Welcome! Glad you are here as I continue to talk about God sized dreams here each Tuesday and link up with other dreamers over at Holley’s site. Have you been there yet? Want to join us?? We’d love to hear how you are chasing after those dreams of yours!
Today we are sharing about how we have taken a small step towards our dream and pay it forward by encouraging others.
I have always said that I want this space to be one of encouragement….and I pray that it is. But I didn’t quite expect that it would be a place where I would find myself so encouraged as well.
There is such an amazing community of believers that gathers here on the WWW. Sharing hurts, being transparent, bringing hope.
I started blogging shortly after a miscarriage I had in 2008. Then it was a “family blog” that I created to get back into journaling that had, for many years, brought me comfort.
I was frustrated and angry and hurt about our pregnancy loss. While it was early….it was still a loss, to me. From the moment I discovered I was pregnant, it was a child of mine and I was so excited.
And then I heard about Angie Smith. She too was facing the imminent loss of their daughter Audrey. She started a blog to record that journey and have a place to update all of the family and friends that cared about her.
And she had such a grace and a faith in this journey. I was so blessed and encouraged and challenged by her words. By her transparency. Sure she wanted a different outcome for her daughter, yes she was angry with God – but she didn’t turn from Him. She ran to the only One that could rescue her from the darkness.
And I knew that if she could do it….well so could I.
Such a blessing she was to me…she doesn’t even know. I was so lost and broken and bitter and I felt that God had abandoned me. But through her words each day I saw hope. I saw the face of Christ and I wanted more.
I wanted more for myself and my family. I wanted to find this God she talked about, a God that I had long turned away from.
And I found Him….no – He rescued me from myself and reminded me of who He was.
And because of that I want to pay it forward here…to give back what was so freely given to me. Love and grace and HOPE.
This weekend a good friend called me. Someone she is friends with had a miscarriage this past week and was really struggling. This friend of mine knew that I had walked this path as well….she called me to find out how she could best support her friend…the right things to say to offer comfort.
I was so humbled by that call.
My heart breaks for this woman who is now herself fighting the darkness. The “whys”, the pain that only a mother that has lost a child knows. It can feel like a dark and lonely place. But she isn’t alone!
That is why blogging is so important to me…because here, sometimes more than any other place, we find those that have walked the same path…those that have faced the same challenges and walked in the Light.
These hearts, these beautiful souls have found a way to bring light in a dark world…and I am so grateful to each of them. And I hope to do the same.
If you have recently had a pregnancy loss I would love to pray with and for you. Would you leave me a comment and tell me about your story. Sometimes, especially as women, we just need a safe place to share. This is that place!
One of the things that was most helpful to me during my loss was something a counselor suggested I do. She told me to write a letter to the child we had lost…say all the things a mommy would say. It really helped me and provided me some peace during that time. The post I wrote is here.
How have you been encouraged as you follow your dreams and how are you paying it forward? I’d love to hear!
Well said and well done, Kristin. You’re an encouragement to many.
Thank you Kristin – I am so very blessed that we met through this group. You continue to be an encouragement to me as well!!
Kristin – You have made this blog such a place of encouragement for all. Thank you for being so open and honest about the path you have walked.
Amy thank you for your sweet words!!
Beautiful, friend. I know God is going to use you…He already is. Sometimes we just need that person who has been there, who gets those feelings, who is willing to listen and love. I do have a story, one that I’ll message you if that’s ok. 🙂 Thank you for your giving heart…you are a blessing, and I’m thankful for you!
Hi Kristin,
2 Corinthians 1:4 says, “…who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
God uses what we go through so that we (through Him) can help others. I can relate to your post today. I had a miscarriage 9 1/2 years ago. Although, I could see no purpose at the time, I knew He had His reasons to allow it. I was not very far along in my faith journey at the time, but I clung to Him, and through it, He showed me more of Himself. Looking back, I can see so many ways my faith and trust in Him grew during that time, and since then. I’m in no way saying it was easy. There have been many times, some just recently, that I’m surprised when I can’t speak the words without crying.
In the past few months, God allowed me to see how He would use my experience to comfort another. I had no profound words, but I was able to say, “I won’t tell you I understand how you feel, because every single situation is different. However, I do understand the emotional and physical pain of a miscarriage, and if you want to talk, I’ll listen.”
Maybe that provided the safe place you wrote about. No judgement or opinions. Just a safe shoulder to cry on and a compassionate ear to listen.
Thank you, Kristin, for allowing God to work through you.
In Christ,
Laura
I’ve never experienced a miscarriage, I have friends that have or are going through long valley’s of infertility. Most of the time I’m not sure what to say. But like you said sometimes when we’re going through tough things we just want a safe place to share and unload, and I don’t have to say anything. I need to listen and be there. I may not understand but I can be available. You are an encouragement!
I experienced a miscarriage 25 years ago. I was 20 weeks pregnant with twin girls. Oh the devastation. But you are reminding me that God used that pain to minister to others. Because while I don’t know their pain…I know of it. You are offering a safe place here. Thank you!
This was our discussion in our bible study this morning…how our pain can be used to encourage someone else….thankful for your words today.
What beautiful post Kristin! I love how God is using you! I’ve been through 2 miscarriages, and can totally relate to the pain and such sadness! Grateful for your words. You are a true encouragement and blessing to many, dear friend!