Craig Clouston

Grieve With Hope

And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:3

Justine and Jase did everything they could to bring little NoraJean into the world healthy and whole, but signs of trouble surfaced during Justine’s pregnancy. An ultrasound revealed hydrops fetalis; a condition in which fluid accumulates in the chest and abdominal cavities, requiring the heart to pump a much greater volume of blood to deliver the same amount of oxygen to the brain and body. NoraJean’s brain growth was several weeks behind as well, and some structures could not be found. They sought a cure for their unborn child. But it wasn’t to be.

On May 15^th 2013, NoraJean’s tiny heart ceased beating, and on May 22^nd, at 6:20pm, Justine and Jase laid eyes on their beautiful angel for the first time.

They held little NoraJean, now dressed in a white gown, with a knitted white cap. The knowledge that their little angel was no longer in pain brought comfort.

As they said goodbye the healing began. It would take tears and time, but this deep grief would pass, and healing would come.

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It was not God’s plan for NoraJean to thrive in her mother’s womb for seven months only to be taken away. But a world filled with sin and sorrow emerged when Adam ate the forbidden fruit, and altered God’s plan.

But Jesus, in today’s text, gives hope and a promise to those who have suffered this loss. His statement, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” has veiled implications.

It means we must be child-like in our faith, and accept Jesus for who He says He is. It also reveals that children who die, those who are pure and not yet accountable for sin, are granted immediate access to Heaven.

We, those of us who have lost a child, will see them in Heaven if we become child-like ourselves, and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. So accept Jesus’ offer of salvation, and grieve with hope.

Prayer

“Father of comfort, bring peace to the hearts of those who have lost a child. Help them grieve and mourn, bring healing where needed, and give them the hope of a reunion in Heaven. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”