by Emily Wierenga | Feb 29, 2012 | cemetery, child, death, heaven, hope, losing, parents
they were black silhouettes clinging to each other in the burial ground as the cedar casket was carried and in it, the body of their 17-month-old daughter, their shoulders shaking even as the casket lowered. and no parent should have to bury his own child. it should... by Emily Wierenga | Feb 26, 2012 | baby, death, funeral, God, heaven, love, mother
i forget, for a moment, how angry i am at God, when i hold my new nephew, whose brown feet conduct an invisible orchestra.babies give God a face, and when you look at them, it’s so easy to believe. but when they die, at 18 months, it’s so easy to stop... by Emily Wierenga | Feb 23, 2012 | crying, fostering, hope, joy, kids, Lord, motherhood
i had to laugh, like a crazy lady, i laughed while they cried and the Joy of the Lord sang on the CD. it was one of those laugh-or-you’ll-cry times, and so we made a cacophony of sound that afternoon drive home, as sweet-voiced singers crooned “i’ve... by Emily Wierenga | Feb 20, 2012 | children, desert, fostering, God, mothers, prayer, song, st. francis
“it will get harder,” i heard, bending over the rails of the crib, the crucified stance of the mother who feeds life in the dead of night. but i shook my head. it couldn’t. it was hard enough. and then, “there will be victory,” even as my... by Emily Wierenga | Feb 18, 2012 | fostering, giving up, hope, Jesus, kids, mother, sick, strong, weak
i cried, the other day, over spilled milk. it was tuesday, and two out of four boys in their high chairs and thomas the train choo-chooing across the screen. i turned to the television, baby in arm, to adjust the sound and that’s when he threw...