Sweet Service

May 28, 2008

Oh Sweet Jeremiah!
Today was the day we buried our precious little man. I loved having him in our home for the day even though there was no cuddling or kissing. It was just nice to have him.

Brian and the boys made a place for him on top of the hill that is directly in front of our house. We can also see that hill from our schoolroom window.

The Celebration

of

Jeremiah's Life

The little box/casket that Brian and the children built.

And the flowers that were brought to me while in the hospital by my parents and my brothers family.


Brian prepared such a sweet service with the perfect hymns and scripture. I did not want it to end. The sun was setting and the evening was perfect. Precious memories were made on that hilltop!

Brian talked about how much Jesus loved Jeremiah.

Our first song was "Jesus Loves Me" ~ not a dry eye as we sang.

Brian read scripture:

Jeremiah 1:5

Psalm 73:25,26

We sang "Soon and Very Soon"

More scripture:

I Cor 15:50

II Cor 4:16-18

Hymn: "Victory in Jesus"


Reading of Our Letters

I started off with my letter first. And then I covered his tiny body with the blanket I crocheted for him. It fit perfectly around him. (He was already tightly wrapped in a cotton so his body was not visible. Brian and I chose to not show the children. I know each of them have a sweet imagery of him in their minds and that is what we wanted them to remember.) Then the children randomly took turns reading their letters. After reading the letter they folded it up and put it in his box. Then they put their gift on top of the blanket that he was snuggled in.

Weston giving Jeremiah his cowboy bandana.

Abbi reading her letter

Maggie placing her painted horse figurine in his box

Elizabeth's picture

Caleb reading his letter.

(Go to an older post labeled Memorial Day to read his letter and others)

Tess helping big brother

All of Jeremiah's gifts and letters

Placing him into the ground

We each took a cut flower from the basket and sang "I'll Fly Away"

We placed the flowers on his box

What a beautiful picture! Oh the love that lies right there.

The moment I had long dreaded ~ burying my baby!

Thank you Lord for this intimate and very special time. We love you and know that you have great plans for Jeremiah and our family. Heal our wounds and fill us up with all that You are. Thank you for embracing each of us into your comforting arms.

" The Lord has apperared of old to me, saying; 'Yes I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt - and shall go forth in the dances of those who rejoice."

Jeremiah 31:3,4


The following is the letter I wrote. It brought so much healing to my heart:

Sweet Jeremiah,

I consider it pure joy and an honor to have been chosen to be your mommy. I enjoyed growing you in my womb. I loved that we were inseparable for those 19 precious weeks. I remember the excitement and tears of joy when I heard your heartbeat for the first time ~ it was my 40th birthday and the sounds of your heartbeat were the best gift ever. You were about 12 weeks.

As your mommy, I selfishly want you back in my womb again. I want you to finish your growing and then come straight to my arms and I want to "kiss your face all over the place". (A popular saying around our home) I want you to fall asleep in my arms after your tummy is full of warm mama's milk. I want to comfort you when you are sick or have scraped knees. I want to watch you play games, laugh hard and snuggle your siblings. I want to watch you grow into a godly man. However, God has bigger and much better plans for you and I take great comfort in that. I have peace and a great amount of joy knowing that you are in the arms of our Almighty God.

The short amount of time we had togheter here on earth has changed my life forever. This whole process of losing you (while here on earth) has been difficult. I long for you to be in my arms. But it has also brought a longing for me to be in the arms of our Saviour - even more. Your life has drawn me to Him in a deeper way.

Oh how I love you Jeremiah Zw___! What a privilege to call you my son. I rejoice in your life ~ the short one here on earth and now the eternal life you are now experiencing. I look forward to the day I will hold you tightly in heaven.

You hold a special place in my heart today and forever.

I love you,

Mom

We planted the Mums on the fresh soil. I pray they will grow like wildflowers.

We Love You, Jeremiah!