Tough Times for ALL to See…

Amanda on March 21st, 2009

How do you handle tough times when it feels like everyone is watching? From marriage to kids…it can be a hard place to be, when all eyes are on you.
Mindy had a great post…

Hi.
I was curious to know if there are other YM wives that have dealt with the death/illness of a child/infertility while in ministry? This is something that my husband and I have gone through. Due to these situations it has completely changed my involvement with the ministry as well as my whole outlook. These are such difficult situations to go through and yet twofold, going through them in the public eye and still being a good role model.

Mindy

Discuss (12)

Deanna at 10:29am March 21

We have gone through three miscarriages during our time in ministry. It certainly grew my level of compassion and care for others who were going through times of struggle…. but in the midst of our own crisis, it was so difficult to know how to manage all of the emotions. It felt like everybody knew…. people avoided because of lack of words to say…. so I found that I would just cling to my closest friends who would walk the road with us, pray for us, continue to encourage us to keep seeking God’s heart, and give us a shoulder to cry on.

Mary at 7:57am April 28

Hey there,

About 2 years ago my husband and I lost our baby. We knew he was sick and would not make it. We actually found out that something was wrong the same week we moved to our new church. That was tough, trying to start our ministry at a church and trying to come to terms with loosing our baby. We were there three months when we had our little boy, Alex. It was so tough because I wanted to quite life! It was the end of my world. But, I wanted to be “ok” in front of my church! God really worked through me during this time and helped me to simply be real with my emotions and allow the church to see me at my darkest moments but to see how God pulled me through this! When people see pastors, youth pastors, etc and their wives go through a hard time they seem to watch every move you make to see if you really talk the talk and walk the walk (know what I mean?) But God did something through loosing our little man, He opened so many doors for people to see that when you go through these things that all you can do is lean on Him, and those people that seem to want to watch you “fail” are the people that are their to pull you up from the ground! Give glory to God that he see’s you and each of us that have gone through the death of a child the honor of sharing our testimony to others by our actions and our words that will leave His footprints on their hearts forever!!
A couple of resources that may help you out: you may have heard of them but they really helped me!!
-sarah’s laughter (you can google and find their site) awesome awesome ministry for death of a baby, infertility, miscarriages, etc

-”Grieving the baby I never knew” is a devo. book that was incredible!

-”Holding onto Hope” is a book by a lady who lost 2 babies!

I pray Mindy that you will allow God to move in your heart like never before during this time!!! If I can leave you with one thought is simply be real…with yourself, your husband, and your church!!!

I told God after loosing Alex that I would serve Him in this! I would share my testimony to help others! If you need to ever talk or anything please feel free to contact me! My email is mary_usm2004@yahoo.com