Gifts are wonderful things.
They are practical symbols expressing the love, fondness or gratitude from one person to another.
Welcome to our precious time together dear friend!
Easter is always a special time for me for some very important reasons, some may surprise you.
I have a new tea blend to try today Ginger, apple & lavender tea accompanied by a slice of moist gf Apple & Cinnamon cake with delicious lemon frosting.
I have set my dining table in tea party style for us, as the Easter season is a time for both reflecting & celebrating!
Now we are seated at our festive table, I would like to share a story with you about a special gift I received many years ago at Easter.
It was 1984 & it had been a difficult few years as we had lost my daughter Candy in 1982.
And we had just had the first anniversary of my son Benjamin’s death…their story shared Here
I had also lost my closest friend, sixteen weeks before that Easter to a rare blood virus.
We had met in the 7th Grade & had been best buddies since that first meeting, which was her rescuing me from a bully (she was 5’10” tall in grade 7 & the bully listened to her!).
So my grief was very raw as that Easter season began.
Good Friday’s solemnity for Christ’s death & sacrifice on the cross for us had a new found meaning for me that year as never before.
But there was hope…
I was also expecting the arrival of my 5th child, due eight weeks from that Easter, that was such a precious hope to look forward to.
However God had other plans, you see I hadn’t been feeling very well in the week leading up to Easter, which was of great concern to me having lost two children within a year of each other. I started to pray in earnest…
Later that evening I went into labor, I reasoned that this was not how it was supposed to go with my Heavenly Father!
I reminded Him that I still had another eight weeks in my pregnancy (as if He didn’t know) pleading Him to please allow my child to stay in the womb to allow time for maturity of development.
On Easter Saturday afternoon my new little daughter was born, eight weeks premature (which was a serious issue back in 1984), very much alive with unusually strong lungs & a head full of beautiful auburn hair.
Her lungs were so mature, that she had no need of the Humidi crib the medical staff had in preparation! The Obstetrician & Padiatrician both called her a miracle!
We named her after my dear late friend, her name meant grace in Hebrew & coupled it with her mother’s name of Rosa (which means rose).
I felt so relieved & overjoyed at this beautiful gift
Of His love & grace in this new little life, such a precious blessing from my Heavenly Father, who knew what it was like to go through the death of a child, His Son Jesus.
As the Obstetrician examined the placenta, he found it was severely compromised, it had been in the process of dying, apparently it would not have sustained my child in the womb for another week!
Yes, His precious love & grace had intervened!
God had been answering my prayers but in a way I had not understood at the time by an unexpected premature birth which led to saving a precious new life!
On that easter Sunday morning of 1984, as the sun rose above the horizon in all its glory, I sat nursing my new little daughter remembering God’s Son Jesus who had also risen in glory & I knew what that victorious new life in Him meant.
And that is the good news of the Easter message my friend, spiritual New Life through Jesus!
He went through death on a cross & rose to new life eternal so that we too, may enter that same life today…
Jesus said…”I came that they may have life, & may have it abundantly. “
John 10:10b
Do you know that precious gift my friend? No? Then you may want to go to Prayer now.
Until next time…
Jennifer
You’re most welcome to join me in The Reading Nook
© 2019 Jennifer M. Ross, teawithjennifer.blog All Rights Reserved. Photos on Pexels.com
Featured at Lauren’s Grace & Truth Link-up
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Oh, Jennifer! I am so thankful you stopped by my blog and left such sweet encouragement! It is such a blessing to “meet” you and to read your words today. I am so sorry to hear of your deep, deep losses, and I am so thankful God sent you that precious little pre-mature baby girl to comfort you in your grief. I hope all continues to be well with you and with her today and trust you had a wonderful Easter. May God’s blessings continue to follow you!
Yes, she is a Mama herself now with three lovely children, such amazing grace 😀
Lovely to have you drop by & glad you enjoyed your time here.
You’ve certainly weathered so many heartbreaking losses, Jennifer! I’m so sorry about that! But I’m glad that you are brave enough to share your story here and encouraged that God gave you the gift of your sweet daughter too! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for your kind words & encouragement.
What a beautiful story, Jennifer! Easter is the perfect time for a gift of new life and I love how it showed God’s love and care over the details at a time when I’m sure you needed that reassurance. Easter blessings to you!
Thank you Lesley, Easter blessings to you! 😀
Oh what a beautiful story of God’s perfect timing and grace! He certainly does hold every moment of our days within HIS hands. And, oh, what a precious memory you have every Easter now, rejoicing in the New Life that our Risen Savior brings! Blessings to you this Resurrection Sunday!
Absolutely Bettie! ♥
Wow, thank you for sharing this beautiful story!! Happy Easter!! Also, wanted to tell you that I nominated your blog for the Mystery Blogger Award because your blog is encouraging to me! You don’t have to participate, but here’s the link if you do. Thanks again and keep writing to encourage, inspire and strengthen! http://devotionsofgrace.home.blog/2019/04/20/the-mystery-blogger-award-2019/
Oh thank you Crystal I feel truly honored by your nomination! I’m so glad you find encouragement in our times together 😀 Happy Easter my friend!
I love this precious story, Jennifer! Thanks for sharing it here. It reminds me of a specific Easter memory for me….March 26, 1967…at 6AM that morning my precious hubby stepped off a plane in OH after we had been apart for 14 months while he served military duty in South Vietnam and our first child was born. What an Easter gift that was and he got to meet our 8 month old son for the very first time.
Oh Pam, what a joyful & exciting time that must have been for you all! We have so many blessings in our lives when we travel down memory lane don’t we… 😀
Cute socks ❤
Thank you 😀
After the sad loss of your daughter and son, your new precious daughter was certainly a gift from God. Wishing you a blessed Easter.
Thank you Jill, I hope you have a safe & blessed Easter too. Lovely having you drop by 😀
Jennifer, what a beautiful story of His love and grace. God always has the perfect time, I rejoice that your beautiful girl was on His timetable. Blessings on this most Holy Week, He is risen!
He has risen indeed Pam! 😀 Yes, our children are definitely His gifts of love & grace to us ♥
Your daughter was indeed a precious gift after so much grief and loss Jennifer. Wishing you a blessed Easter.
That she is Brigid, may you have a blessed & safe Easter. 😀