Friday, February 24, 2012

the BLESSING of a photo

About two weeks ago, somehow I found my way to the website stillbirthday. As a believer, I know it was not by coincidence, but the very hand of God that led me there. I clicked on the link that shows photos of the different gestational ages of babies who were miscarried or stillborn. They are listed so parents can know what to expect if they know beforehand they will be experiencing a pregnancy loss. Or, if they already had a pregnancy loss and never saw the baby, they can see about what size the baby would have been.

I scrolled down the page and saw a photo of a 6-week gestational age baby that was miscarried. My breath caught in my throat as my mind wonders back to February 2009, to thoughts of my own 6-week gestational age child. I clicked on the photo and it led me to Bethany's blog. The photo is of her precious child, who she has named Blessing, that she miscarried.

Although it is a photo of Blessing, it feels as if I am seeing my Luke Shiloh. God wanted me to see it because it has brought me to a whole new place in my grief journey over the loss of my little precious child. I am so thankful Bethany shared it. I have only ever seen textbook images of babies this gestation and now, because of her sharing this photo, the Lord has brought greater healing and closure. My heart was very heavy when I saw the photo, yet I felt a deeper connection to this baby in Heaven and like my mind now understands in a deeper way that this was a real person.

"A person's a person, no matter how small." -Dr. Seuss

Seeing the arms, fingers, head, body...it is so powerful, beautiful and amazing. I pray that whoever sees this photo, whether you are Pro-Life or Pro-Choice, that your eyes and heart would be opened like never before. This is not tissue or a blob of cells, this is not a choice. This is a precious, valuable, sacred LIFE. An unmistakably human life. Look how our God forms a baby in a matter of just 6 weeks in the quiet, secret place of his mother's womb. It is such an incredible miracle to behold.

Blessing's life was not in vain and neither is my Luke Shiloh's life. The Lord is speaking volumes through each of their lives, telling the world how precious each unborn baby is to him. Blessing and Luke Shiloh are together, dancing eternally with the Savior, on streets of gold.

If you've had an early miscarriage, I pray this photo brings you healing. If you've had an abortion early in your pregnancy, I pray this photo will bring closure and that you will look to Christ to bring you the healing only He can give.

One single picture speaks what a thousand words cannot.

"I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well." ~Psalm 139:14


Please take the time to leave a comment on this post to help me win a blog contest! Whoever has the most comments wins. Thanks! :)

I am also hosting a blog contest, that ends on Lily Katherine's second Heavenly birthday, March 16th. Feel free to enter!

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45 comments:

  1. A beautiful post (yet again) I will be thinking of you this week, Jennifer xxx

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  2. Oh that first photo is just amazing. I'm 6 weeks pregnant right now (shh don't tell ;) it's not public on my blog yet), so that is just perfect for what I need from now. Thank you. xoxo

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  3. That was such a wonderful post. I am so happy to read your blog your honesty is so refreshing and comforting. I cant wait to go to the web-sight to see pictures. Thank you for another great resource!

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  4. Thank you so much for sharing how you were led to stillbirthday, and what the site has done for you. I am always thankful when it connects us loss mothers to one another.

    Did you know that we are currently having a blog contest? This post could be submitted to enter, if you'd like for it to be. I'll put the link here for you, so you can see where your post would be. http://stillbirthday.com/2012/02/03/blog-contest/ (my comment here wouldn't count for the contest).

    Thank you for blessing me today.

    May you find continued healing...

    Blessings,
    Heidi Faith

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  5. Hi Hannah,
    I love your honesty, your guts, and most of all your courage. Thank you for posting this for all to see. You are truly a blessing :-) Miss you.

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  6. Blessings to you Hannah Rose, all this month. Thinking of you and your little ones.

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  7. Hannah Rose,

    As He so often does with your posts, God used this one to drive home even more deeply my understanding of the love the Father has for all His precious children....those yet unborn, those here and those in heaven. Thank you for sharing your heart with us.

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  8. this story is truly a blessing!!! you can get something out of it even if you personally have not gone through it. after hearing this i had a friend who lost her baby and hearing Hannah Rose talk about how it gave her closure made me feel more conected to this young lady and her lost baby. also more sempathetic in her possition at the time. thank you for sharing Hannah Rose God has Exceding blessings for you and your future! your friendship has been a great blessing to me! :) love you to the moon and back! <3 JEV

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  9. your brother, AdamMarch 10, 2012 at 8:36 PM

    I hope you win the contest, Hannah.

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  10. So tiny. Life is so precious!

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  11. This is a beautiful post and tribute to the miracle of life. Life truly is a miracle!

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  12. You have a beautiful way with words, Hannah. Thank you for sharing your story so honestly and openly. <3

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  13. I lost a baby early in the pregnancy and that little picture really shows what a beautiful little person they are even when they are so little.

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  14. This picture is truly amazing and beautiful. Thank you for sharing your journey with me. I am better for having read and being aware of the happenings in others lives. Love you girl!

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  15. I just want to comment on this a hundred times for you! Your words spoke like medicine, so healing and soothing to the heart on such an ale subject. Prayers to you and your angel babies<3

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  16. Thanks for sharing this part of your jorney, Luke Shiloh is a perfect name and those pictures really do open up your heart and eyes. Love you, Karen.

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  17. Oh, oh, oh. What a humbling post. It really goes to show the Greatness of our God and how He knows each of us from the womb (Jeremiah 1:5). Thank you for the lovely post! :)

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  18. It's amazing to think of the things God does because of His love for us... You and Lily and Luke are precious to Him - you were (are) created to worship Him in all, and I praise God that you do - that this is your lifelong and you let it sing loud and clear worship to Him.
    Rachael xx

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  19. Hannah, you are a blessing to those around you and the Lord has given you an amazing testimony.

    Blessings,
    Auna

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  20. Hallelujah! God's hand in the creation of EVERY precious baby is beautiful -awesome - magnificent! I pray our nation will return to believing God's Truth that each human life, at every stage, is valuable, and deserving of dignity and respect. Thank you for this enlightening and lovely post.

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  21. So beautiful. Such a precious one.

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  22. Beautiful post, and such an amazing photo!

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  23. You are such a blessing, Hannah Rose!

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  24. This is beautiful. Those tiny hands made me gasp as well. Isn't it so amazing that God formed baby Luke so perfectly. He will touch many lives, just as Lily has! I love you, dear and will be thinking of you this week. Be strong, as i know you are!

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  25. Hello My dear! You have been such a blessing to me and so many others. Thank you for sharing the marvelous work that our Jesus has done in your heart and life. I am so encouraged! I miss you so much! May our precious Jesus fill you with and extra dose of indescribable joy this week!

    Love you Hannah Rose!

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  26. That was beautiful Hannah Rose:) What a moving picture of Blessing! Our God is the God of break throughs, new beginnings, restoration, there is nothing that is impossible with Him. He will do great things through the children He gave you. I love you and miss you, and will email you soon!

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  27. Great post, sis

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  28. It's so precious Hannah Rose. This picture and your story! I'll never forget it.

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  29. Beautiful, HannahRose. I think of you often! <3

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  30. What an amazing post Hannah Rose! You are such a beautiful young lady and that God has gifted you with a talent of writing!

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  31. Thank you for sharing, Hannah Rose. That picture is amazing. You have a beautiful story and God is going to use you in big ways!! It was fun meeting you yesterday!

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  32. You my friend is such an awesome person!! So strong.. and amazing!! I love your post and love seeing your new journeys that life has to offer for you.. Happy early Birthday Lilly!! You have an outstanding mom! <3

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  33. Thank you. thought provoking and challenging. praying for you on this special night.

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  34. These photos make me curious about the possibilities of how one could question the fact of when life begins. Yes, the FACT of when life begins. Just as a baby grows into a toddler, a six week old en utero grows into a 9 month old en utero.

    Your passion is contagious and your heart is on your sleeve. Thank you for sharing it with us.

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  35. Thinking of you and your special little girl today. Your blogs are so inspiring! Am rejoicing with you in the next step in life the Lord has opened for you. Your life beautifully tells the story of His healing, redemptive love. Love you! A HI from Sierra.:)

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  36. So, I went to Bethany's blog and found a post about how birth control (all forms) actually cause abortions. I had no idea about how the pill really works. I constantly think about how many kids I'm going to have...how many kids I think I can handle..how many we can afford. There is this desire in me to not limit my children. I look at the two I have and the one that I lost and think "Why in the world would I want to prevent myself from carrying, birthing, and meeting these wonderful babies?" Then I think about the reality that I did have a C-section, so I am automatically limited. It's all about trust in God. I have to trust that he knows all about it and he already knows all of my babies. I also like to trust that he knows the baby I lost very intimately and spends time with her every day.

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  37. This post is exceedingly inspiring, uplifting and motivating. Remain firm in your stand for the unborn, no matter what dark forces for evil attempt to shame or frighten you. You are not intolerant. You are not hateful. You are not judgmental. You are not unloving. You are filled with peace. You are filled with light. You are filled with hope. You are filled with love. Never allow the enemy of our souls to rob you of your CERTAINTY in the TRUTH which is JESUS! :)

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  38. This is a very moving post. I am sure your story will open many eyes to the truth.

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  39. Thank you Hannah Rose. Beautiful song and pictures. Love you so much!
    Hannah Lee

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  40. omg. I have miscarried 6 babies. Only got to see 2 of them. this photo hurts.
    Like the pain when you burst an infected wound to allow it to heal.
    Thank you. God Bless

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