The video below is from our hospital stay and captures Raquel's 10 days.
3 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Dear Terry and Gary,
The entire site tore my heart out and up, out for the pain and sorrow and up for the peace of God which endures in difficult and tying circumstances.
I so wish I could have been there in person to meet Raquel and to be a source of strength and courage for all, but alas that is not where He has me right now.
I cannot express how much God's working in and thru Raquel and your family has touched my heart, mind, soul. There are not words for such things.......
I am so choked up my fingers will hardly type and I have to keep using the backspace.... Words will not form in my mind, just an overriding sense of peace, I struggle to identify the feelings.... doing so brings up feelings long ago from my own trials it is hard to think.
I KNOW the Lord is Good and He has always been my only source of strength and peace, I have seen that strength and peace in you both for several years now. It is comforting to know He will and does carry you through such a time as this. Your Precious baby Raquel has done so much for so many we will never be able to appreciate or comprehend it all. How one small, timy, precious life touches so many can only be done thru His infinite power.
From Isaiah 61:3, I pray for you and claim His Word upon you all:
"To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they might be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."
May He continue to bless you all in His special way.
Our paths were destined to cross, at the store no less. It's strange how God leads Believers to find one another, and stranger still how we are quickly able to identify our shared belief. I can't tell you how fond of you I have become, just from brief conversations in the store.
I have read your entire blog and have shed many tears with you. Your story has become so personal to me.
The photo presentation is absolutely beautiful. It just so happens that I first viewed it on the anniversay of the day that my son passed away, April 22, 1976. I am so glad that some wonderful soul took care to photograph the days you had with Raquel. I have only two photos of my son, and his tiny footprints pressed to the page of a book as the only evidence that he was on this earth for 23 days.
The photos allowed me an intimate glimpse into a very poignant moment in your life. I felt as though I was watching my story again as well as yours.
Thank you for sharing the entire range of your emotions without fear or reservation. It's given me the opportunity to bear some of your burden and to know how to lift you up in prayer.
You are right; our little ones have been spared so much, having left this earth so quickly, and have gone to their heavenly home. We have gained the knowledge that their souls are secure for eternity. We have gained more than we have lost. It's a mystery how God can turn loss into gain, and how the knowledge of a secure departed soul can take the sting out of death.
I pray healing and blessings over you and your children. I pray that God provides His abundant mercy and grace each day as it is needed.
My heart is overflowing with gratitude for you and your willingness to share your pain and triumph with us. When I received the first handwritten note, I was overwhelmed with the experience we both shared. Although many years have passed since your son went home to the L-rd, I'm still sorry for the loss you endure without him here. I know Abba has faithfully carried you through this and I witness your joy and peace every time I see you but still I know a small piece of your heart aches for him. We are comforted and not in despair but, oh, how our hearts can ache. Just when I'm feeling so much better, I awaken to another day filled with sorrow.
I couldn't understand why I kept weeping all morning and then it finally dawned on me that today, Raquel Elise would be 8 weeks old. Your encouragement came at such a timely moment. Bless you for your transparency and empathetic heart. May Adonai richly reward your selfless giving.
Peace and love, Terry
p.s. A friend sent me a beautiful song called "With Hope" by Stephen Curtis Chapman. Please listen to it when you have an opportunity. It absolutely ministered deeply to my soul.
3 comments:
Dear Terry and Gary,
The entire site tore my heart out and up, out for the pain and sorrow and up for the peace of God which endures in difficult and tying circumstances.
I so wish I could have been there in person to meet Raquel and to be a source of strength and courage for all, but alas that is not where He has me right now.
I cannot express how much God's working in and thru Raquel and your family has touched my heart, mind, soul. There are not words for such things.......
I am so choked up my fingers will hardly type and I have to keep using the backspace.... Words will not form in my mind, just an overriding sense of peace, I struggle to identify the feelings.... doing so brings up feelings long ago from my own trials it is hard to think.
I KNOW the Lord is Good and He has always been my only source of strength and peace, I have seen that strength and peace in you both for several years now. It is comforting to know He will and does carry you through such a time as this. Your Precious baby Raquel has done so much for so many we will never be able to appreciate or comprehend it all. How one small, timy, precious life touches so many can only be done thru His infinite power.
From Isaiah 61:3, I pray for you and claim His Word upon you all:
"To grant those who mourn in Zion,
Giving them a garland instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning,
The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.
So they might be called oaks of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."
May He continue to bless you all in His special way.
I love you all,
Mylinda L.
Dear Terry & Gary,
Our paths were destined to cross, at the store no less. It's strange how God leads Believers to find one another, and stranger still how we are quickly able to identify our shared belief. I can't tell you how fond of you I have become, just from brief conversations in the store.
I have read your entire blog and have shed many tears with you. Your story has become so personal to me.
The photo presentation is absolutely beautiful. It just so happens that I first viewed it on the anniversay of the day that my son passed away, April 22, 1976. I am so glad that some wonderful soul took care to photograph the days you had with Raquel. I have only two photos of my son, and his tiny footprints pressed to the page of a book as the only evidence that he was on this earth for 23 days.
The photos allowed me an intimate glimpse into a very poignant moment in your life. I felt as though I was watching my story again as well as yours.
Thank you for sharing the entire range of your emotions without fear or reservation. It's given me the opportunity to bear some of your burden and to know how to lift you up in prayer.
You are right; our little ones have been spared so much, having left this earth so quickly, and have gone to their heavenly home. We have gained the knowledge that their souls are secure for eternity. We have gained more than we have lost. It's a mystery how God can turn loss into gain, and how the knowledge of a secure departed soul can take the sting out of death.
I pray healing and blessings over you and your children. I pray that God provides His abundant mercy and grace each day as it is needed.
Very fondly,
Chris Trent
Dear Chris,
My heart is overflowing with gratitude for you and your willingness to share your pain and triumph with us. When I received the first handwritten note, I was overwhelmed with the experience we both shared. Although many years have passed since your son went home to the L-rd, I'm still sorry for the loss you endure without him here. I know Abba has faithfully carried you through this and I witness your joy and peace every time I see you but still I know a small piece of your heart aches for him. We are comforted and not in despair but, oh, how our hearts can ache. Just when I'm feeling so much better, I awaken to another day filled with sorrow.
I couldn't understand why I kept weeping all morning and then it finally dawned on me that today, Raquel Elise would be 8 weeks old. Your encouragement came at such a timely moment. Bless you for your transparency and empathetic heart. May Adonai richly reward your selfless giving.
Peace and love,
Terry
p.s. A friend sent me a beautiful song called "With Hope" by Stephen Curtis Chapman. Please listen to it when you have an opportunity. It absolutely ministered deeply to my soul.
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