Ways to Be Praying

For Rachael: If you pray for one person/one thing, please pray for Rachael. The physical and emotional toll that a woman experiences who goes through having to deliver a still born baby is nothing short of profound. Pray for physical and emotional healing for Rachael and that this healing will occur as she goes through the grieving process in a very healthy way. Pray that her heart would be protected against the lies and schemes of Satan. Pray that the Lord would bring the right people with the right words into her life and across her path at the exact right time that she needs it.

For Haley: Pray that Haley would be able to understand, as best she can as a 2 1/2 year old, what is happening and that, in her own way, she would be able to mourn with us. Pray that Rachael and I would have wisdom in knowing how best to include her in our own mourning. Pray against Haley being confused.

For Aleigha: Pray that Aleigha's story (her life and death) will not have been in vain but that we would see how the Lord is using it to bring significance to her life and death. Pray that the Lord would give us opportunities in the future to help others who go through a similar experience. Pray that the Lord would use this event in our lives to bring lost people to Jesus. Lord, use Aleigha's life and death to bring fame to your name!

For Me: Pray that I would have wisdom to know how to best support and comfort Rachael during this time while at the same time grieving well myself. Pray that Rachael and I would be patient with each other and be understanding of one another as, at times, we grieve differently.

For Tomorrow: We are holding a private graveside service tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. with some close friends and family to say good-bye to our beloved Aleigha. Pray for...
(1) A rain-free service.
(2) That we would have the courage to be OK in letting Aleigha "go" once and for all into our heavenly Father's loving arms.
(3) That Rachael and I would have the strength and grace to make it through this very difficult day.

For the Long Haul: The toughest part of this whole experience will probably begin Saturday afternoon and/or Sunday when we realize we have no more steps to take in the immediate mourning process but rather must begin to figure out how to begin "moving on" without actually moving on in the sense of forgetting about Aleigha and what we have been through. I have a feeling that, even more than right now, the time that we will most need prayer will be in the coming days, weeks and months when everyone but us begins to forget about our experience and our daughter.

Final Thought: I heard someone say that those who grieve the deepest are the ones who end up being the most healthy in the end. The grieving process in losing a child (from what we've been told to be prepared for) is a long and difficult one. Thus, the greatest gift you could give us (Rachael, Haley and I) is to commit to regularly praying for us for the long haul. For that, we would be eternally grateful!