be like.  What would he look like?  I don’t know the answers to these questions.  But I do know that God is still there.  He is still reigning over all of the events of my life.  Remember this, life is not always easy – but God is always good.

Stephen

What God Ordains Is Always Good

by Samuel Rodigast, 1649-1708

1. What God ordains is always good; His will abideth holy.
As He directs my life for me, I follow meek and lowly.
God indeed in every need Doth well know how to shield me;
To Him, then, I will yield me.

2. What God ordains is always good. He never will deceive me;
He leads me in His own right way, And never will He leave me.
I take content What He hath sent; His hand that sends me sadness
Will turn my tears to gladness.

3. What God ordains is always good. His loving thought attends me;
No poison can be in the cup That my Physician sends me.
My God is true; Each morn anew I’ll trust His grace unending,
My life to Him commending.

4. What God ordains is always good. He is my Friend and Father;
He suffers naught to do me harm, Though many storms may gather.
Now I may know Both joy and woe, Some day I shall see clearly
That He hath loved me dearly.

5. What God ordains is always good. Though I the cup am drinking
Which savors now of bitterness, I take it without shrinking.
For after grief God grants relief, My heart with comfort filling
And all my sorrow stilling.

6. What God ordains is always good. This truth remains unshaken.
Though sorrow, need, or death be mine, I shall not be forsaken.
I fear no harm, For with His arm He shall embrace and shield me;
So to my God I yield me.