Sunday, August 9, 2009

Strength for Each Day

Two weeks ago this morning, Micah stopped breathing and was rushed to Children's Hospital, where he died the next day. We are so overwhelmed by grief that we have been unable to plan our lives in the absense of our little boy. It is difficult to plan one day ahead. We have found that it is too overwhelming to think of going through our future without our little boy. The thought of going through weekends, upcoming family events, Micah's birthday, the holidays, and EVERYDAY is awful.

Instead of looking to the future, we have tried to live day-by-day, moment-by-moment. We are constantly bombarded by anger, despair and deep emptiness. We have found that we need to constantly immerse ourselves in the promises of scripture. To hold on to Jesus. To trust that he will give us the strength to keep going.

Psalm 73:6 says,
Whom have I in heaven but you
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart [and my son Micah] may fail
BUT GOD is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

We have found that our only hope for the future is to trust that God gives us the strength to make it through each day. Our future is centered around the strength that God provides us through Jesus Christ. At Micah's funeral, one of the hymns we sang was "Day by Day."

Day by Day, and with each passing moment
Strength I find to meet my trials here.
Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment
I've no cause for worry or for fear
He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best
Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure.
Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Every day the Lord Himself is near me
With a special mercy for each hour
All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me
He whose name is Counselor and Pow'r
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid
As they days, they strength shall be in measure
This is the pledge to me He made.

7 comments:

  1. I will continue to wrestle with you both in prayer that you will keep the faith. I'm sure each moment feels like hand to hand combat with unbelief, bitterness, loneliness. Heather, I love you and wish I could do more for you.

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  2. Amen Erica. We're praying along side you. Much Love!

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  3. Came to your blog via Melissa Mailly's blog. I'm so sorry Micah is not with you but am thankful for your great faith and the assurance that Micah is praising His Heavenly Father this day and forever! I know the pain of grieving the loss of a child, though grief is different for everyone. Please know that someone else is lifting you and your family up in prayer today!
    Rachel

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  4. The day that you were making the toughest decision of your life, my heart was breaking for you. I sat and read my Bible, but only for a short time because the tears came too quickly and forcefully. But as I sat and read, I felt compelled to look up Isaiah 55:8-9 which says:

    8 "'For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,'
    declares the LORD.

    9 'As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.'"

    I can only begin to empathize with the depth of your pain, but I pray that these words bring comfort to you knowing that God is indeed sovereign. I am encouraged that you are holding tightly to His Word, so as not to stumble. Run the good race, my friends! (Gal 5:7) Make Micah proud!

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  5. Hello,

    I came here via Tiffany Dykstra's blog. I am so sorry to hear of Micah's home-going. I can not imagine the grief you must be dealing with. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and Micah's story. And his photos. What a beautiful child, a child who lived on this earth not one day less, not one day more than he was supposed to. God ordained his days before time, and I'm sure he lived them well. How awesome it must have been for him to be welcomed home by his heavenly Father...and how hard is must be for you to have to live with his absence.

    "In your book were written, every one of them,
    the days that were formed for me,
    when as yet there were none of them."
    Psalm 139:16

    We are praying for peace.
    elisa & eric

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  6. Hi Heather and Cory,
    I am a friend of Reed & Rachael's and I live in Mason City. You have been in my thoughts and prayers every day since we first heard about Micah's accident. It is hard for me to read this, but I know I have to. I recently lost our first child through a miscarriage, and like you mention, day by day is all that we can live right now. It is hard to know someone like yourself has experienced this kind of deep loss too. I suppose 'one day at a time' should be the way we always live, no matter what, but it is a mantra especially in this time. There is no other way to survive. I feel a little connection to Micah and his cousin Asher, as Asher was born the day after my wedding anniversary, and Micah was born the day after my birthday. October is a good month! I pray for you and think of you, even though we have never met. CLING TO THE CROSS! He is ALL YOU NEED! I know in my recent time of grief, the Cross and the Word are all I can read and cling to. I can't imagine going through this without HIM! I'm sure you feel the same way. Please know your son is remembered, even through people like myself who have never met him except through Facebook pictures! Do not be afraid to share your story - God will use you to help others, as I'm sure he's using others right now to help you. Thank you for sharing your deepest anger, sorrow and thoughts. God is good...and He WILL work this out for GOOD!

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  7. I also wanted to leave you with the lyrics to "I Surrender All" - a beautiful hymn that I have been singing (mostly in my head) since losing our baby to a miscarriage. This is a reminder that we NOT in control - but GOD IS - and we need to rely on Him, FREELY giving him all we are. May you have hope, Heather & Cory!

    All to Jesus, I surrender
    All to Him, I freely give
    I will ever love and trust Him
    In His presence, daily live

    chorus:
    I surrender all
    I surrender all
    All to Thee, my blessed savior
    I surrender all

    All to Jesus I surrender
    Humbly at His feet I bow
    Worldly pleasures all forsaken
    Take me Jesus, take me now

    (chorus)

    All to Jesus I surrender
    Make me Savior wholly Thine
    Let me feel the Holy Spirit
    Truly know that Thou art mine

    (chorus)

    All to Jesus I surrender
    Lord, I give myself to Thee
    Fill me with Thy love and power
    Let Thy blessings fall on me

    (chorus)

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