As many of you may know, The Duggar Family (19 Kids and Counting) lost their baby Jubilee last year. Michelle suffered a miscarriage after 5 months of pregnancy.
She’s been listening to “I Will Carry You,” which my wife Angie and I, and our friend Christa Wells, wrote for our daughter Audrey when we found out she would not survive after she was born.
Michelle recently shared about their loss and her grieving. Here are some of her words:
These last couple of months have just been very precious in the fact that I have been able to grieve over the loss of all those dreams that I was looking forward to, just hoping to getting to spend time with her. There’s a song written by Selah called “I Will Carry You,” and it is the most beautiful song expressing from a mother’s heart the love and the sadness of losing a baby while you’re expecting. At times I’ve played that song two or three times a day and just sing to the Lord and then just cry and release the tears that I need to let go of . Because I think if we hold the grief in it’s not going to help us to overcome and move on.
Angie has shared about our grief in her book, I Will Carry You, and I have had many times to share from stage.
What about you? How have you grieved after a miscarriage(no matter how many weeks), stillbirth, infant death, or the death of your child(no matter how old)?
This is not an easy subject. It’s so difficult and personal.
Every April 7th is difficult. It’s Audrey’s birthday and the day she went to be with the Lord. We always struggle with how to handle that day. Do we celebrate? Should we have a cake and candles? How do we mourn? Should we go to the cemetery?
If you feel lead, would you share some of your story, so we can recognize your child’s life and your pain. Hopefully, you will find comfort that comes through sharing and knowing you are not alone in this.
2 Samuel 12:23 speaks to me so much. 22 He(King David) answered, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.’ 23 But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.” 2 Sam. 12:22-23(NIV)
Will you also join us as we pray and grieve with the Duggars.
Todd Smith
Here is I Will Carry You
My beautiful, vibrant daughter, Claire, died on July 16, 2012 in a hit and run pedestrian accident on her 30th birthday. The driver of the vehicle has not been found. This has been a catastophic loss with no end in sight. As a christian, I quote scripture and snippets of hymns I can recall like “Come Ye Disconsolate, where ye languish, come to the mercy seat, fervently kneeling.” At times these are but shallow words in light of my grevious reality, however, I have on occasion experienced spiritual refreshing and I wish to weather this trial in the best way possible. It has set my sights on leaving this earth, in God’s timing, as part of me died with her. I have experienced depression for the first time in my life. My prayers are with the many other grieving parents who unfortunately also do understand my tormenting plight – we share this grief together. I covet all prayers for my inconsolable, broken heart. Thank you for your song.
Ethan Loyd Callicoat 3/24/1989-3/24/2009
My firstborn. I mourn all that might have been, i rejoice for all that will be. Thank you for your beautiful music. I listen and the tears flow, and my broken heart is comforted. 2Co 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassions and God of all comfort,
2Co 1:4 the One comforting us on all our affliction, for us to be able to comfort those in every affliction, through the comfort by which we ourselves are comforted by God.
My dear friend just dedicated this song to our little family. I am truly grateful this is an amazing song and touches what we have felt with the previous 6 miscarriages. This time we made it further than the previous. This past Monday I called my OB saying something did not feel right, he graciously saw me when then discovered the babies heart had quit beating. He called my husband who was at home with our 3 yr old and 18 months old and explained all that he knew and scheduled for us to return the following day. We gave the baby the name EVA MARIE she now sits waiting to be buried. I am struggling right now. I know we need to put her in the ground but I am holding on to what is left of her. I know we will see her in the next life and she is safe in the arms of Jesus but it is still hard. So I have just begun the grieving process.