“Jesus called them to him, saying,
“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them,
for to such belongs the kingdom of God.”
(Luke 18:16, ESV)
THE WHY OF SUFFERING
On December 5, 2003, stabbing pain sliced through my abdomen every few minutes. Thinking I was in labor, Billy drove me to the hospital.
The maternity ward was full that afternoon. We had to sit for a long time in the waiting room. A young woman with a swollen belly like mine took the chair next to us. She looked like she was about seventeen and giving birth alone.
As we talked, I found myself starting to feel jealous of this young girl who was probably going to have a healthy baby. Why couldn’t I have a healthy child, too?
The girl left to have her baby, and I was left to struggle with trusting God. The “why” of suffering threatened to overwhelm me and steal my peace. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, focusing on the truth. God is letting me go through this valley of grief, but He is not going to leave me. He hasn’t turned His back on me. Will I turn my back on Him?
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4, NASB)
PEACE RESTORED
My peace returned when I thought of Christ’s unfailing love for me displayed in His suffering on the cross. Despite my sinfulness and brokenness, He still loved me. I could still trust in the One who died for me.
Billy and I prayed for the girl that she would come to know Christ and know that she was never alone.
There were no rooms available, so we were ushered to a bed separated by curtains from other patients. The labor was long, and it was hard telling each nurse attending us that our baby was going to die. One nurse, who was sympathetic to our situation, found us a spare room.
It was about three o’clock in the afternoon and the time had come for the baby to be born. A resident doctor originally from India took up the assignment to deliver our child. She was young, but I felt confident I was in good hands. As I gave the final push, the nursing staff stood by, quietly awaiting to attend to our baby.
SILENT NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT
As soon as I gave birth, the doctor gently unwound the umbilical cord that was wrapped around the baby’s neck. She delicately passed our child over to the attending nurses.
Everyone was silent.
Billy watched as the nurses checked over the baby. I watched for a sign, a miracle that kidneys had suddenly appeared and everything was going to be fine.
Another doctor listened to the stethoscope on the baby's chest and then pressed along the baby's back. "Bilateral renal agenesis and pulmonary hypoplasia."
She turned to Billy. "You don't want emergency medical interventions?"
He shook his head no.
My eyes filled with tears. We had agreed to let our baby die naturally. "No intervention." I barely said the words.
The doctor placed our child in Billy's arms.
“It’s a boy,” he said with tears glistening in his eyes.
This stunned me. I thought our baby would be a girl, maybe because we already had a daughter. I reached out and placed my hand on his little head.
Luke Joseph Griese is name, and he is our son.
Billy gently handed Luke over to me. He wasn’t much heavier than the blankets he was wrapped in. His eyes were shut tight.
I wanted so much to hold his little hands. I unwrapped his right hand and held it. These were the five miniature fingers that I longed to touch as he pushed against my womb. Nestled up to my chest, so small, so precious, I could almost believe he was going to live. My heart swelled with love. A love which pushed out all fears.
A few close friends and family members came to visit. My small group leaders Mark and Cecilia Groff, my uncle Donald, and Billy’s family—his mother, brothers, Mike & John, with his wife Krista, and their kids.
Everyone gathered around us to admire the beautiful creation laid in my arms. We were surrounded by love.
PERFECT PEACE
Cecilia, suggested to me that it would be a good idea to nurse him. I was reluctant at first, afraid that he would choke. But, after some thought, I reconsidered. When I tried to nurse him, he was too weak. By the time I finally gave up, both Luke and I were frustrated.
Mark read to us from the Bible, Revelation 21, a passage which vividly described the future city of God, the eternal home of His children.
“Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new” (Revelation 21:3-5).
As he read, Luke stopped breathing. His lips paled. I felt him slipping away. We silently prayed for him and waited.
His arms moved. His rosebud lips turned pink and his cheeks became rosy. He cried and put his hand to his mouth. Was he hungry?
I attempted to nurse him again. This time, successfully. We lay there together in perfect peace. Luke opened one eye to peek at me. He caught a glimpse of his mommy who loved him with all her heart.
Luke was breathing, but he still had Potter’s Syndrome. His lungs hadn’t fully developed, and he had no kidneys. I knew he wouldn’t have much time with us. I thanked God for each hour that we were granted to spend with our little boy.
“Love never ends…So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:8, 13)
For Part 1, click here.
For Part 8, click here.
Thank you sharing that precious story.