I just want to share with y'all a few blogs I've been reading for a couple of months now. My MIL, Cindy, turned me on to one, and I found the other 2 from that blog. Seriously, they impact my life.
The loss of our little Samantha was ~ and still is ~ heartbreaking. It wells up inside and I just want to scream until I can't breathe. Living with the reality of her death is sometimes more than I can bear. Then there are the times when I go all day without even thinking her name, so in the evening when that sweet face does cross my mind (and it always does), I feel guilty about not thinking of her earlier, or more often...do you see the wonkiness in this? Thinking about her saddens me, and not thinking about her makes me feel guilty.
Anyway, I say all of that to say this ~ I started reading a blog on the recommendation of my mother-in-law, and from that blog I read another, and another, and before I knew it, God was touching me through them. They say misery loves company, but misery needs hope, and that's what I've found in these wonderful, caring, faith-filled, grieving, hopeful blogs. I hope you find the time to check them out, as well (they are also listed on the left under "A Favorite Blog" and "Other Blogs of Note").
Bring the Rain ~ this is the blog I started with. Angie and Todd lost their very sick and very premature daughter, on April 7th (just 4 days before Samantha). Her willingness to share her pain, as well as her unfailing faith in and love for God, has been healing beyond belief.
From there, I went in 2 directions:
Light Your World ~ as unbelievable as it sounds, this is Angie's brother-in-law's blog, which he started after he and his wife lost their 10 week old son to SIDS. This blog will break your heart ... but again, through it all they are sustained by their faith in God.
My Charming Kids ~ this one is from MckMama. She is currently pregnant with her 4th child (MckMuffin...I'm not even kidding! How cute is that?!), who is extremely sick with a severe heart condition. I am convinced God is healing her child through her blog, as the Gates of Heaven themselves have been stormed with prayers for MckMuffin (hers as well as her blog followers), and she shows an awesome sense of hope (and humor!) and belief in God's goodness and glory while telling her story, and just living her life in His embrace.
I can't tell you how healing these blogs have been for me. Maybe it's being able to offer prayers for others in somewhat similar situations, or lifting up MckMuffin in prayer as he continues to be a medical miracle. Maybe it's just that pain shared is lessened. Whatever it is, there is no doubt that God is at the center of it. I have stood on my faith throughout this ordeal (really, where else could I possibly go?), and even though sometimes I fall hard, I always land on solid ground. Always. Always.
Praise God.
Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD. ~Psalm 31:25
