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, your mama’s heart! How it must ache even now at your loss and rejoice each day in the blessing of little Rose. This is beautiful and powerful, Jennifer.
Peace and grace,
Tammy
I’m so glad you dropped by Tammy. Yes, there is a special place in my heart for Candy & Benjamin but I know they’re in the arms of Jesus which is such a comfort to this mama’s heart.
My lovely three gifts are the delight of my life! And these beautiful daughters have given me 7 more little gifts! God’s blessing just keeps on giving! 😀
Jennifer, you’ve shared this with us so beautifully! God bless you, Sister! 🙂
Thank you Tai 😀
You are most welcome, Jennifer! 🙂
I’m a little late for Easter, but I just found your blog through Mary Geisen’s blog and thought I would drop by to see what you are sharing. Thank you for sharing your story. It is very touching and filled with such love. God is good, and so faithful. Isn’t it wonderful that He answers prayer in His own way and not the way we think He should? And now you are enjoying those grandchildren, an added gift and bonus which came because of that Easter Saturday years ago. May God continue to bless you abundantly.
Im glad you dropped by, the Easter blessing is year long in my books, so lovely to have a cuppa with you! You’re always welcome.
Yes I agree I’m so glad He answers our prayers in His wisdom not ours. And your right the blessings of that Easter just keep on giving with my grandies 😀 my cup overflowth!
Just like God’s blessing of that first Easter!
Surviving and thriving, so many of us are. Although there’s goodness in the end here my heart still aches with compassion for all that you’ve lost. 🌹
Thank you Mishka, I appreciate your compassionate heart. I hope you are having a kind day today ♥
Powerful story, Jennifer! So glad you invited me to read it from my guest post on Lyli Dunbar’s blog! Thankful your baby girl brought such hope and blessing into your life. Love this, “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…”
Thank you Karen, I’m glad you stopped by, yes we have a powerful God! 😀
My daughter was born six weeks early. The placenta also died. She was 4 pounds when she was born. She was so tiny and still is today at almost 8 but she sure is a spitfire. Thanks for sharing your story.
How amazing Kelleyn that we have a similar story! Glad you stopped by for our tea time together 😀
Ah, Jennifer … there’s grace and mercy in your story … and so much hope shared. Bless you …
Yes Linda, I agree His grace, mercy & hope in a little new life. Lovely having you drop by! 😀
What a wonderful story, something special for your basket.
Absolutely Rebecca! 😀
What a beautiful story of love and loss and how God weaves it all together. Thank you for sharing. laurensparks.net
A pleasure Lauren, lovely having you drop by 😀
What a beautiful story about your precious little blessing who was delivered the day before Easter! I have said this before, but I am so sorry for the loss of your two children within a year of each other. You are a strong woman! Your strength comes from God!
Thank you Laurie, yes indeed His strength is my strength, I can’t do this life without Him!