Our lives are run and marked by dates.  We celebrate birthdays and anniversaries and first days of things and the end of things.

In the last seven weeks, our family of 5 has celebrated:  4 birthdays, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and our anniversary.  That’s a lot of celebratin’!

My heart has loved each special occasion and the preparations that go into each event.  The problem is that there are dates that are not always fun to remember and we have those coming up this week too.

I always feel a little off around this time of year.  I think Dan and I have learned to be a little more loving, gentle, gracious and compassionate with each other.  It’s as if our hearts just know.  The scars that are there hurt a little more this time of year.

The first date coming up is Nathan’s birthday.  Here we get to love on and enjoy this adorable child and have a day all about him.  That is the fun part.  But somewhere in the recesses of my heart, I remember that I had two other sons born that day too.  One whom I never truly got to meet this side of heaven and one little person who was just as much alive as Nathan.  This little person we got to see in the isolette with an adorable hat on.  We got to pray for him and see his teeny footprints posted on the wall near his bed.  We got to hear the nurses call his name.  Eventually, we even held him in our arms.  And while I wouldn’t change anything and know that we wouldn’t have Caleb and Zachary if things were different, still my heart remembers.

Then comes the day when Matthew left our arms and went to be with Jesus.  A day that is so sad to think of from this worldly perspective but so joyful for him.  No more pain or sickness, just peace and joy and love.  My heart looks forward to the day when our family of seven will be fully together.

All of that to say that our lives are full of the joy and the sorrow.  The beginnings and the endings.  The times to laugh and the times to grieve.

Whatever you are remembering today, whatever you are feeling; whether you are grieving or laughing, filled with joy or sorrow, excited to begin or sad to see something end, know that you are not alone.  We are on this journey together and maybe there is someone who needs to hear your story.  Maybe there is someone who needs to share theirs.

May we remember together, listen intently, offer advice sparingly, love extravagantly.