But Samuel was ministering before the Lord—a boy wearing a linen ephod. Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice.

1 Samuel 2:18-19 NIV

One in four pregnancies ends in miscarriage. And taking the place of another is never easy. 

The Loss

Miscarriage is a sad fact experienced by many women, including me. Both of my daughters-in-law have also experienced this heartbreak. Family and friends alike have mourned the loss of a loved little one but never got a chance to hold them. Or we held the baby but knew she wouldn’t survive. The grief is gut-wrenching and heartbreaking.

Hannah giving her son to God and not raising him required sacrifice. Her relationship with him was reduced to bringing a little robe she made for him, once a year. It must have been difficult to leave him in the care of Eli the prophet. Yet, she promised her son to God, and she kept her word.

But God is the ultimate promise keeper.

Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, “May the Lord give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed for and gave to the Lord.” Then they would go home. And the Lord was gracious to Hannah; she gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord.

1 Samuel 2:20-21 NIV

The Gain

God sometimes blesses us with a rainbow baby after a loss. Mine is my middle son, who is about to turn thirty as I write this. The lesson I learned from having him is that love doesn’t divide; it multiplies. I couldn’t imagine loving him as much as I loved my first child, but my love for him is deep and special because of the child I lost.

My son has children of his own. The further along life goes, the more I learn that having children always entails loss. We must let them go. They’ll always be our precious child, but we only get to hold and love them as babies or small children for a little while. We give them over to God’s care and trust He has their best interest at heart. But we always pray for them, just like Hannah.  

Name some things you have given up to God only to have Him bless you in return.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the little ones we’ve loved and lost. In the powerful name of Jesus, amen.

 

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2024: Taking the Place of Another: Melinda Cooper: All Rights Reserved