Empty Hearts and Empty Arms

How can we not get caught up in the ‘what ifs’ when a tragedy strikes. My friend just lost her 20 month old granddaughter to a seizure. Her mom went in her room in the morning and she was still sleeping. Thinking she would just let her sleep and get a couple things done around the house, she left her sleeping. When she returned to get her precious daughter ready to start the day her lips were blue. She had a seizure and aspirated vomit. She was gone. The paramedics worked for over an hour but couldn’t bring her back. Heartbreaking loss doesn’t even begin to explain the hearts of this family.

My prayer for them is that they can let go of the ‘what ifs’.
What if I had got her up when I checked a short time earlier?
What ifs can make us blame ourselves and each other.

My friend’s grandmother’s heart is broken but so is her mother’s heart. Not only is she grieving her precious Emily Rose that had spent the night with her just a day before, but she was powerless to save her son from the pain of losing hiis little girl. We never stop being moms that hope to protect our kids from the unexpected heartbreaks in life. This was unbearable.

My prayer for this family is that they cling to each other, let go of the ‘what ifs’ and feel the prayers of all of us who ache for their loss. Their memories and the countless pictures of their adorable girl are the gifts that will get them through somehow. But the heartache will never heal. I am thankful for their faith that tells them this is not the end but a new beginning in Jesus’ arms. But their arms are empty from the loss they are trying to endure and that can never be filled.

In Him,
Joyful
4-18-19