Saturday, July 5, 2008

Love Them Like Jesus

Many of you have asked me lately what you can do for Spencer and I, if there's anything we need, and things along those lines. I want you to know that we genuinely apprecaite your care and concern.

Yesterday while taking a break between all of the 4th of July festivities, Spence and I plopped outselves in front of the t.v. I, naturally, fell asleep, and woke about a little while later to Spencer watching a Casting Crowns concert on some gospel music channel (which I didn't even know existed!).

The song that was on was "Love Them Like Jesus." The second verse in particular just overwhelmed me (for obvious reasons when you read it), but overall I thought the song was a great answer to the question of, "What can we do for you?"

To be honest, I don't know. Some days I just need to be distracted and other days I need a listening ear and the space to vent and to just "be." But I thought that the message of this song was a good answer to that question that so many you have graciously and generously asked...

Love Them Like Jesus

The love of her life is drifting away
They're losing the fight for another day
The life that she's known is falling apart
A fatherless home, a child's broken heart

You're holding her hand, you're straining for words
You trying to make - sense of it all
She's desperate for hope, darkness clouding her view
She's looking to you

Just love her like Jesus, carry her to Him
His yoke is easy, His burden is light
You don't need the answers to all of life's questions
Just know that He loves her and stay by her side
Love her like Jesus
Love her like Jesus

The gifts lie in wait, in a room painted blue
Little blessing from Heaven would be there soon
Hope fades in the night, blue skies turn to gray
As the little one slips away

You're holding her hand, you're straining for words
You're trying to make sense of it all
They're desperate for hope, darkness clouding their view
They're looking to you

Just love them like Jesus, carry them to Him
His yoke is easy, His burden is light
You don't need the answers to all of life's questions
Just know that He loves them and stay by their side
Love them like Jesus

Lord of all creation holds our lives in His hands
The God of all the nations holds our lives in His hands
The Rock of our salvation holds our lives in His hands
He cares for them just as He cares for you

So love them like Jesus, love them like Jesus
You don't need the answers to all of life's questions
Just know that He loves them and stay by their side
Love them like Jesus
Love them like Jesus


On Monday we meet with the head neonatologist at Shady Grove Hospital. I can already tell you that I have a lot of anxiety about this appointment because no expectant mother (or father)should have to make decisions about life support, resuscitation, and other end-of-life issues for their newborn (or at this point, unborn) child. I feel so inadequate (among other things) to be doing this.

Would you please continue to pray for wisdom for Spencer and I? Would you please pray that God would give us peace with our decisions and would guard our hearts from any sort of guilt regarding the decisions we make? And of course, would you please continue to pray for a miracle for our sweet baby Isaac? I truly believe, that even in the eleventh hour, God could change all of this if it is His plan. If it's not, then I know He will continue to be close to us and give us His peace that surpasses all understanding.

Thank you for walking this road with us. We appreciate you more than you could know.

6 comments:

The Writer Chic said...

Stacy, I never wanted to have a reason to associate that second verse of "Love them like Jesus" with someone I "knew." But now that I have this chance, I gladly continue to walk this road with you and Spencer and to lift you up to our Father. I will be praying without ceasing this weekend and into your appointment on Monday.

Kristi said...

Dear Stacy,

I found your blog last Wednesday. I believe our very merciful and loving God led me here. He knew how much I needed to hear your story. Several times I day I go back here to gain desperately needed comfort and inspiration. It is hard to keep this brief, but I will try. Here is my story.
My name is Kristi, I am a 40-year-old wife (married 21 years), mother to three children ages 20, 18, and 15, and a teacher at a Pre-8th Christian school. We found out in May that we were expecting again. We had an early ultrasound at 10 weeks because of my age and a previous miscarriage. Sadly, two weeks ago we too got the call from our doctor telling us the radiologist suspected a cystic hygroma and abdominal hernia. As we waited for a more advanced ultrasound the following week, I frantically searched the Internet. Needless to say, I was devastated by what I found. Only a few people knew of the pregnancy and of course we were all praying for healing.
During the ultrasound, the radiologist confirmed the previous suspicions. He said the hygroma was large and that the hernia was most likely an omphalocele. He told us that our baby had a high probability of having a severe chromosomal problem. He mentioned termination of the pregnancy.
I know you truly understand how we felt hearing this news. I know I don’t need to explain anything to you. In fact, I sent a link to your blog the night I found it to a few close family members and friends – telling them, that if they want to know how I feel, read your words. You, Spencer, and Isaac have given me inexplicable peace and hope that God will help me through this. Like you, I know God can heal and I pray He will, but I know that sometimes He chooses not to. His ways are not our ways. I pray for strength to be His instrument, to glorify Him through all of this. Yet, I am scared.
I pray for you several times a day. It is as if you have a direct connection to my thoughts and feelings. You communicate them better than I can. Thank you so much for proclaiming to the world the sovereignty and love of our Father. He will see us through this and use us mightily through it, if we let Him. I could write so much more, but for now – thank you for allowing Him to use you to minister to me more than you can possibly imagine.

Kristi

So Blessed said...

Praying for you...

Stacy D said...

Kristi~ I am not sure how else to get in touch with you so I hope you see this. Please feel free to e-mail me any time. I would love to connect with you.

~ Stacy

Kristi said...

Stacy,
I can't find your email address, but here is mine: knankeinca@yahoo.com
Praying for you daily,
Kristi

The Writer Chic said...

Stacy, I only hav your email address at home, and I'm at work (It's Monday morning), so I wanted to post, again, just to let you know I'll be praying for your appt. today. Lots of love coming your way from Ohio.