Precious little one... not lost--just gone before!

I'm sitting here with a lump in my throat…

Today was the day our little baby was due.  Our only flesh-and-blood child.  I wonder: what does he/she look like? Blonde hair, blue eyes, most likely… Boy? Girl? Outgoing? Reserved? Short? Tall? So many other questions that go through my mind.  How I’d love to lay eyes on our child for just a little! Hold our baby on my lap… run my fingers through his/her hair… kiss those soft baby cheeks, and count all the perfect fingers and toes.  If I could, I’d protect our baby from this harsh world… guide his/her heart toward God… do my best to lead this soul into heaven. But this was not to be.  We had to say good-bye before we said hello…

But really, is that SO important? Isn’t the ultimate goal and purpose for any person—big or small—to bring glory to God and spend eternity with Him?  If so, then our baby has already fulfilled that purpose!  He/she just got it done before the rest of our family. 

No—I refuse to believe that we LOST our baby.  Yes, we lost him/her from our sight, but not forever.  No… our baby is safe. Safe in the arms of Jesus…

Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on His gentle breast;

There by His love o’ershaded, sweetly my soul shall rest.

Hark! ’tis the voice of angels borne in a song to me,

Over the fields of glory, over the jasper sea.

Refrain:

Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on His gentle breast;

There by His love o’ershaded, sweetly my soul shall rest.

Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe from corroding care,

Safe from the world’s temptations; sin cannot harm me there.

Free from the blight of sorrow, free from my doubts and fears;

Only a few more trials, only a few more tears!

Refrain:

Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on His gentle breast;

There by His love o’ershaded, sweetly my soul shall rest.

Jesus, my heart’s dear Refuge, Jesus has died for me;

Firm on the Rock of Ages ever my trust shall be.

Here let me wait with patience, wait till the night is o’er;

Wait till I see the morning break on the golden shore.

Refrain:

Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on His gentle breast;

There by His love o’ershaded, sweetly my soul shall rest.

~Fannie J. Crosby