THE BEST AND WORST OF TIMES
It was the best and worst of times…
On Monday, November 9, my wife and I unexpectedly discovered that our unborn fourth child had transitioned to heaven. It was just weeks ago I posted the ultrasound video of a very healthy baby boy. I wrote about our journey to accept the reality that our #4 was not going to be the little girl we had hoped and prayed for. I had no idea what we were about to walk through.
I can’t begin to cover all the ensuing details surrounding an unexpected obstetrician appointment, a hospital visit and delivery, a graveside service and then all the “firsts” we would encounter as we grieved and began to heal. But, I can tell you this:
God has been so faithful to us.
In the midst of the most devastating experience of our lives, we have experienced an outpouring of God’s goodness that rivals the brightest highlights of our life. The calls, texts, emails, facebook posts, twitter posts, prayers, our pastors, family, friends, hugs, gifts, flowers, visits, food… they all ministered to us in profound ways that I am not yet even able to articulate. Truly, it has been “the best and worst of times”.
This picture encapsulates what I mean when I say “best and worst of times”. After the graveside service concluded, Ali and I and our three boys remained for a moment to care for each other. I had picked this particular grave plot because of the little hillside leading up to it. After we’d had our family moment (the boys each placed a rose on the casket), they asked, “can we run down hill now?” It was just the thing to break the tension. Ali said she envisioned our little one running and playing in heaven. If I were to title this picture, I would name it: ‘and life goes on’.
Hours after we learned the painful news of our baby’s passing, my wife Alison suggested we name our baby, Jude Elliot Kent. Jude means “praise”. Elliot means “God on High”. I believe we were able to recognize God’s goodness amidst the storm because “praising God on High” protected our hearts becoming hardened to God and to the situation at hand.
I am able to report that we are doing well; grieving in the protection of God’s grace and celebrating a little boy who went straight from the warmth and protection of the womb to the indescribable reality of God’s unbridled presence. We will see Jude again in heaven, and I hope you are there too. Today is the day to allow Jesus to live in your heart and become the focus of your life. He is the only One who can carry us through situations like these.
Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. (Psalm 55:2)
MICHELE SKELTON
Cory,
This was so beautiful. God took this horrific occurrence in you and Ali’s life and brought you guys closer to Him. You both are a shining example of how Christ lives in us.
I am so sorry for your loss. I pray your healing continues to be quick and that God comforts you in those private moments of pain.
With much love to you both,
Michele Skelton
Nov 23, 2009 @ 12:31 AM
Jan Kent
Cory and Ali,
“We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you;” I Thess. 1:2-4
With great labor comes great harvest. What will be the return for your labor?
“Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for the harvest.” John 4:35
We are told the laborers are few. You, Cory and Ali are laborers and have labored greatly. “For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things. Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.” I Tim. 4:10-12
We know God in His Sovereignty purposed this life of Jude’s and His purposes will not be thwarted. Great is His faithfulness!
Some of the purposes are already being realized:
This Lord has strengthened your marriage as you walked together thru this valley bringing glory to Him and modeling this for the boys. They are being prepared to be fathers and husbands after taking Godly wives. This you have both modeled many times…yet again.
You and they know more of the faithfulness of the Lord than before.
As grandparents and parents, we had the joy of early announcement of baby #4, Jude was on his way. We waited expectantly for that beautiful detailed ultra-sound, complete with heartbeat, yawn and sweet little facial profile. What a generous gift of God. The accompanying blog brought much witness and glory to God. “A cloud of witnesses watched as did the world as you both ran this race set before you, with endurance, fixing your eyes on Jesus.” Heb. 12:1-3 The race included morning sickness, flu and pre-mature delivery, jobs, 3 active boys, and all that involves. Yet we remember: “Nothing done for Christ is in vain.” I Cor. 15: 50-58
You are a strand of three, Cory, Ali and the Lord, not easily broken. Ecc. 4:9-12. You have run the race well and the harvest.
Who will come to know Jesus because of Jude’s life and death? Jude knows the Father’s love (tho many don’t) because he was greatly loved, wanted, desired, fearfully wonderfully made by the Perfect Father who holds him in heaven. He also knew the love of his earthly father, mother, and brothers in that safe secure place in the womb: he knew he was greatly loved, wanted, and desired in the Kent family. And there will be a reunion one day. And one day we’ll understand more fully the purposes of God. Today we know this: what Satan means for harm, God means for good. Gen. 50:20
“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.” I Cor. 13:12-13
“This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I have hope in Him.’ The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently for the salvation of the Lord.” Lam. 3:21-26
So we wait. The story is not over yet!
Nov 23, 2009 @ 3:10 PM
Karen
Beautiful Cory! It’s so great to see you praising God through it all. We love you all.
Nov 23, 2009 @ 10:27 PM
Adam Hill
We love you guys, that was an amazing blog post…
Nov 24, 2009 @ 12:13 PM
Cory Kent
thanks Adam- see you guys soon!
Nov 28, 2009 @ 11:25 PM
Cory Kent
thank you Karen- good to hear from you. love to the family. : )
Nov 28, 2009 @ 11:26 PM
Cory Kent
thanks for the note Michele-
Nov 28, 2009 @ 11:27 PM
Mary Jo Doyle
Dear Cory and Ali,
What an awesome testimony you both are for the Lord and an encouragement to those around you as you trust in the Lord through the best and the worst of times. I know you both know that the Lord will use your experience and Jude for good and ultimately for His glory. I mourn with you for your loss of Jude and rejoice with you that he is with the Lord. I am Shane’s mom. I think your mom shared my loss with you. I can imagine Shane greeting Jude as he joined him in heaven with Jesus. I am thankful when I read in God’s word that this life is just a vapor, even though it feels so long. Just as you both feel I am sure- I can’t wait to see my baby Shane in heaven, as well as my baby Casey that I spontaneously miscarried in 2001 at 8 wks. I also can’t wait to meet Jude. You both continue to be in my thoughts and prayers as we all continue to trust in the Lord to walk, and sometimes carry us, through until He comes again.
I’m not sure if Jan shared with you the song, Glory Baby by Watermark, but it is a beautiful song and the words are so true. I received this song form a friend on the site Grooveshark.com
Continuing to praise Him with you,
Mary Jo Doyle
Nov 30, 2009 @ 3:13 AM
Cory Kent
Thanks so much for your encouragement Mary Jo. Likewise, your family remains in our prayers as well. I have heard many accounts of how you and your family have displayed the grace and strength of God as you faced difficult circumstances. We are grateful to have your support. Blessings- Cory
Dec 04, 2009 @ 5:46 PM