07/17/2025
When a child loses a parent,
the new "title" given is orphan.
When a husband loses his wife
or a wife loses her husband,
widow.
And yet,
when a parent loses a child,
the loss is so indescribable
there is no word in the human language
associated with this unthinkable loss.
And loss -
no matter how it comes -
is something
no one truly understands or
truly knows how
to react or respond to.
It changes everything - forever.
It changes you - forever.
People on the
outside of your heart
looking in,
see your hurt.
No doubt,
they feel your pain.
Many are grieving with you,
shedding tears of their own.
But the thing is this:
no matter how much
they long
to comfort you,
to ease your pain,
to shield you
from this excruciating,
almost unbearable heartache -
they can't.
Because you see,
no one but you,
knows the true extent
of your loss.
Only your heart
knows
the love you had
for your precious child.
Only your heart
knows
the fullness
their life brought
and the complete emptiness
their absence brings.
Only your heart
knows
the little things
shared
between their heart
and yours.
Only your heart
knows
all your hopes and dreams
for days
that were yet to come
and the bitter sting
of unfulfilled moments
and never to be made
memories.
Only you and you alone.
As hard as it is
to admit this to be true -
there is not
one other person
on this planet
who understands
what you are going through,
what you are feeling,
what you are thinking,
what you are experiencing,
because
no one knows you
and no one knows
the child you are grieving
like you do.
No one.
No one,
except God,
that is.
Without you
trying
to finds words,
He knows.
Without you
trying
to express
what can never
truly be expressed,
He knows.
Without you
even knowing
how to help Him know,
He knows.
And
He's faithfully present
24-7,
all day,
all night,
in all ways,
always,
He listens.
He understands.
He comforts.
He gently holds.
And in moments
of anger and
"why, Lord, why",
He draws
especially close.
And I imagine
in these moments -
the hard moments
when your heart
longs to understand,
it is then,
most of all,
He sheds tears
with you,
(just like He wept
with Mary and Martha
when they lost
their brother, Lazarus.)
And I have a feeling,
because He is
the only one
who truly understands,
He grieves
more than anyone,-
maybe even more
than you and I do.
Oh precious one,
you have lost
one of the most
precious ones
to you
this side of Heaven.
Don't lose
your faith
in the One
most precious, too.
Hold on
to God
with everything
you have,
and all that
you don't.
Having God
in your life
isn't going
to change your situation.
Having God
in your life
isn't going
to take away
the pain, heartache,
and the suffocating emptiness.
Having God
in your life
isn't going
to replace
who you have lost.
Having God
in your life
isn't going
to make you
suddenly feel better.
Having God
in your life
IS going to strengthen
your ability to cope.
Having God
in your life
IS going to strengthen
your desire
to get out of bed
in the morning
Having God
in your life
IS going to strengthen
your resolve
to keep breathing and living.
Having God
in your life
IS going to strengthen
your willingness
to give up the need to understand
(which will only hold you prisoner until you do).
Having God
in your life
IS going to strengthen
your ability to let go of guilt and regret
(which will only hold you prisoner until you do).
Having God
in your life
IS going to strengthen
your steps moving forward from here.
Having God
in your life
IS going to strengthen
and change you.
When no one else can,
not even you,
God can.
When no one else will,
not even you,
God will.
When no one else - period,
not even you,
God.
He is your only hope.
And yet,
when you have
your hope in Him,
you will find,
you have
all that you need.~❤
~Stacy L. Sanchez
