I am learning that one of the ways we push against the darkness that clouds our souls, is to link arms with fellow travelers on the journey. Some of these have just experienced the loss of a child. Others are further down the road. All of us are holding the ache of a child who is no longer here.
A few weekends ago, Kyle and I went to a retreat for bereaved parents at a place called the While We’re Waiting Refuge in southern Arkansas. God has blessed the efforts of this beautiful ministry and grown it into a place that is truly a refuge. Set among Thoroughbred farms on 50 acres of rolling hills, it was a place of beauty! Walking through the doors, I felt enveloped with such peace and love, and the care of God through this place, and all the people that faithfully served within it’s doors. From the rooms filled with little touches of love, to the 5 course dinner with new friends, and the area where we gathered to share the stories of our precious kids, God rained down his love and care for us. He reminded us that though the journey is not one we would ever have asked to go on, he promises to walk with us, and to give us others to walk alongside, some who have blazed the way, others who are not as far along. But, we are all able to walk together.
One of the things that struck me over the weekend, was the picture of all the people who had gathered around the finished foundation after it had been poured. They had gathered to pray.
They prayed for all those that would come through the doors of The Refuge. For all those that didn’t even know that they were going to need it.
That was us.
We would never have known. Never have guessed. We didn’t know the horror that was awaiting us.
But God did. And He was providing for our future need even then.
For all those that find themselves on this journey, there is a place of refuge in God. And for those that don’t even know they’re going to need it, there is a place called While We’re Waiting in Hot Springs, AR. They even have satellite sites that are popping up all over the U.S. and even some overseas.
If you have need of it, check it out. It takes a lot of courage to go through those doors. There can be a lot of fear about sharing your story. But, trust me. You will share it in the safe presence of others who know exactly what it’s like to loose a child. And, there is freedom that comes when we realize that though our stories differ in many respects, there is a cord that binds us. We are not alone. There are others who are waiting too.
