Season of Grief

by Jalisa Wenger Used by permission   When cherished dreams, like autumn leaves, Are scattered in the wind, You feel the chill of winter's gloom And loneliness creep in.   When springtime's just a memory, Now etched with parting's pain ... When winter looms ahead of you And tears flow with the rain ...  God understands the rending grief Of dreams that had to die. But from those seeds new life can grow Beneath the future's sky.  The bitter tears that freely flow Are tears He stores away. He'll turn them to refreshing showers To bless your life some day.  The raging winds that stress your soul And cause your faith to sway Will strengthen you for years to come In God's own time and way.   Behind you, summer colors fade. Ahead, the gray unknown. But by your side, a faithful Guide— You'll never be alone.

Rainbows of His Grace

by Jalisa Wenger - Used by permission

Tears were streaming down our faces
Like a show'r of rain.
In our aching hearts we carried
So much grief and pain.
Many questions had no answers -
"Oh, dear Father, why
Did our Kendall have to leave us?"
This our troubled sigh.

"We'd have loved to keep him longer...
Care for him each day...
Hold him in our arms and love him...
Watch him grow and play..."
Many were the dreams we'd cherished
For the coming years.
Then we saw just shattered fragments
Through a veil of tears.

Now as I reflect years later
On that time of pain,
I thank God for all the rainbows
Glistening in the rain.
Many blessings He has given
That we wouldn't know
If He had not taken Kendall
Many years ago.

God used trials to refine and
Make us purer still.
Though it was a painful process,
'Twas His perfect will.
I thank God He did not leave us
Like we used to be.
He gave us deeper meaning,
To Him glory be!

"Deep compassion fills my heart, Lord,
Since we've walked this road.
And I long to comfort others
Who now bear grief's load.
And I pray that though it's raining
In their hearts today,
They may see the rainbow colors
Of your grace some day."

Healing for Parents Who Have Lost Babies

If you have ever lost a baby through miscarriage, JoAnn Taylor, a precious "Heart to Heart" friend, has a ministry for you.  She can minister to you in a very caring way. 

Operation Angel's web sites are:

http://fly.to/OperationAngel 
http://opangel.angelcities.com/index.html  

For anyone who has lost a young child who passed away from an illness or accident, you will find help here.  Or if you have even had an abortion, you can also find forgiveness from God and healing from your past mistake at JoAnn's sites. 

I have met this genuine servant of the Lord, and she is a gem!  She was receiving Heart to Heart way back, maybe six years ago, and when she came to visit her sister, who happens to live near me, she arranged for us to meet.  We all got together and had a most wonderful time of fellowship!

Chelseas's Story

by Janelle Burkholder, a Heart to Heart friend in Pennsylvania.

In May, 1994, an acquaintance of ours had a 13 year old daughter who died from a brain tumor. In the days thereafter God gave me the words to a poem, a letter written to a Mom from her daughter in Heaven. Only God could have known that 14 years later I would be the Mom who needed comfort after the death of our own 4-1/2 year old daughter, Chelsea. When Chelsea was 26 months old she was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor. Although she initially responded well to treatment and was given an 80% chance of cure, God had plans for her life and ours that were beyond what we could see.

Throughout the 28 months of Chelsea's battle with cancer she was admitted to the hospital 27 times, but she was still a happy, smiley little girl and had one of those infectious smiles and sparkling eyes that captivated everyone's heart. Chelsea’s journey with cancer ended on January 25, 2008, but for us as Chelsea's family the journey with her cancer is not over, it only took a bend in the road. Our journey continues as we grieve her absence, but we do not grieve without hope. Our hope is found in the fact that even though Chelsea can not come back to us, we can go to her. We did not lose a child, she is simply sent ahead.

Now as I think about Chelsea in Heaven I often remember how, just about four weeks before her death, she told me that since she goes to the hospital a lot she might die, and that when she goes to Heaven she is going to play with Collin, a little boy who also died from cancer. Before Chelsea died she said that she saw “people up there“ and “people in Heaven”. Although she was not able to tell us more about what she experienced at that point, we believe that Collin must have been there to welcome Chelsea into Heaven and join her as she met Jesus face to face!

Dear Mom,

I know right now it's hard to think that I am really gone,

That I'll no longer be around to fill my empty room,

With all those pretty, girlish things I used to love so dear,

But really, Mom, I'd have to say, they simply don't compare,

To all the beauties of this place I now can call my home,

With Jesus here, my friend so dear, I'll never be alone.

The walls are made of jasper, Mom, I've never seen the likes,

With streets of gold and gates of pearl, His beauty shines so bright.

The angel host sings all the time, their praises to the Lamb,

His glory shines on ev'ry face, I can't believe how blessed I am!

So please, Dear Mom, don't fret too much, about my going on,

You made the life I had on earth, the very greatest one,

Those special mem'ries that you have, of things we said and did,

Will never let us really part, for in your heart they're hid.

Please rest assured I'm doing fine, here in this wondrous place,

And with the healing of some time, a smile will come back to your face.

Remember, Mom, we'll meet again, I know we will some day,

When time for you shall also end, we'll be together then for aye!