Sunday, December 20, 2009

All Dressed Up

We took the kids to Mass this morning to celebrate the final Sunday of Advent.

We dressed Bobby up in a little sailor style outfit (with hand knitted shoes by a dear internet friend from Pittsburgh).

Maya was pretty in pink (with her handmade shoes, too!) and was more than happy to show off those chunky monkey thighs! So cute!

At Mass today, as I was enjoying holding Maya and watching Peter hold Bobby, listening to a beautiful message, I was caught off guard when, as we prayed for the dead, a certain name was mentioned... The name of the son of friends. We'd been praying for this 38 year old man who was suffering from testicular cancer for some time now and, 2 weeks ago, when I spoke to his mother, they were hoping he would be home from the hospital for Christmas. But this was not to be. This young man, himself the father of an infant, went in for an x-ray last week because they thought he had come down with pneumonia. What they found was cancer. Everywhere. He was told that his days were numbered and sent home. He was on Hospice for one day and died, surrounded by his family, late last night.

As I filled out a Mass card to mail to his mourning parents, I just cracked open and the feelings of losing Nicholas, Sophia, and Alexander rose to the surface. Even though this man had nothing in common with my children... Even though his family had 38 wonderful years and I had mere moments with my children, I know that when his mother looked into his face, she saw the face of her baby, this child that she birthed almost 4 decades ago. That doesnt change. They are always your baby, no matter how old they really are. It was crushing... I sat a the table, trying to find words where there are none, and silently sobbed, knowing that this family is grieving.

Tonight, no matter what you are doing, please do me this favor: stop and say a prayer. Say a prayer for the mothers and fathers mourning children; for the children mourning parents; for the brothers mourning sisters and the sisters mourning brothers. There is so much shared pain in the world; perhaps this prayer can help hold together someone else's broken heart.

14 comments:

Juliet said...

I'm so sorry to hear about your friend and am holding him and his family in my thoughts. I also feel so much empathy for others' losses now that I have seen how much it hurts to lost a son. I never knew there was so much pain in the world, so so much pain.

Bobby and Maya are just gorgeous in their little outfits. They are so sweet.

Debby@Just Breathe said...

I am praying, our children are always our babies no matter how old they are. Bobby & Maya look adorable in those outfits. I will pray for your comfort too.

Sophie said...

I am loving Maya's outfit in particular! Love pink on baby girls!

Yeah, I don't think it will matter how old my boys are. They will always be my babies.

xx

k@lakly said...

Done.
xxoo

Glenda said...

Bobby & Maya are TOO cute in their Mass outfits! I'm saying prayers for Christmas for all who have lost a loved one.

Sophie said...

xx So sorry Michele. It breaks my heart too. I think when you become a mother you gain the ability to see all children as being your own to a certain degree.xx

Anonymous said...

I am sorry that I have been out of touch, but Bobby and Maya are getting so big and they are so beautiful..
Finding comfort at the holidays is so hard for anyone grieving, and to loose a child at any age is devistating. I am praying for the families who are missing a loved one this holiday, and I keep thinking what a beautiful birthday party Jesus has with our little angels and missing loved ones.

With love from Pittsburgh!!
Meg

Anonymous said...

Michele, I will definately say some extra prayers. You are right. There is so much sadness going on.

Heather said...

Bobby and Maya are looking as cute as ever!

And I will pray for this family. How terribly sad. I was thinking these same things as I heard Brittany Murphy had died at 32. I don't really follow celebrities, but when I saw that it struck me, because I remembered she is someone's baby too, and how horrible it is to lose a child at any age...

Leah said...

I'm so sorry about your friend's son that passed away. So sad and tragic. :(

quadmom said...

Bobby and Maya look so cute in those little outfits. I am sorry for this poor family's loss, and I will say a prayer for all families who have lost someone dear to them.

Holly said...

They look so cute!!

Oh gosh, I am saying a prayer right now.

The Swann's said...

I'm so very sorry to learn about your friend who passed away. So young. Many prayers for you and all that knew him.

Tammy On the Go said...

bear you one another's burdens...love in Christ..your babies are beautiful