Wednesday, July 15~God's Mercies after Suicide: Blessings Woven through a Mother's Heart~Another New Grandbaby~Devotion & A Mother's Memories

from left to right: Baby Jason, Jason, Jim, Joshua, and Grand (Jim's dad)

“The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.”

—Nahum 1:7

Eleven days before the first anniversary of Joshua’s death, Jami gave birth to her fifth child, Torry John.

Bittersweet times, our family rejoiced over another baby. And with six granddaughters, we were glad for another grandson to make that number three. Underlined in all our minds, we sorrowed that Tory would never know his uncle Joshy. That Joshua would miss out on the new babies yet to be born into our growing family.

Joshua had always loved his status as Uncle Joshua. There were nieces and nephews he felt closer to than others, but he loved each of them. About a month before Joshua died, he asked Jami if he could babysit her daughters. He hadn’t been coming around much, so Jami was a bit surprised at his request. Jami was glad for a date night, and so she agreed. We now understand he needed to spend a few more hours with his nieces before he left us.

Dear Lord, creator of all living beings, thank You for the new baby. Please help us to focus on and be grateful for the new life and less on death and what we have lost. In Jesus’s holy name, I ask. Amen.

A Mother’s Memories

“Mom, I want to go see Jason’s new baby today.”

Jason’s wife and baby had been home from the hospital a few days, and Joshua couldn’t wait to see his first nephew. He loved Jami’s three daughters, but this was a man thing: Joshua’s first nephew, the first grandson to carry on the family name.

     

We called Jason’s wife to see if it would be a good time to visit, and she said it was.

     

In Jason’s living room, Joshua settled onto the sofa and held little Jason Jr. As I visited with my daughter-in-law, I kept glancing at Joshua. He held the new baby cradled in his arms. He stared at the little guy, so intent, it seemed, to memorize his features.

     

After Joshua held baby Jason for half an hour, we left. Joshua didn’t say much except that he was a cute baby. We later took a picture of four generations of male Williamses, and Joshua stood next to Jason, who held his new son.

     

Father, please help those men in our family who are left to grow stronger as Christians in Your strength. In Jesus’s holy name. Amen.

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