My little garden amongst the stone

I planted a little garden, amongst the stones today   The dirt was dry and rough, from that cold and bitter day

The sun was warm, and the grass no longer brown The green shoots all bursting, and buds falling all around

… The sweetness of the wind, the met the empty little plot   The clods of dirt now broken, in that tiny little spot

In brokenness life met with death, worked gently into the soil   Each seed tenderly planted, to end my labouring toil

Fleeting love, broken memories, now watered the little dream   The tiny love placed in the soil, now flowing like a stream

I tried ebb the flow, lest it float the seeds away   Of the seeds newly planted, that very special day

But as they flowed I was reminded of a new life’s little story   Birthed in love and bred pain a tiny gift from glory

I held birthed love and cradled it, and new that one day   We would come to visit this little garden, where pain can never stay

In Loving Memory of  Emma Marrie Rose    Born in to glory   December 24 2011 Melody Lily Anne

A Beloved Hymn and its History
‘It Is Well With My Soul’ When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul. Refrain: It is well, with my soul, It is well, it is well, with my soul. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! My sin, not in part but the whole, Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live: If Jordan above me shall roll, No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul. But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait, The sky, not the grave, is our goal; Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord! Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul! And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll; The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, Even so, it is well with my soul.

HYMN HISTORY:
This hymn was written by a Chicago lawyer, Horatio G. Spafford. You might think to write a worship song titled, ‘It is well with my soul’, you would indeed have to be a rich, successful Chicago lawyer. But the words, “When sorrows like sea billows roll … It is well with my soul”, were not written during the happiest period of Spafford’s life. On the contrary, they came from a man who had suffered almost unimaginable personal tragedy.
Horatio G. Spafford and his wife, Anna, were pretty well-known in 1860’s Chicago. And this was not just because of Horatio’s legal career and business endeavors. The Spaffords were also prominent supporters and close friends of D.L. Moody, the famous preacher. In 1870, however, things started to go wrong. The Spaffords’ only son was killed by scarlet fever at the age of four. A year later, it was fire rather than fever that struck. Horatio had invested heavily in real estate on the shores of Lake Michigan. In 1871, every one of these holdings was wiped out by the great Chicago Fire.

Aware of the toll that these disasters had taken on the family, Horatio decided to take his wife and four daughters on a holiday to England. And, not only did they need the rest — DL Moody needed the help. He was traveling around Britain on one of his great evangelistic campaigns. Horatio and Anna planned to join Moody in late 1873. And so, the Spaffords traveled to New York in November, from where they were to catch the French steamer ‘Ville de Havre’ across the Atlantic. Yet just before they set sail, a last-minute business development forced Horatio to delay. Not wanting to ruin the family holiday, Spafford persuaded his family to go as planned. He would follow on later. With this decided, Anna and her four daughters sailed East to Europe while Spafford returned West to Chicago. Just nine days later, Spafford received a telegram from his wife in Wales. It read: “Saved alone.”
On November 2nd 1873, the ‘Ville de Havre’ had collided with ‘The Lochearn’, an English vessel. It sank in only 12 minutes, claiming the lives of 226 people. Anna Spafford had stood bravely on the deck, with her daughters Annie, Maggie, Bessie and Tanetta clinging desperately to her. Her last memory had been of her baby being torn violently from her arms by the force of the waters. Anna was only saved from the fate of her daughters by a plank which floated beneath her unconscious body and propped her up. When the survivors of the wreck had been rescued, Mrs. Spafford’s first reaction was one of complete despair. Then she heard a voice speak to her, “You were spared for a purpose.” And she immediately recalled the words of a friend, “It’s easy to be grateful and good when you have so much, but take care that you are not a fair-weather friend to God.”

Upon hearing the terrible news, Horatio Spafford boarded the next ship out of New York to join his bereaved wife. Bertha Spafford (the fifth daughter of Horatio and Anna born later) explained that during her father’s voyage, the captain of the ship had called him to the bridge. “A careful reckoning has been made”, he said, “and I believe we are now passing the place where the de Havre was wrecked. The water is three miles deep.” Horatio then returned to his cabin and penned the lyrics of his great hymn.
The words which Spafford wrote that day come from 2 Kings 4:26. They echo the response of the Shunammite woman to the sudden death of her only child. Though we are told “her soul is vexed within her”, she still maintains that ‘It is well.” And Spafford’s song reveals a man whose trust in the Lord is as unwavering as hers was.
It would be very difficult for any of us to predict how we would react under circumstances similar to those experienced by the Spaffords. But we do know that the God who sustained them would also be with us.
No matter what circumstances overtake us may we be able to say with Horatio Spafford…”It is well with my soul.”

contributed by Robin

I Want Him Here

Lord, I know he is in a better place

With peace and joy and love and grace.

He never has to feel pain or sadness

With You, he only feels gladness…

But, I want him here.

I know it’s selfish, yes, it’s true,

To want him here instead of with You.

I want him here, to be with me,

To run and play, to climb a tree.

I want to teach him how to talk,

and watch him as he learns to walk,

To hold him when he’s afraid at night,

And let him know he’ll be alright.

I want him here.

I want to watch my child grow

To be with me, but even so,

I know You will take care of him,

And he’ll live in a place that has no sin.

Always he will sing praises to You,

Reminding me that Your Word is true.

That one day when I “come home,” I’ll see

My precious child waiting for me.

I want him here…..yes…. it’s true….

But if he can’t be with me….

I’m glad he’s with You.

Jennifer Mull

(written in memory of Elijah James miscarried 11/11/99)

Today ~ A Tear Fell

I rode by our old house by chance today And I just happened to look that way. For a moment, I saw myself pregnant holding my baby son in that front porch swing. However, that vision did not last for long.  Soon I remembered my baby son and daughter are gone.

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Just when I thought I was doing so well, Before I knew it ~ a tear fell.

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Then on Sunday as I sat in church I looked around and missed you so much. I saw other girls in their pretty dresses and boys in their Sunday suits. And I remembered my little babies were just as cute.

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People all think I’m doing well; They don’t know today ~ a tear fell.

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When I am reminded of what might have been, when life catches me off guard, That’s when I seem to be hit so hard. It seems all thoughts lead back to you, Matthew and Laura. I take each day and try to get through,

They say time makes it better, but I cannot tell; I only know today ~ a tear fell.

contributed by Robin

(go back to Farewell Celebrations)

Poems

• I Want Him Here
• A Tear Fell
• It is Well With My Soul
• My Little Garden Amongst the Stone
• Poems of a Grieving Mother (outside link)
• Poems from Grieving Parents (outside link)
• Baby Funeral Poems (outside link)
• Touched by Angels (outside link)

Please  share your story or use the quick feedback form to share your special words.

Eulogies/Sermons

• Sample Funeral Sermon for Infant Death
• 1 Samuel, chapters 1 and 2 (1 Samuel 1:11, 1 Samuel 1:16)
• John 12:1-8 (on the subject of an “elaborate” burial – attention to preparation for burial, funeral, mourning)
• Matthew 27 (God expressed His grief and mourning in elaborate ways – relates to us in our grief and mourning)

Music (opens a new window at You Tube)

• Angel Baby Lullabies
• Meditative Music for Healing
• I Want You Here – Plumb (parent to baby)
• I Know Who You Are – JJ Heller (bereaved or infertile parent to God)
• Holy Darkness (parent to God)
• Glory Baby-Mandy Mercer (mom to baby)
• Heaven is the Face-Steven Curtis Chapman (parent to God)
• Stronger-Mandisa (singer to the mom)
• Selah-I Will Carry You (mom to baby)
• Natalie Grant-Our Hope Endures (particularly for multiple pregnancy loss)
• Barlow Girl-Never Alone (mom to God)
• Kerrie Roberts-No Matter What (mom to God)
• Natalie Grant-Held (mom to others)
• Amy Grant-Better Than A Hallelujah (singer to mom)
• Laura Story-Blessings (mom to God)
• Mercy Me-Bring the Rain (parents to God)
• Your Hands-JJ Heller (mom to God)
• Mark Shultz-What it Means to Be Loved (parents to baby, adverse diagnosis)
• Gone Too Soon (dad to baby)
• Skillet-Lucy (parents to baby, particularly after feelings of guilt)

Relevant Quotes

Bible Verses

These have been provided by Whole Intentions

2 Corinthians 1:3- 4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Romans 15:4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 86:15 But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.

Psalm 94:19 In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.

Psalm 18:30 As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.

Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 46:1 …God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

Psalm 145:18 The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

Psalm 18:28 For You will light my lamp; The LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.

Philippians 4:6- 7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

Proverbs 3:5- 6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Romans 5:1- 5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Isaiah 55:8- 9 ” For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Psalm 62:7- 8 In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God. 8 Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah

Isaiah 26:3- 4 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. 4 Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.

Jeremiah 17:7- 8 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD. 8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.

Job 1:21 And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Psalm 145:17 The LORD is righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works.

1 Peter 5:7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Psalm 32:10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him.

Hebrews 13:5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure.

Job 42:2 I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.