My Comforter

As i sit in a hotel in memphis, tenn after a long day of working and joking around with my coworkers, i feel alone in the midst of a crowd of people in the hotel lobby. Top of mind is the tragedy that my family has had to walk through this weekend. My sister lost her baby after 21 weeks of carrying him around. We all grew so emotionally attached to him even though we had yet to meet him. We all knew exactly what size he was as each week passed. These comparisons earned him the nickname "baby lemon lime". We all knew that his heart beat sounded like an upbeat down south hip hop song. We all knew that he was an active little boy. We were all eagerly anticipating his arrival in december.

The sadness that i feel must pale in comparison to that of the mother who felt his kicks and became intimate with his comings and goings. It must pale in comparison to that of the expectant father who knew that his boy would love football, christian hip hop and ribs.

In addition to 2 cor 1:3-11, this text came to mind to comfort me - it isn't easy to apply during this time of sadness, but it is the only true hope that we have:

1 As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.

2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?

3 My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long,

"Where is your God?"

4These things I remember, as I pour out my soul:

how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival.

5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation

6and my God.