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Well let’s see. I was born during the Blizzard of 1978 in Lima, Ohio. I have lived in Ohio all my life. I like it here. We have corn fields instead of oceans, overpasses instead of mountains and fog instead of smog. Sure it's not the promise land, but sometimes one doesn't need postcard worthy beauty on the outside to have it elsewhere. I'm a writer for fun, a Paralegal for profession, and while one pays the bills, one feeds my imagination, or perhaps my imagination feeds my writing...either way, Writing is as much of who I am as the color of my eyes, or the way that I smile. Blogs are great communication tools, and I'm here to communicate with YOU...yeah, you who's reading this right now....*assuming anyone's out there* *crickets chirp* Alrightee then, IF anyone should find themselves here, be it by accident or on purpose, welcome, glad to have you aboard. Throw anchor, stay awhile! Sunshine & Smiles, ~Heather Lynn~

Friday, June 22, 2012

A community in mourning:


Yesterday a child lost his fight to stay alive.  What had been a fun summer day, of swimming and playfulness turned to tragedy in the blink of an eye, and as I type these words to you, there is a family who is grieving worse than any of us dare imagine.

Every status of all of my friends on facebook, is that of heartbreak for this little boy who's feet once pitter pattered across the hearts of all who met him, and in times like these, there are just no words to offer comfort to someone suffering a loss of this magnatude, but I want to try anyway. 

Complete strangers' hearts have been affected, a community darkened by the loss of the light of one of our own.  I'd take the pain of my three dislocated ribs and I'd take it with joy to avoid the pain this loss is causing so many.

I did not know this child, I at a time knew his Mother.  She being younger than I, but attending the same school, and her brother was my classmate.  I remember her as a young girl, pretty blonde hair and a smile that could light up a room, I just imagine her son likely had her qualities, her uniqueness, a part of her own soul.

I have heard this family has already suffered the loss of a child, and now must endure this second loss, and It's so easy to shake a fist to the heavens and say "WHY GOD, WHY?!?!  WHY WOULD YOU LET THIS HAPPEN?!?!" and it's only natural to do so, because our earthly comprehension, cannot understand Divine intervention.  Our human hearts, can not fathom Godly love and Divine destiny.

I read a quote and it made me feel uplifted, and it was: 

"An Angel in the book of life wrote down my baby's birth. And whispered as she closed the book "too beautiful for earth."
~Author Unknown

Perhaps little Drew K. was just too precious, to special, too close to God's heart for him to be down here for long.  Perhaps some lives are too pure to leave here on earth where they will see things that might taint their purity....and he was just too special for a fate less than spectacular.

I don't know if you read the book "Heaven is for Real" or not, but it's about this little boy, who got very very sick, and while in his near death state, had a near death experience.  One that had him meeting God, and walking the street's of heaven, unafraid, enthusiastic, and while up there, he met his sister, who didn't have a name, because she died before she was born.  The little boy who inspired the book, had no idea he'd had a sister who died before she was born, and did so before even HE was born, but he met her in heaven, and he said she looked just like him.  He didn't die, he came back, and I believe he came back to share his story, so parents like Drew's would know that Heaven's for real.  And little boys and girls who are taken away, are up there waiting for them, loving them from afar and are in good hands until they can be reunited.  Never once was the boy in the book afraid, or worried, or alone.  He met his family who'd passed on before him, he met all the people he'd learned about at Sunday School....and he was not afraid.

Some come back to share a message....while others go on to live the promise.

Countless prayers went up on Drew's behalf when he was still here on earth, and countless more will go up for his family, for peace, for strength, for healing.  I will continue to pray for them, as I hope you will do as well.

In closing, I leave you with this poem:






{Picture kindly borrowed from:  http://mothergrievinglossofchild.blogspot.com/2012/06/saturdays-sayings-surviving-child-loss.html"

Children spend their dash with child-like enthusiasm, and love.  A child's time is unlike ours, days are spend playing not working, they love purely, without lust, or other conflicting feelings.  They believe in fairytales, and promises, and superheroes.  Four little years of life, while they seem grievously short to us, they were a lifetime of love and fun, and cookies and crayons to a child.  When they leave, they don't regret the life they lost, they revel in the eternal life they're given.

I sincerely hope this blog doesn't offend anyone who might read it, I don't pretend to know anything more about this than any other outsider looking in, but it was on my heart, and on the hearts of so many, I just felt compelled to write this today, in part to comfort, in part to commemorate, and in part to commiserate with others who's hearts are saddened as mine is by yesterday's news.

Deepest Sympathies for everyone affected,
~Heather Lynn~

For those of you soothed by music, listen to this....

36 comments :

  1. Very well said. I love the dash poem!!

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    1. Thank you, I tried to include things that might be uplifting in this very trying time.

      It gave me perception and a momentary sense of calm, and sometimes, a little bit goes a long way. I hope so anyway.

      ~Heather Lynn~

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  2. I'm truly amazed by your heart sometimes....Punky. The love, the honesty, and your heart felt words are just simply Angel like.

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    1. I write what's on my mind, what's on my heart, and about the things that break my heart sometimes, I wholeheartedly believe in treating others the way you want to be treated, when I want to be comforted, I find it comforting to comfort others. If that makes any sense.

      *sniffles*
      ~Heather Lynn~

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  3. Heather,
    This is a must share...thank you!

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    1. No, THANK YOU for taking the time to come by and read it, whomever you are. :)

      Feel free to share it with as many, or as few as you like.

      Sincerely,
      ~hl~

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  4. Heather - Janelle is one of my dearest friends and while I read this it brings me to tears, yet it is so nice to know that people are thinking of them in their time of need. You did an amazing job writing this and I thank you for that and I will be sure to share this. Thanks again, Many Blessing to you and yours !
    April ~

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    1. Dearest April,

      Thank YOU for leaving a comment here, so many are holding Janelle and her family in their prayers, 357 people to be exact, that's how many came here so far today with care and compassion for them in this very dire time of need. I'm sure there will be so many prayers going up, that even little Drew will likely hear em'.

      My deepest condolences,
      ~Heather Lynn~

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  5. Amazing . I have lost a child in the past even though i didnt get to know him , I still miss him very much and my thoughts and prayers go out to the family.

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    1. Please read the book "Heaven is for Real" by Todd Burpo.

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  6. Oh, Heather, I just wrote you a long story, listing the many lost K babies over our 160 years in America and lost it all thanks to the awesomeness of technology! Oh well, the gist of it was that I mentioned "Heaven is for Real" to J and A and pray that they read it and it helps them not necessarily understand but at least be able to wake up each morning void of the guilt and grief that tortured my grandma for the 44 years between the death of her daughter (3days after her birth) and her own death. Being the family genealogist, recording this dates breaks my heart right in half. Thank you for your words and to this entire community for their love, support and prayers.

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    1. Don't you just love technology? :/ Thank you so much for mentioning "Heaven is for Real" to the family. I know my old co-worker, when she lost her father last year, it gave her great peace and comfort to know more about heaven, and more about what is waiting for us on the otherside. Her entire family read it, and they too felt the book to be a great help in their grieving process. So thank you for that, and I hope that it brings them even the slightest peace, if not more than slight. And no need to thank me for MY words, because I'm not entirely sure they were mine....I think I might of just been the messenger this time. *hugs*

      ~Heather Lynn~

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  7. So heartfelt, Heather...I'm sure your words have caused people to pause, to recall their own losses, and to feel with this family -- a family your readers may or may not know.
    Many have told me that they felt the prayers,"global prayers," which were said as a result of forwarded emails and blog posts like this one of yours. May this little boy's soul and his family feel the many prayers being said as a result of you reaching out. . . may God make Himself clearly felt to each one who knew and loved this little boy.

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    1. Henni - Thank you so much for coming and reading the post. And I sincerely, sincerely hope you are right, I hope that they FELT the ourpour of love, care, and concern that everyone here felt for them. I just thought, that the more prayers that were said, the more love that was sent, perhaps in some small way, it would help lesson the immense pain they must be feeling. If a little bit goes a long way, I was hoping that my little bit would reach all the way from where ever my blog found someone, all the way back to little Fort Jennings Ohio. Fort Jennings might be small, but the hearts there are huge.

      ~Heather Lynn~

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  8. Heather! That is wonderful! I had tears in my eyes reading this!
    (Trin)

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    1. Trin - I thank you for coming to read, and also for taking the time to leave a message. It's a blessing that so many came to read and offer their support.

      ~Heather Lynn~

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  9. I am from the community that has lost this precious child. I know the mother and knew Drew personally. This has been such a tragedy for all of us and our hearts ache for what his parents, sisters, family and friends are going through. You have brought tears to my eyes, tears of joy for you have put into perspective perfectly what Drew's life was about and what his eternal life is. Thank you.

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    1. Anonymous,

      I am so sorry for your loss. As it brought tears to your eyes to read, it brought tears to my eyes to write...

      I can only hope that what I wrote will have a positive outcome, and I feel based on the overwhelming response to it, that it brought people together, in a time when we could all use a sense of togetherness.

      ~Heather Lynn~

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  10. Its amazing how as a mother I can sit and cry but when I ready this I feel calm. Thank you for putting into words what so many of us feel but can never express.

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    1. Anonymous - I appreciate the thanks, but know that your comment, your being here is greatly appreciated. If you shared this, that too is as well.

      If by reading this, it offered you even just a slight moment of calm, then it was a great accomplishment for me to have offered you that, although I'm not so sure that "I" did anything, perhaps someone bigger than me just used my fingers to type what he had on HIS mind! :)

      Sincerely,
      ~Heather Lynn~

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  11. I also am from the community that lost a child so that God has another Angel watching over the rest of us. What you wrote brought tears to my eyes because I also have a son the same age as Drew and I don't know how I would handle it alone. But that is just it, this family is not alone because they have been in everyone's thoughts, prayers, and in our hearts.

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    1. Anonymous - you're right, they are not alone, that much I can attest to as I saw the #'s of readers of this blog explode by 10's and 20's until the #'s reached 1,000. I don't know how as a mother, you ever survive the loss of a child, I still miss pets that I've lost....but I do know a woman, who lost her teenage daughter and I saw what that did to her, while she had other children to love and raise, the loss of one of her own changed her forever. She was always a little "less happy", a little "less hungry"...a little less whole than she had been, and I just know that, while we can't keep J from feeling less, but we can send her "more" in the way of love, support, prayers, and anything else she may need. And perhaps in some small way, it will make her "less" a little less painful. *shrugs*....it doesn't hurt to try right?

      ~Heather Lynn~

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  12. Thank you so very much for what you wrote in this blog. I too am from this small commuity. You have no idea how much, by what you wrote, you have helped my family. You see, my children lost their father just a few short months ago. When their father passed away, Janelle helped them through their pain. With the loss of Drew, my children are devastated at yet another loss. My youngest is angry at God that he would take such a small child away from someone they love. When a friend of mine told me about your blog I knew I needed to read it. Needless to say, I cried. Then I felt such comfort at your perspective and beautifully put way with words. I knew that I needed to share this with my children. My children went to sleep tonight with a small amount of peace and a bit of understanding. I want to thank you for the gift you gave my children. You have a wonderful way with words and a very beautiful heart. God bless you and the entire Knippen family. May we all find peace.

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    1. Anonymous - No need to thank me, I am more thankful for those of you who read it....and who in turn prayed and felt moved by some of what the post included.

      I will say though that your comment likely touched me the most profoundly. For you to share what YOU did, it brought tears to my eyes, and I felt terrible sorrow for not just the K family's loss, but also for yours, and your children's. Being angry at God, it's a response I think God expects, he knows our hearts, and he knows our pains, but he also equips us with hearts big enough to love even when we don't always understand the whys and hows of the world.

      Heck, having hearts and minds is a gift, but they are gifts that don't come without a price I suppose, because we feel not just joy, but also pain, we think not just happy thoughts, but hurtful ones as well.

      I am honored that you found comfort in what I wrote, and I thank you for commenting here, and letting your voice be heard, as a testament to what a great community surrounds the K family. And I sincerley hope and pray that your children continue to find peace in the face of all that they've been through. Please give them my best.

      God bless YOU, and I'll be praying with you for the enitre K family as well.

      Very Sincerely,
      ~Heather Lynn~

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  13. Thanks for writing this. I loved the sentence "When they leave, they don't regret the life they lost, they revel in the eternal life they're given." I have a son who moved to heaven at the age of 13 months, and I KNOW that the prayers and support of the community, family, and my church got me through the tragedy. I heard God speak to me like never before and came through with stronger faith. I used to think that faith was so believing that God would do __(fill in the blank with whatever it is that you want done) that it becomes reality. Now faith means believing that my Father loves me and is worthy of my trust. Will I trust him and love him while going through tragedy, or only when things are going my way? Listen to the song Blessed Be Your Name by Tree63. They explain it way better than I.
    I have found comfort in Psalm 139:16(NCV)-"You saw my body as it was formed. All the days planned for me were written in Your book before I was one day old." I feel that my son's life was not cut short. God was not surprised--All of his days were recorded before he was even born. When we view life in this way, we can be thankful for all the days we shared instead of bitter because it wasn't as many as we wanted.
    Sincerely,
    A.

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    1. Anonymous - THANK YOU for sharing your story and for leaving this comment.

      Your offering of "Psalm 139:16(NCV)" was especially appreciated by me, and perhaps others who might of visited, and for that I thank you immensely. I do not pretend to be the biggest, best christian out there, and quite frankly, I've always been the kind of person who had their own beliefs and I don't force them on others, and I don't wish to have theirs forced on me, so to write "religiously" is not something I've done often in my writing-life, but while I was hesitant to do so, I'm so happy that I did, because it encouraged others to do the same, and I believe it's a good thing, a healing thing, a LOVING thing to do in times like these.

      Thank you so much for coming by, and for sharing yourself with the rest of us.

      I am sorry for the loss of your child, and I'm sorry for the pain you must be feeling as this current mourning, likely induces the freshness of your past mourning. My thoughts and prayers are with you as well.

      ~Heather Lynn~

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  14. Very will written. I hope people take time to read and share this with their family and friends as this is very inspiring for all. You did a great job

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    1. Anonymous - Thank you for bringing yourself here, and thank you for your contribution by leaving a comment. You're being here is a part of something bigger than any one of us I believe.

      ~Heather Lynn~

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  15. Beautiful!! Although I do not personally know the family we live in the same community. Our heart absolutlely aches for them. We prayed for a miracle now we pray for peace. You have said what so many of us have felt but did not know how to say. To the Knippen family - you will continue to be in our prayers.
    Angie

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    1. Angie,

      *nods head* with what you said, yes, we absolutely did pray for a miracle, and now, you're 100% correct, now those prayers have shifted for peace. May those prayers be so loud, that they echo and fill every space between here and heaven!

      ~Heather Lynn~

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  16. Absolutely beautiful Heather. Your words are a great comfort to many in this small community. The outpouring of love and generosity our small community has shown is overwhelming. The Knippen family is very blessed to live in this small community with so many who care.

    I must say your words have touched me to my soul. We may never understand why God took this wonderful, precious little boy, but the light he continues to shine down on us is very evident from all the wonderful words and actions that our community has given to this family. May God bless this family and hold them strong. May God bless you Heather for your wonderful words and for your continued abilities to bless others with them.

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    1. Anonymous -

      I know one thing, I'm happy to be a part of THIS community, because, you are right, the outpouring of love and support that I've witnessed has been amazing.

      THank you immensely for coming by and leaving a message for those who might read it, I believe that God presses upon us to leave messages like this, of support, of hope, of love...for others to see and feel and hear in times like these. Thank you for being a part of that...for giving the time it took to add yourself to the list of people who wanted their support known.

      You all have touched my soul in response to me touching yours. For that I'm forever moved.

      ~Heather Lynn~

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  17. Such a beautiful entry. This is the first time I've stumbled onto your blog - to be honest your name just caught my attention because I am a Heather Lynn, too. But being from Delphos, I was all too aware of this little boy's tragedy. Your words are very uplifting and like a breath of fresh air at such a sad time. Thank you.

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    1. Dear Heather,

      Always nice to meet the other "Heather Lynns" of the world! No need to say "thanks" though, it's thanks enough that you came by to read, and that you were kind enough to leave a comment...and well, heck, you're HeatherLynn, so that makes you top notch in my book! :)

      It's such a sad sad outcome to a day of fun, and I think to myself though when people ask me why I don't wear my helmet when I ride my motorcycle...I think, there are no accidents. If I get in a motorcycle crash, no helmet can protect me from God's will for me. If I were to die, I wouldn't say, DANG IT, if I'd of just worn my helmet this wouldn't of happened....We are ALL on borrowed time here.....

      I think it helps to enjoy your life, knowing that any day could be your last....sure helps when you are sad, or angry, or hurt, you just think....I don't know how much time I have here, might as well not spend them mad, angry and hurt! Might as well enjoy it.

      And I find that the best way to enjoy life, is to help others, be it cheering them up if they are sad, be it listening when they need someone to listen....or just smiling at strangers as they go by...

      *smiles at you*....thanks for coming by Ms. Heather Lynn! I hope you'll come back and read additional posts in the future.

      Sincerely,
      ~Heather Lynn~

      www.heatherlynnosting.blogspot.com

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  18. Heather, I would like to thank you for your beautifully written and uplifting blog. I after just a week have finally sat down to read it! I have seen it come across my fb page numerous times, but needed to summon up the courage to read. I am glad that I did! I teared up, but more than anything I found comfort in your words and the kindness of this great community that I live in! Thanks so much for a wonderful tribute to my precious son Andrew!

    Janelle Knippen

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  19. Dearest Janelle,

    First and foremost, I am truly touched and honored that you came to read this here. I wondered...so many times, "how could she come here and read what some stranger had to write about her baby, how could she muster the strength, to hear one more person, talk about what's happened. You, must have magnificant strength, that must be your super power. If our special talents make us superheros, then you Janelle Knippen must be "Janelle the warrior", or "Janelle the Great". I think of that old saying, "If God led you to it, God will lead you through it"...and I think to myself, WOW, God sure does think alot of ole Janelle, he must think she's made of pure steel.

    If I have in some small way offered you a sliver of comfort in this very overwhelmingly difficult time, then I'm honored to have done so. I'm not the world's best Christian, I don't go to church often enough, I do more wrong things than I do right I fear....but when I sat down at my computer, the only thing on my heart was you, and Andrew, and I KNEW that I was to write something for you. And I was scared to death to do it, but I did, and I'm so thankful that you were able to read it.

    I wrote this blog and it spread like wildfire, and was embraced by a community that feels connected to you, in spirit and in grief. The response to this blog was overwhelming, and the love and concern that was expressed made me proud to be a part of a community who cares so much about one of their own.

    Please don't thank me for what I wrote, for there is no need for thanks, I wrote it for you, I wrote it, because someone must of wanted me to.

    God works in mysterious ways, and maybe, *shrugs*, I don't know, maybe this time he used some strange girl you went to high school with to type a little note to you.....to read when you were ready.

    You will continuously be in my prayers, my thoughts, I think of you often....and if there is ever anything I can do for you, please don't hesisitate to ask it of me.

    Yours Most Sincerely,
    ~Heather Lynn~

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Leave me a message! I'd love to hear your thoughts...AND...while I may be slow, 99% of the time, I'll leave you a comment back! So get interactive would ya!? :) xoxoxxo, ~hl~