Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Sunrise


This morning we said our last goodbye to our sweet, strong baby boy. We sat alone in the dark on the sandy shore of Chincoteague Island with the moon and the stars above us. The winds off the Atlantic were strong and filled the salty air with the sound of waves breaking along the beach. As light began to break across the sky Josh read "I'll Love You Forever" by Robert Munsch. The book was given to us by our very good friends, the Hammers, while Charlie was still battling at Children's. It was the book Marina read to Charlie right before his final surgery and the evening he took his last breath in her arms.

We also read a Bible passage we saw in a blog of another set of close friends, the Leinos. Their son, Isaac, fought the same battle with HLHS. This passage touched us deeply when we read it on their webpage, and we felt it resonated with us.

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me...to grant consolation & joy to those who mourn in Zion - to give them a garland of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, & failing spirit - that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified." Isaiah 61.1 & 3

At long last, but somehow right on time, we have closure. At the dawn of a new day, the first day of June and the unofficial start of summer, we said our final goodbyes to our sweet, strong baby boy. We love you, Charlie.

5 comments:

  1. what a beautiful and peaceful last goodbye! but it's also such a joy to be reminded that it won't be "goodbye" forever! you all will be reunited again :) love you guys, and i pray for continual peace.

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  2. This post brings tears to my eyes. How deeply grateful I am that you were able to share this lasting and final memory with Charlie. Thank you for sharing this. His was a life well lived and that will forever be remembered. We love you, Baer family.

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  3. We love you all and are so glad that God used us to have a small part in this sweet family moment. Praying for you and remembering Charlie today.

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  4. I've typed and re-typed a message here a few times, so all I'm going to say is that I love all of you and am still thinking you and praying for you every day.

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  5. There are several childrens books that always make me cry. . . "i'll love you forever" is one of them. What a beautiful tribute to a baby who gave you a beautiful 25 days. Much love to your sweet family Marina.

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