1/31/10

The first person to hug me at the end of Eden’s funeral was a stranger. She introduced herself as someone I didn’t know, but she knew of Eden and our story and wanted to simply give me a hug. I responded with a smile and said, “I will take as many hugs as I can get. I would love a hug. Thank you for coming.” I felt the strangers love and I loved her as we embraced sincerely. Then she walked away as I was greeted and hugged by other loved ones. I don’t even know her name, but I will always remember her.

I have been thinking about the sweet woman who hugged me at Eden’s funeral…thinking about her has made me think of missionary work…of the many people whose hearts Eden touched. My paradigm on missionary work has been shifted.

This last week, I noticed that Eden’s blog has been visited over 8,000 times. I began the blog when Eden was born to inform family and friends of Eden’s progress and to find prayers from all who were willing to pray for Eden. I can’t imagine how many people Eden and her story impacted. Just seeing her and her perfection at such a young age and such a small size testified to all that witnessed that there is a God and miracles happen every day. Through our experience with Eden, she has strengthened Jeremy’s and my testimony of God’s love, His will, Christ, the atonement, and the importance of family. Eden was a missionary for us.

Eden was also a missionary to those whose testimonies had dwindled because of neglect, those that never knew they had a testimony of a higher being, those who were searching for spirituality and truth beyond what earthly man can give them. Before Eden passed away, multiple times, Eden’s story led a new friend or stranger and I or Jeremy into a spiritual conversation. Sometimes about God and sometimes about gospel principles. The conversations were not forced, but easily woven into our everyday conversation and open on both sides. It would be nice if it could always be like that. There is a reverence in the NICU that allows these conversations to easily take place; most of us come together as believers in God and miracles and are driven to our knees having just witnessed a birth of a baby and the chance of losing them.

Differences in churches is not an issue. It is nice. We come together as believers in God. I have found, especially in the last few years, that all religions have much in common. It saddens me when people spend more time focusing on the small differences and let that pull people a part, when the abundant similarities should pull us together.

To my little missionary Eden, God lives, and you have testified that to us. Even during times of hardship and sorrow, I do believe He is a loving and kind God, and loves us all. Thank you Eden.

Love, Your Mother Always,
Rachel