Jumping in the pool......

during the last year i have been reading blogs of young women i've never met and probably never will. my daughter's friend had a baby that developed meningitis immediately after birth and as a result suffered some brain damage and cerebral palsy. the baby was very sick and we were so grateful when God brought her through the crisis; i have followed her progress daily. but then i saw the link for elliot and from that claire and from that all the others, jonathan, poppy, miller grace and more. i checked every day on the progress of the babies who survived even for just a short time and on the mothers whose babies were still safely snugged inside the womb even for a short time.

a couple of weeks ago late one night i admitted to myself that it was strange that i felt so connected to these women my daughter's age. i almost laughed at the thought that there was some unknown reason i felt the pull to these sites. i even said to myself wouldn't it be weird if for some strange reason there WAS a reason i was filling up on the words of these struggling, hopeful, despairing, faithful families.

when my daughter lost her baby last week i would hardly accept the fact that surely God had placed me in front of my laptop so that He could fill me with His promises, His comfort and His grace. often while reading i had been in awe of the strength of these mothers - the words they typed that revealed a deep spirituality and Christian understanding of their journey. not without some anger or doubts, of course. just raw honest grieving.

several readers as well as the moms themselves have commented on my daughter's blog. they have emailed me. they, who are members of one of the most devastating mom's club, even in the midst of recent grief, have reached out to my daughter in her grief. the day after poppy's burial, there was angie commented to my daughter, comforting, lifting her up in prayer. selflessly.

i've tried to explain to those who don't even know what a blog is just how meaningful it is to be a part of a community of women who are strangers in some ways, but sisters in others. i've tried to explain just how important it is to have the support and prayers of these who have walked the same path - even those we've never met.

there is one blog i've just come across and the title of the blog is "the ripple effect". i think that pretty much sums up how God works through this new technology. i have seen how the ripples of this sad, hopeful pond of murky water reach further and further, the circles getting bigger and bigger pulling in those who might even be reading out of curiosity or just with a compassionate heart. and i've seen how He clears the waters with His grace and love and comfort.