Joy Through Sorrow and Suffering

It is said of Jesus by Isaiah that He was "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief."  In the book Hinds feet in High places, he had to walk with two twins for a time...sorrow and suffering. At times in our lives, the footprints of Jesus that we follow lead us down that pathway. But who would have it any other way, for it is during these times that His Holy Spirit and presence comforts us in ways that we never knew of before. It is here that the ministry and love of the saints lift us up. It is here that we find that "he hath borne our griefs , and carried our sorrows." What a kind and loving Saviour.
Sometimes I feel like we are walking hand in hand with these two twins.
Years ago (over 27 to be exact) Linda and I decided to to embrace as many children as God would entrust us with. This isn't everyone's decision, but it was ours and we are content in it. Now when you make a decision like that, you realize that you just "may" have children when you are in your 40's, or maybe even in your 50's. Society says that is unwise, irresponsible. Women over 40 miscarry around 25% of the time, and it is to that pathway that this post leads us today.
Linda and I were so excited to be able to announce in a few weeks that we were blessed with another child, but God had other plans. She started spotting last weekend and then Sunday miscarried the baby. At almost 12 weeks here is what he\she would have looked like, being almost 2 inches long.


The wounds of the heart are fresh and open. Grief a reality. Tears a flowing. But in all, we bless the Lord, who has given and has taken away. Never does he ever make any mistakes. Never does He leave us or forsake us. Into His loving hands we commit our child....into the perfect world of heaven, where there is no sorrow or suffering. Trusting in the Lord with all our heart, we find His purpose and love and grace and peace to be sufficient, nay more than sufficient for all our needs. So, if you have a minute today, could you lift us up before the throne of Grace, especially for my dear sweet wife.
Realizing more than ever, that our lives are but a vapour...may we live them out before the presence of our Loving Shepard.