Blessed Father's Day - Daddies Who Have a Child in Heaven

Blessed Father's Day

Daddies Who Have a Child in Heaven

via 

~Grieving Fathers

People don't always see the tears a dad cries,

His heart is broken too when his child dies.

He tries to hold it together and be strong,

Even though his world's gone wrong.

He holds his wife as her tears fall,

Comforts her through it all.

He goes through his day doing what he's supposed to do,

But a piece of his heart has been ripped away too.

So when he's alone he lets out his pain,

And his tears come like falling rain.

His world has crashed in around him,

And a world that was once bright has gone dim.

He feels he has to be strong for others,

But Dads hurt too, not just the Mothers.

He searches for answers but none are to be found,

He hides behind a mask when he is feeling down.

He smiles through his tears,

He struggles and holds in his fears.

But what you see on the outside is not always real,

Men don't always show how they really feel.

So I'd like to ask a favor of you,

The next time you see a mother hurting over the loss of her child,

please remember…a Dad hurts too.

~~~

~Even Strong Men Cry~

You think because he’s a man he shouldn’t feel the pain,

of having his heart broken and tears that fall like rain.

Men you say are stronger and never show their fears,

they don’t let life destroy them, a fortress through the years.

Let me tell you of a battle waged daily on this dad,

leaving his heart in shreds with no happiness to be had.

Death came to call and took his loving son,

it left his heart broken, his world undone.

This battle has him crying and crawling on his knees,

if you listen you can hear him begging, "Why God, please?"

He sees what it has done to his children and his wife,

as they live daily with grief’s never ending strife.

Now his closest friend, his son, lives beyond the sky,

and when death comes to take your child..... even strong men cry. 

~Charlene Dickerson~ ©2001

~~~

Paul Newman, whose son died of an accidental drug overdose in 1978, said that everything in his life was divided into two periods, 

time before his son died and afterward.

~~~

When you become a Father……..

F = Fearless

A = Amazing

T = Tough

H = Heroic

E = Entertaining

R = Responsible

When Your Child Passes Away……………

F = Frantic

A = Angry

T = Tearful

H = Heartbroken

E = Emotional

R = Reserved

~~~

We are told, “It’s time to move on. Time to get over it. Time to get back to life.” 

How much time is enough time to “get over” death? 

And can we ever “get over” something as life-altering as the death of our child?

~~~

It's an exclusive club.

No one asked us if we wanted to join.

We never imagined we would be here,

but now that we are,

we are in for life.

A life sentence!!

~~~

I'm not sure that I'm ok,

Don't even think I'm fine,

I'm empty on the inside,

But not inside my mind.

My mind can't stop thinking,

What more could I have done,

I really can't stop wondering,

Where did everything go wrong.

I'm not really here at all,

Just the shell is left to see,

I have become someone,

I never thought I'd be.

A Grieving Father

~~~

The journey of grieving takes you from

loving in the presence,

to loving in the absence...

~~~

Don't say they're in a better place, 

please don't even start. 

Don't say that it was just their time  

when it's breaking my heart.

Don't tell me many die young or  

that their life was long 

Don't say that there's a reason   

or they're back where they belong.

Don't say that God needed them more  

or I know just how you feel. 

Don't give me any reasons   

when you're not at the wheel.

Don't tell me I'll get over it   

or any other thesis  

All I know right here and now   

my heart's shattered to pieces.

You don't need to say a thing   

there is nothing you can do. 

Just knowing that you're here for me   

when I've most needed you.

~Toni Kane

all-greatquotes.com

~~~

Letter From A Grieving Father

You can tell me that I'm not the only one hurting, or that he wouldn't want me to grieve. You could combine all the words in the English language, but that won't make this pain leave.

If you think that my jokes and laughter or my ability to complete any task are anything better than my smiles or silence, then you can't see past my mask.

If I seem inattentive or cold, or distant, uncaring, withdrawn... 

If I tell you that everything is fine, would you really know what's going on?

Life doesn't care, or even slow down. Much like a river, it's current can drown. My grief is an anchor that holds me down under as slowly it sets my whole world asunder. 

I'd like to escape and just disappear. But if I run far away from my problems down here, I'd fail much more worse than I've already done. I cannot escape, I cannot run.

I am the backbone that supports those that I love. Much like a column, I'm the support from above. I must be the strength, and as stoic as stone. Never to weaken even when I'm alone.

Never to falter, never to cry. Shedding no tears, these eyes must stay dry. I'll be the shining example of faith and of strength, not just for now-but at any length.

The distractions that are now only partially effective are slightly destructive and no longer corrective. 

This is what happens when I try to hide...I'm brought back to the night that my little boy died.

I'm just a man, and can handle many things. I've been through the worst that this world can bring. I wear those scars like my medals, and now I can see that healing from this is too much for me.

It turns out my toolbox is empty and my efforts were fruitless and my pitiful attempts are shallow and rootless, and in hindsight I should have called out to You... In hindsight I should have known what to do.

So, Heavenly Father, I hope I'm not imposing, but I'd like to request something in closing. From a father on earth with a shattered heart, would you please mend all of my broken parts?

- Matt Newton

~~~

I once had something special that money could not buy   

I had a special person but I had to say "Goodbye."  

If I was asked one question, Why I thought the world of you   

I could give a million answers and each one would be true.  

The heartache and the sadness may not always show   

People say it lessens, but little do they know.   

Meet me in my dreams please, and talk to me once more   

Ease the everlasting pain that makes my heart so sore.  

The road without you is so long, a tear for every mile   

But I know one day when I reach the end   

You will be waiting there with a smile.

Graphics, all thanks to "Grieving Fathers":

Grieving Fathers

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Grieving-Fathers/131616930235995

Graphic 1:
https://mbasic.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=169323223132032&id=131616930235995&set=a.131661973564824.24127.131616930235995&source=46&refid=13

Graphic 2:

https://mbasic.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=597632006967816&id=131616930235995&set=a.131661973564824.24127.131616930235995&source=46&refid=13

Graphic 3:

https://mbasic.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=636152219782461&id=131616930235995&set=a.131661973564824.24127.131616930235995&source=46&refid=13

Graphic 4:

https://www.facebook.com/131616930235995/photos/a.131661973564824.24127.131616930235995/638366176227732/?type=1&relevant_count=1

Graphic 5:
https://mbasic.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=645251605539189&id=131616930235995&set=a.131661973564824.24127.131616930235995&source=46&refid=13

Graphic 6:

https://www.facebook.com/healinghandofgrief

https://mbasic.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=620975214633495&id=131616930235995&set=a.131661973564824.24127.131616930235995&source=46&refid=13

Graphic 7:

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Graphic 8:
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Graphic 9:
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Graphic 10:
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Graphic 11:
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Graphic 12:
https://mbasic.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=623765117687838&id=131616930235995&set=a.131661973564824.24127.131616930235995&source=46&refid=13

Tuesday's Trust - How Do We Have Hope without Despair? - Part Two

The LORD is there to rescue all who are discouraged and have given up Hope.

~Psalm 34:18 CEV

Tuesday's Trust

How Do We Have Hope without Despair?

Part Two

Despair is fleeting; Hope is eternal. 

~Angie Prince

~~~

We cannot appreciate The Light without first being aware of The Dark. 

~Rollin Prince

~~~

Despair haunts me at times. Especially when I get into a place of emptiness and purposelessness.

At those times, I don't know who I am; I don't know what I am capable of doing; I am challenged emotionally, mentally, physically, spiritually, and in strength and endurance. Grief and Trauma are depleting in and of themselves. It doesn't take much more impetus to lose my way and plummet on down into Despair. 

Then when I go before my God in prayer, I immediately feel regret that I have so little to offer Him as I know He sacrificed everything for me.

But then my LORD Jesus comes to me in compassion engulfing me with love. Of course He knows the despair that comes in the fight with Death and Evil. Of course our Father God knows the despair that comes with Child-Loss. 

With such sweet understanding and compassion coming my way, the tears begin to flow, and I am reminded that ALL of this suffering is because of Love for my Child, and that Love matters.


After all, what is our God? God IS Love.

Then I begin, again, to recognize: My suffering has meaning. My suffering is not for naught!

Why did our God allow Himself the suffering of Child-Loss? Why did our LORD allow Himself the suffering of Death? ALL for LOVE. ALL for LOVE. ALL for LOVE.

Why do I grieve my Child? ALL for LOVE.

My Hope returns. Our God values us and our suffering so much that He declares in His word,

"God draws close to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit." 

Psalm 34:18

~~~

 "God heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds." 

Psalm 147:3

Why is God so attendant to the brokenhearted? And why would He store our tears in a bottle?

YOU keep track of all my sorrows. YOU have collected all my tears in YOUR bottle. You have recorded each one in YOUR book.

Psalm 56:8

Why would He collect our tears in His bottle?

He knows all of it... the tears, the suffering, the agony, and the depletion, is because of LOVE, Love for my child. 

He understands, and He embraces me.

It was because of God's love for us that He willingly gave up His only Son to die for us so that we might live, eternally, with Him.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting LIFE.

John 3:16

The world wants to shame me for my weakness and helplessness. They want it to go away, and for me to "move on" away from my suffering...

The LORD understands my suffering. He suffered too.

The Bible clearly tells us it was because of Jesus' love for us that He laid down His life for us, that we can live again, forever with Him.

This is how we know what LOVE is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us.

1 John 3:16

And by His suffering, we also can heal. The Bible even tells us,

"By His wounds we are healed."

Isaiah 53:5 

Our Heavenly Father calls us to be like Jesus, take up our cross, be willing to suffer. Suffering has meaning. Suffering... because of Love.

And that is exactly who God says He IS… God IS Love. 

He suffered for Love. And we will suffer for Love.

God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example and you must follow in His steps.

1 Peter 2:21

But His Love gives meaning to our suffering, restoring our Hope…

I begin to understand anew the value of my suffering. Even though it depletes me, my suffering has Meaning. 

And God begins pouring His hope back into my heart...

And Hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His Love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.

Romans 5:5

~~~

May our LORD touch you and fill you with His joy and peace along with His Hope…

Graphics, thanks to

Psalm 34:18  Lani Stites  ~Pinterest
Psalm 34:18 CEV 

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/315252042636410337/

Jesus Loves Me!   Julie K. (God's Girl Jul)   ~Pinterest
"God Knows" - Matthew 6:8

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/29977153739779547/

Psalm 34:18    Lani Stites   ~Pinterest

Psalm 34:18

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/315252042636614236/

Psalms   I am His child   ~Pinterest

Psalm 147:3

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/520728775635544052/

The Word    Patty Berry   ~Pinterest

Psalm 56:8
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/96616354479550752/

God's Word   Addie Sutherland   ~Pinterest

John 3:16

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/180918110002164248/

God's Word   Addie Sutherland   ~Pinterest

1 John 3:16

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/180918110002359042/

Jesus Loves Me!      Julie K. (God's Girl Jul)   ~Pinterest

Isaiah 53:5

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/29977153739900020/

Jesus Loves Me!      Julie K. (God's Girl Jul)   ~Pinterest

1 Peter 2:21

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/29977153744508094/

The Word   Broaddus Shamblin   ~Pinterest

Romans 5:5

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/154952043401509700/

Jesus Loves Me!   Julie K. (God's Girl Jul)   ~Pinterest

Romans 15:13

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/29977153739879570/

Monday's Mourning Ministry - Walk On the Water ~Britt Nicole

Relying on God has to begin all over again 
every day as if nothing had yet been done.

~C. S. Lewis

Monday's Mourning Ministry

Walk On the Water

~Britt Nicole

Walk On the Water

~Britt Nicole 

You look around 

It's staring back at you 

Another wave of doubt 

Will it pull you under 

You wonder 

What if I'm overtaken?

What if I never make it?

What if no one's there? 

Will you hear my prayer? 

When you take that first step 

Into the unknown 

He won't let you go 

[Chorus:]

So what are you waiting for? 

What do you have to lose? 

Your insecurities try to hold to you 

You know you're made for more 

So don't be afraid to move 

Your faith is all 

it takes in you 

You can walk on the water too 

So get out 

And let your fear fall to the ground 

No time to waste 

Don't wait 

Don't you turn around and miss out 

Everything you were made for 

O I know you're not sure 

So you play it safe 

You try to run away 

When you take that first step 

Into the unknown 

O my God won't let you go 

So what are you waiting for? 

What do you have to lose? 

Your insecurities try to hold to you 

You know you're made for more 

So don't be afraid to move 

Your faith is all 

it takes in you 

You can walk on the water too 

[Bridge:]

(Step Out) 

Even when a storm hits 

(Step Out) 

Even when you're broken 

(Step Out) 

Even when your heart is telling you, telling you to give up 

(Step Out) 

When your hope is stolen 

(Step Out) 

You can't see where you're going 

You don't have to be afraid 

No no no

So what are you waiting for? 

La la la la la...

What are you waiting for? 

What do you have to lose? 

Your insecurities try to hold to you 

You know you're made for more 

So don't be afraid to move 

Your faith is all 

it takes in you 

You can walk on the water

Walk on the water too

Yeah yeah yeah yeah

You can walk on

Yeah yeah yeah

You can walk on the water too

Quote ― C.S. Lewis, Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer

Video: http://youtu.be/Wddc8UzNiG8

Tuesday's Trust - What is Hope without Despair? - Part One

"And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."

~Romans 5:5, NIV

Tuesday's Trust

What is Hope without Despair?

Part One

1 Therefore, since we are justified acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

2 Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God’s favor) in which we [firmly and safely] stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God.

3 Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance.

4 And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation.

5 Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us.

Romans 5:1-5

Amplified Bible (AMP)

~~~

What is Hope Without Despair?

What is Hope without despair?

In plummeting the depths of darkness,

does one finally see?

Left to ourselves, with only our

frail devices, leads to futility.

Grief and Trauma have left us a

shell, where darkness descends

like a living hell,

leaving us no energy to claw 

out of the deep despair,

and even if we could claw our

way out, what would we find there?

Our child is still dead,

our energy has waned,

There are still debts to be paid

and there's our heart's deep pain.

Even the Bible declares we

are the most to be pitied

if this life is all there is… 

Our success-consumed culture

demands, "How is your

bank balance, where are your 

clients, are you tending your biz?"

No, we must learn a new path

for ourselves in this hostile

environment that will not

make room for a parent to 

grieve her child. Can they not 

see grief is at the very heart

of love! And love is the 

very heart of God! 

And God's way may temporarily 

lead to death (look all 

around us, are we not, in 

many ways, the walking 

dead?) but with God's hand's 

creative touch, death is not

the end, it is merely the

beginning of something 

better ~~~ not the re-creation 

of our old life, for we can

never return to that, no,

we must be a new creation

having absorbed the death

of our child, and the lifeless-

ness of ourselves, there is a 

new surge of the dynamos 

that must explode through

us, waking us up, bringing 

us to life, Real Life, not mere

"success" that is empty once

held up to the Light, not a 

hefty-bank account filled with

what will turn out to be only inflated 

fool's gold, not a busy life that 

is too busy to stop for grief ~~~ 

No,

these views of "success" are made of

the old cloth, the cloth that will not 

stand up to our new life and its

treasures that hold grief and

mourning, sadness and

tears, all of which may seem 

depressing to our old eyes,

but our new eyes see the 

hidden treasures of love and

compassion, of a life filled with

God's tenderness and His close

companionship to the broken-hearted

~~~ a life filled with the golden 

awareness that with our God's 

help, we will see our child

again, love will be

re-consummated, hearts will

be made whole, tears will be

reimbursed with the diamonds

of love, joy, peace, laughter ~~~

a new beauty raised up out of

the ashes, a glorious delight

out of the deep mournfulness, 

a spirit of praise out of the 

spirit of despair, a glorious

transformation that can only

give glory to the Creator who

made it all possible. 

Poem ~What is Hope Without Despair? ~ Angie B. Prince, June 4, 2014

Graphic, Thanks to

spiritual  Susan Twiggs ~Pinterest

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/143059725637862362/

Monday's Mourning Ministry - You Won't Let Go ~Michael W. Smith

Monday's Mourning Ministry

You Won't Let Go

~Michael W. Smith

Based on the following Scripture, Michael W. Smith has written a new song, "You Won't Let Go":

God's Promise is Certain

13For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14saying, "I WILL SURELY BLESS YOU AND I WILL SURELY MULTIPLY YOU."  15And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise. 16For men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute. 17In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, 18so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. 19This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, 20where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

~Hebrews 6:13-20

~~~

You Won't Let Go

~Michael W. Smith

No shadow comes without the light making a way
No raging storm can ever defy one word of faith
My heart remains sure in the wind, sure in the waves

You are the anchor for my soul
You won't let go
You won't let go
No matter what may come I know
You won't let go

No valley low, changes the truth
So I'm not afraid
You hold me close
You lead me through and light up the way

You are the anchor for my soul
You won't let go
You won't let go
No matter what may come I know
You won't let go
You won't let go

Neither life, neither death,
The highest high, the deepest depth
Nothing can
Nothing can separate
Neither tears, neither trials
Certain as the sun will rise
Nothing can
Nothing can separate

Neither life, neither death,
The highest high, the deepest depth
Nothing can
Nothing can separate
Neither tears, neither trials
Certain as the sun will rise
Nothing can
Nothing can separate

You are the anchor for my soul
You won't let go
You won't let go
No matter what may come I know
You won't let go

My heart remains sure in the wind, sure in the waves, always...










Graphic, Thanks to

Christian Music Emily Gibson ~Pinterest 

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/142356038196531276/

Video ~ Thanks to

Christian Music Emily Gibson ~Pinterest 

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/142356038196531305/

and YouTube:
Grief Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEQjRNxx_Ok

Sunday's Testimony ~ Jim Caviezel of his Experience in "The Passion of the Christ"

Sunday's Testimony

Jim Caviezel's Testimony of his Experience in 

"The Passion of the Christ"

Jim's Story