Reflection for Friday, Feb 29, 2008

Romans 9:1-18

This morning there was an email from our HR director with funeral information for a co-worker's son. He was only three months old. I was thinking about Beth's scary story about James' hospital visit and I thought about the immense loss of losing someone who had a name, thoughts, connected with his parents through scent, touch, and the other ways parents connect with infants but had only a few breaths, never celebrated a first birthday, nor had the chance to do so many wonderful things that we as humans get to do on Earth. As I read the Romans chapter for today I was thinking about the mercy and compassion God shows every day and also of the senselessness and sadness of everday tragedies.

Ultimately we might not have control of everything that happens, life will bring joy and tragedy, but in communication and in faith with God, our journey is made easier, not to say that it is ever easy. The loss of a baby is extraordinary, my ability to empathize is limited because I have never had a child or personally know the loss of someone so young, but this verse reminds me that God's compassion is great and that even in the wake of death, we are not alone.

by Breisen Miller