I was writing this week and thinking of how far I've come in the last (almost) 3 months. I looked back to the first post I wrote when everything had just happened. Then I read through some of the other posts.
I remember each of those moments vividly, and I'm glad that I have recorded them here. I think that God will lead me back to them when time's get tough and I can see how He's carried me.
My sweet friend told me not long ago, "Natalie, you are not writing this blog, God is." That was such a compliment to me and I hope and pray that those words can be true. I want God to use me.
God is really doing a work in the heart of my Husband and I, and I want him to get the glory!
Our story is a sad one, no doubt, but my prayer is that God has spoke to you through the words I write here. Many of you have shared that they have, and I'm so thankful for that.
I was wondering if there were certain posts that spoke to you? If so, would you be willing to share which ones? I would love to hear how the experiences and comfort the Lord has given me, has affected you.
I was thinking about His eye is on the Sparrow. The Snow Globe. The Birdcage and the Quilt. Putting the pieces back together. My Maddie Grace and here crowns. God has really showed His hand hasn't He?
I feel blessed to have a place to share my thoughts and how the Lord is carrying me through this difficult time.
I would love to hear from you and what has touched your heart.
Much Love,
Natalie Ross
I recently stumbled upon your blog and sort of had to catch up on posts. But I have to say that everyday I read your posts, they minister to me. I love watching you depend completely on the Lord in the midst of your deep pain. He is carrying you through, and that is such a testimony to all of us. And also a witness to our dying world that has no hope. You shine His light and write so beautifully!! I have read some other blogs of families that have lost their babies, and I want to point them all here so that they can come to Him and drink from His water and never be thirsty. I want them to be able to have what you have, which is Christ as they walk through this most difficult path. I know that only He can truly comfort them and give them peace. Only He can do that. I just cannot imagine the pain!! But I know you are SO thankful you have Him. And it is clear that He is working in your life. Much love to you today, Cara
ReplyDeleteNatalie,
ReplyDeleteI believe the post that sticks out to me to most right now is, "When you say nothing at all". There are so many hurting hearts out there, they are all around us. We hold the answer and so many times we say nothing. I think we want to help and encourage, but just don't know how. I'm a pastor's wife to an amazing church, and so many of them are hurting, and in so many different ways. They need someone to help them thru these difficult times. I will need comfort at some point in my life and this post helped me to realize that I need to help and love and encourage those that are hurting around me. Thank you for you testimony.
II Corinthians 1:3-4 "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God."
Natalie,
ReplyDeleteI appreciated especially the post about "storms of life". I like it so, because you recognize the battles of all sorts...so often BLM's focus on those only like THEM. They tend to gravitate to those most like them. You are not that way according to that post. I also saw a glimpse of hope in that post cradled by you faith in the creator. The trueness in your words struck a cord with me. Thank you for that post.
~Felicia
Hi Natalie, I shared with you personally, but I want to share with others also how much you have touched my heart. I think my favorite post thus far was the "mustard seed" post. God really can move mountains if we just have faith. Sometimes in the darkest of valleys that faith feels totally out of reach. Yet, you have reminded me that it isn't! I am so thankful for that. I am so thankful for you and for your writing! I love watching God work in your life and in turn, He is working in my life. I hope that during my dark times that I am the light that you have been. May God bless you always! Love always, Laura
ReplyDeleteThe post that has helped me the most and really stuck with me is the one where you talked about how we all have our own idea about what our perfect family, perfect house, etc. should be, and we never stop to ask God what He wants for us. I read your post about this and was so convicted. Then, I went to a youth rally and heard Tony Hutson preach, and in his sermon, he said something like this, "Too often we say 'what is God's will for my life?', when we should be saying, 'here is my life for God's will.'" Again I was so convicted.
ReplyDeleteGod is doing a wonderful work through you and sweet Maddie Grace. Thank you for letting the Lord use you! Janell
The first post is what sticks out to me the most and that is because of everything leading up to that.
ReplyDeleteThroughout my pregnancy I recall Rhonda and Audrey mentioning you. Rhonda had told me that your due date was January 11th and that was mine as well. She also told me that she just knew you were going to have a girl and how bad you had wanted that. The morning I was in labor I dropped my kids off to Audrey and she said that you had been induced the night before. Later that night she had told me you had delivered and it was about five hours after Riley was born. I thought it was crazy how everything was happening. We had the same due date, we were both having a girl and we delivered on the same day. Our girls are definitely connected in some way.
I will never forget the day that I came home from the hospital. It was January the 8th and when my mom brought my kids to me she had told me about your baby girl. I instantly broke down. I was sitting there with my baby girl trying to imagine how you were feeling and I just couldn’t. I tried to understand how something so awful could happen to such a good person. When I read that first blog it changed me forever. You and Maddie have brought me closer to God. Every time I read your blog it reminds me how good God is. I want you to know that I will never forget your precious Maddie Grace. Every time I look at my girl I think of her. Every time I see or hear a bird I think of her. If I see a snow globe I will think of her. Every time I see snow I will think of her.
Thank you for sharing your journey through this difficult time in your life. I will continue to pray for you and your family. If you ever need anything I am here for you.
Love,
Lindsay Fitzpatrick
Hi Natalie,
ReplyDeleteI found your blog through a friend who went to college with you. I have been reading each day and you are constantly on my mind and I pray for you so often. I have really learned from each post but to answer your question I will tell you what happened tonight. We went to dinner at restaurant we go to a lot. We seemed to always have the same waitress and we got to know her a little. She told us when she found out she was pregnant and she would always ask me questions about things to register for and so on. We saw her all the time. well, we haven't been there in about a month and when we went tonight she was there. She did not wait on us but when I saw her I waved her over to say hi. As she came to my table I knew RIGHT away something was very wrong. She said to me, "I lost him." Because of your "When you say nothing at all post" I was able to keep the conversation going. I asked her to tell me about him and I ask her questions and let her talk for the little time she could. We were both in tears and it was heartbreaking. She then had to go wait on her tables and as she left the Lord brought you to my mind. I had a tract in my purse and I wanted to give her that and your blog website. I wrote on the tract how to find you and when she came back I said, One thing I know for sure is that little Joey is in HEAVEN and I want you to know for sure how you can go to heaven as well and see him one day so I am giving you this to read. She said, "well, I hope he is in heaven" and I reassured her that he is. I also told her about your blog and told her she should definitely start reading it for encouragement. I knew by the way she answered me that she was probably not saved and I knew if she started reading your blog that she could get to know the Lord and get saved. So, I really really encouraged her to go and look you up so my prayer is that she will and that she will come to know the Lord through all of this.
Thank you for writing and sharing your heart. You are a wonderful testimony and where I would not have known what to say in the past I was able to talk to her and plant a seed about the Lord and for that I am so very thankful!
Every time I see a birdie I think of Maddie and every time I hear the song "Oh rejoice in the Lord, He makes no mistakes" I cry and think and pray for you.
Michelle
I love love loved the story about the Quilt. Truely helped me heal through a difficult circumcstance. However, all your posts are truely inspiring. I know it may sound kind of crazy but I think if you can be prasing God with all you been through why am I am I complaining. God through you and your story has turned me in to an optimist. God Bless.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Ross,
ReplyDeleteIt has been laid on my heart to comment on your blog for a while now and I took this post as a clear sign that I am suppose to! I am from Tennessee, 21, and a newlywed. Your posts have encouraged me SO much! The Lord is so good to us and reading your blog has made this even more real to me. I know He allowed me to start reading your blog to reveal Himself to me even more.
I have two beautiful nieces that mean so much to me and cannot imagine life without them. However, knowing that anyone can go through loss is sobering, but through your testimony and the testimony of your daughter Madeline it is possible with Christ. I lost my Dad to cancer two years ago and in a way reading your blog has helped me heal even more from that loss. The Lord is so good and sends us exactly who/what we need at exactly the RIGHT time! :) I cannot imagine going through what I did without the Lord.
There are so many things we cannot control, but one thing we can:
Joshua 24:15
"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; ...: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
We can choose to serve the Lord, no matter what! :)
-Hannah
My favorite post is the one about, I see Grace. I loved that one. God bless you for sharing His heart on your blog and for being faithful to Him. Thank you so much.
ReplyDelete