As Luke's birthday approached, we were asked by so many people how they could best be praying for us during those difficult days. In response, Joe and I composed our long list of prayer requests in a post back in December and were profoundly humbled that so many people contacted us to let us know they were lifting us up and holding us close during those impossible days and hours.
In preparing for Luke's birthday, we decided to have only our parents with us at the hospital as we knew that our moments with Luke were going to be few, precious and extremely tender. We expected that our hearts would be completely emotionally overwhelmed and in no condition to host visitors, so we kindly asked for no visitors that day. We were deeply touched by a few dear friends who told us that while they understood and respected our request for privacy that day, they still felt compelled to be praying for us on Luke's Birthday and were wanting to do this for our family at the hospital. They made it clear that they harbored no expectation of being with us or of seeing our sweet son, but that they only wanted to be in the same building with us as they prayed-nothing more. Needless to say, we were overwhelmed by their willingness to take time off work and use a day off to so lovingly care for our family in such a selfless and deeply powerful way.
A glimpse inside the hospital chapel.
Going into Luke's birthday, we knew specifically of four people who were planning on being in the hospital chapel that day lifting up our prayer requests for our time with Luke and other aspects of his birthday: our dear friends Janine Eastman (Harold's wife), Jessica Yeldell, along with Tom and Sue Brawner. To say our hearts were touched by their willingness to be present for us in that way is a complete understatement.
Later in the day on Luke's birthday, Joe and I learned that it was not just those four friends who were praying down in the chapel, but also joining them were our friends, Dan Deeble, Shelley Winkler, Marcia Merrick, Katie Yeldell, Britton Gregory, and Jon Shirley. These amazing friends had simply printed out our giant list of specific prayer requests and decided to join the others and gather at the hospital to pray for our family all. day. long. The impact of the prayers lifted on our behalf that day is tremendous and an important reason why we are want to share the details of all of the miracles we experienced with Luke on his birthday. God heard you and blessed our family tremendously.
One of the pieces of art that hangs on the wall in the hospital chapel. (Note the clouds and sky!)
While we do know who was praying downstairs in the chapel that day, we realize and cherish that there were also so many more of you praying for us beyond the walls of the hospital during those precious hours and we certainly also wish to thank you all as well! Please know that our hearts overflow with gratitude when we even ponder how to begin saying thank you for standing in the gap for our little family when we needed it most. Thank you for thinking of us and for lifting us up throughout our most difficult yet beautiful day. We were amazed, overwhelmed and absolutely blessed with miracle after miracle, peace beyond our understanding, beauty and joy during our few precious hours with Luke and we have God and each of you to thank for it. Your prayers truly mattered and we felt the tremendous impact of their weight in such a profoundly beautiful and personal way.
To the pray-ers we know by name and those we do not, we thank you with all of the gratitude our hearts can offer for helping to give us moments like the one captured above. Thank you for lifting us up not only on Luke's birthday, but throughout our difficult season leading up to his birthday and for all of the prayers you have continued to lift on our behalf since his Homegoing. We are so thankful to have you alongside of us during our season of loving Luke.
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