Why the Babies?

I have been quiet the last few weeks because I have so many things going on in me that it's hard to know what thing to write about. I feel impressed to write about the one thing that continues to be on my my mind and heart... recently a friend of my sister in law had the experience that every parent fears happen to her and her family, their three year old daughter Lexis died. She had been sick for a long time and I and many others had been praying and believing that God would heal her and she would live a long fulfilling life here on earth, but that was just not the plan, God brought her home. I have had a hard time with this because I too have a daughter who will soon be three and I can't imagine my life with out her, the very thought of this brings me to tears. I can only begin to imagine the pain that the family feels and every time my mind wanders to them my heart aches. This past Sunday at church the message was about Jesus on the cross and how he cried out to God saying, "My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?" It's hard not to feel forsaken at times in life when our hearts are broken or circumstances seem so overwhelming we can't even see through it. The message continued on to reveal two things for me, 1. Jesus came to experience ALL that we as humans living on the earth experience, even the times that we feel God has forsaken us. 2. God did indeed turn away from Jesus because he was covered in OUR sin, but because of that, he will never leave us or forsake us. The message also addressed the question that we all ask when tragic things like losing a child happen, "WHY?", Why did this happen? As we grow in our walk with God, knowing he is a Good God we can begin to change that question to "What?" What are you doing Lord? What was the purpose? It doesn't take away the pain, but it helps to know that God has a plan, he is using this life of three years to impact people's faith and to draw them near to him.  It's a large sacrifice on the part of this families life, but God understands what it is to give up a child to save the world and he has great plans to bless and restore them. I have been watching another family with a little girl named Layla Grace Marsh, go through the same struggle for their 2 year old daughter, she went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday... my heart breaks for these families and as I sit here with the tears streaming down my face and encourage myself with faith as not to be fearful for my own family, I pray for God to heal these families broken hearts and help them to see the "what". I pray that God will show them the purpose of their precious children's lives and that nothing was wasted. Lexi and Layla will never know the pain of sin or heartbreak, they will live in joy, peace, fulfillment, and perfect love.

I have always been one to cherish the moments with my daughter, probably because as most of you know she was a child I prayed for for 6 years, she is the fulfillment of a dream for me, but after seeing how life is not a guarantee here on earth, I soak up all her kisses, hold her hand longer, listen to her sing, make her days fun, practice more patience, linger with her at bed time while she sings "Jesus Loves Me" back to me, play dolls with her, paint pictures, color.... life is short, but heaven is eternal and we have that to look forward to.

Leslie~