Peace In The Shadows, For His Love is Everywhere

His love gives peace in the shadows,
even in the trauma of adjusting
to life with a challenged new baby.

Peace in the shadows?

On the worst days ever?

Under impossible circumstances?

Actually, yes! His love gives peace in the shadows!

Half of what we create at kimenink.com is geared toward babies.

Babies are a happy subject.  Babies make us smile and coo and talk nonsense.  I love creating for babies because it’s like investing in the future.

Babies give us hope.  They are a challenge, but one that makes us better people.  We aim to be good examples and want them to grow up to be happy, successful people.

(Usually our dream is that they will be happier and more successful than we are/were!)

Having said that…

I will say that having a baby can be the most traumatic, difficult experience of one’s whole life.

Some babies are born with handicaps, and until the parents grow past the disappointment and find the beauty in their special child, their lives are almost agony: they live deep in the shadows of despair and questioning and blaming.

They’re caught in the crossfire of bitter mind attacks.

Parents’ reaction, …results from studies about families having a child with a disability. The birth of such a child usually follows five stages: “denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.” Parents usually react with “psychological stress, a feeling of loss and low self-esteem.” The child is “disappointing” and a “social obstacle” leading to shame and embarrassment.” Parents may direct their anger toward others, their partner, the physician, or other families who do not have this stress.  Source.

Their dreams for that child are shattered, until they can – honestly and with their whole hearts – reach the place where their dreams are “changed.”

Instead of the child’s triumphant march up to the door on her first day of school, turning and waving happily to her weeping mom, mom holds her by the hand, weeping for a different reason, hoping the teacher will love and understand her child in this special class environment.

Instead of dreaming their child will be a doctor someday, their dream is to find a loving environment for their child before they die and he or she is left alone.

There ARE dreams.  They’re just different.

 

God allows us to walk in the shadows,
– for a time –
then His deep love gives peace;
His Light eclipses the darkness.

 

 

A Family Finds Peace in the Shadows

A family close to us knows all about peace in the shadows.

Their first daughter was born with muscular dystrophy, possibly the result of a long, difficult birth.  That’s a monster pill to swallow.  It took years before they could totally forgive their medical team.

They accepted her and loved her immediately, and worked hard to give her the best life possible. Moved to a different town so she could go to the best schools with the most helpful staff.

They took her skiing and swimming with the rest of their children. So she wouldn’t miss one thing they could possibly provide.  They raised her to believe she could attain her dreams.

This spring she graduated high school! Her little sisters performed a special part with her, with her wheelchair center stage.  You could see the love between the girls.  They have a depth that comes with experiencing hard things.

God compensates for the shadows,

and they will all be more successful

because they learned to let the light in.

 

 

“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes
were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
For he is our peace…” ­
Ephesians 2:13-14

 

 

Wishing you
an extra dose of peace
in your shadow days.

Always remember,
His love gives peace.

 

PS: Read more Inspirational Essays.

PPS: Find our All About Baby kimenink© items here.