CS Lewis once said that "grief is like the sky, it covers everything." In recent weeks, our family has found that this is so very true. It seems that there is no right or wrong way to travel this path of grief. I have created this blog in hopes that some day we will be able to look back on our journey and see written proof that our great God never leaves us. God is good all the time.

Celebrating Laynee

You might want to scroll to the bottom of this page and pause the music before playing this video.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

SIX MONTHS

Six months ago this morning, life seemed pretty close to perfect.  We had 6 beautiful, happy and reasonably healthy children.  I say "reasonably" because Moise certainly has his share of health issues but, for the time being, they are managed and under control.   We had two successful businesses, lived in a great community, were surrounded by friends and family.  Six months ago this evening our "perfect" life turned upside down.  Two days later, Jade tearfully exclaimed that "nothing is ever going to be alright again." And it hasn't been.

For six months, nothing has been alright.  It has been six months of going through the motions of life, because we must.  For six months we've pretended that everything is okay, that we are fine, but we're not.  We are not fine, and it is not okay that our little girl drowned.  It has been six months of reliving horror, tragedy and trauma.  Six months of mourning and weeping.  Six months of empty, aching arms and hearts to match.  In the past six months we have heard every platitude under the sun.  I've decided that platitudes are for the speaker, not the recipient.     We've longed six months, for one more kiss, one more hug, one more glimpse, with no relief.  We have seen six months worth of children her age and felt the ensuing pang of sorrow.  For six months I've seriously questioned if perhaps I have one foot on the other side of sanity.  We have endured six months of being jerked relentlessly between sadness, anger, and desperation.  Six months of wishing to turn back the hands of time.  Six months of regret for those last few moments. Six months of beating ourselves up for our own fatal mistakes.   Six months of endless tears and heartache.  Six months of unspeakable sorrow and pain.  Six months of inadequate words of expression.  Six months of trying and failing to understand.  Six months of not caring.  Six months of exhaustion.  Six months of wondering if I can do another day.   Six months of clinging desperately to each other and to our Lord.  Six months of basic survival.  Six months of strength that can only come from the one whom we serve. Six months. 

Six months without Jalayne. 

The Lord God is my strength
and he will make my feet like hind's feet
and make me to walk upon high places
Habakuk 3:19

5 comments:

  1. My thoughts exactly.

    I am so thankful to have someone who knows how I feel so that I don't feel so alone...at the same time that I hate it that ANYONE else knows how it feels.

    Praying for you,
    Angie

    ReplyDelete
  2. http://thegledhillfamily.blogspot.com/
    Gracie Girl

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm so sorry....all these emotions--we've done it, too. Things are so completely not okay sometimes. Thinking and praying for you. I love your pictures of Laynee.

    ReplyDelete
  4. 13 months... I understand the pain that comes with each day, whether you stand still or try to move forward. We wait together. We are not alone.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Also, The Lord said, "There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand. (paraphrased) Exodus 33:21-22

    Patricia (Ayden's Great Aunt)

    ReplyDelete