It was the tiniest coffin I have ever seen. Why, God, why?! Why would you give them such a precious gift and then snatch him away before they even have a chance to enjoy his life?
We unexpectedly lost our great grandson on August 2. So heartbreaking. Our granddaughter and her husband, Rebekah and Bryan, lost their precious little son. Zane Bryan was over eight pounds but his little heart stopped beating and he was stillborn. So devastating and difficult to understand.
It can be so hard to find God’s beauty in such times, can’t it? But I felt it in the outpouring of love and support from family and friends to Bekah and Bryan and our family. On the day of the burial, I reveled in the beauty of our 6 year old great granddaughter, Macy, watching us so attentively and handing us a Kleenex if she saw we were crying. So sweet! I heard God’s beauty in the singing of “Jesus Loves Me.” In the midst of such deep sorrow, it was a joy to hear Zane’s two sisters, Zoey and Lily, and also other great grandchildren join in singing.
We came from a church background where children were not valued like Jesus values them. That song was actually forbidden. I’m so grateful we have broken free from that thinking and all our children and grandchildren now hear of Jesus’ love.
The day before we lost Zane, our granddaughter, Alexis, sent me these beautiful photos of a female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and gave me permission to share it with you. God has such impeccable timing! Often, during the following extremely difficult days, I imagined our little Zane being freed to fly right into Jesus’ arms.
There is still the anguish of loss, but knowing he’s in Jesus’ arms breathes hope into our fainting hearts.
a male Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.
We will sorely miss precious little Zane. The same day we lost him, one of our granddaughters, Zane’s Aunt Angela, turned 32. It reminded me how sorrow and joy can coexist. We are so grateful for each and every loved one who is still living. Each one is so special!
Mary Rooney Armand from ButterflyLiving shares Jackie Freeman’s story of finding hope and healing in the midst of deep loss.
Jackie Freeman bravely shares about losing her spouse and processing her grief to find hope and healing through prayer and faith.
Find Hope and Healing After Loss: 4 Powerful Ways
Freed to Fly 
Dear Trudy, I am not liking your deeply sorrowful circumstances one little bit. How hard and harrowing such a devastating loss must be for you and your family. What I do appreciate is the way you’ve woven holy Hope into your words of grief. The beautiful butterfly images and Bible verses are uplifting and encouraging. May they touch and greatly bless all the hurting hearts who pause to read this post. May God bring you His comfort and peace as you grieve. Sending love, hugs and prayers. x 🕊️❤️🙏🏻🦋
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Thank you so much, Joy. Your prayers for us and all hurting hearts who read this is so appreciated. I can’t imagine making it through any kind of grief without that hope as an anchor of our souls. Love, hugs, and prayers back to you!
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I’m so sorry for the loss of your sweet great grand baby. How heartbreaking. I can’t imagine. Praying for you and your family. God bless.
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Yes, it is so heartbreaking and hard to understand. Thank you for your sympathy and prayers, Karen. God bless you, too!
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Oh Trudy. I’m thankful you had the strength to share about the loss of little Zane here. My heart aches for your family and I continue to pray that you are all experiencing God’s comfort and presence. Sending you a big hug, dear friend.❤️
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Oh Lois, thank you for your continuing prayers and support through this trial. It means so much to us. A big hug back to you! And blessings of God’s comfort and presence to you, too!
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Oh, dear Trudy, my heart is breaking for all of you in the loss of your precious Zane. Knowing he is in the arms of Jesus is so comforting, but still, the sorrow of losing a baby is an ache that takes a lifetime and even longer to go away. Joy and sorrow do coexist, and because of the Lord’s love for us, we can handle both with grace. May you all feel His presence, mercy and comfort at this time.
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Yes, knowing he is in the arms of Jesus is so comforting, but it’s so true that “the sorrow of losing a baby is an ache that takes a lifetime.” Thank you so much for your compassion and prayers, Martha. Love and blessings to you!
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Trudy, my sincere condolences for you and your granddaughter’s, and your entire families loss. I pray you all feel God’s loving comfort during this time, and always. Such sweet butterfly photos by your granddaughter photographed and sent to you in God’s perfect timing.
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Thank you so much for your kind condolences and prayers, Lynn! God’s timing in sending us encouragement through creation is so amazing, isn’t it? Love and blessings to you!
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Dear Trudy, my heart and prayers are with you and your dear family so much today. May the Lord cover you each with His precious care, and speak comfort in the hardest moments. Those butterfly glimpses surely are a gift from Him. We also had butterfly visits right after our daughter’s miscarriages. Life is beautiful, each one. Sending you hugs and prayers & love dear sister.❤️
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Oh Bettie, it warms my heart that God sent you butterfly visits, too. He has graciously sent those butterflies more often for both of us in hard times, hasn’t He? Again, I am so sorry for your daughter’s miscarriages, for the loss of each precious little one. Thank you so much for your continuing prayers and support. Hugs and prayers back to you, too!
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“He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them.
And He said: “Tryly I tell you, unless you change and become like
little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore,
whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the
kingdom of heaven.””
Trudy, I wish the hands of God as the wings of butterflies in your heart and
in the hearts of your family.
He IS with Jesus.
Love & Peace.
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Thank you for sharing that verse, Amvn. I also love Mark 10:16 where Jesus took the little children into His arms, laid His hands on them and blessed them. Yes, He truly loves the little children. 💕 Thank you for your encouragement and prayers. Love and peace to you, too!
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I’m so sorry to read this Trudy. Praying for comfort for you and your family.
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Thank you for your compassion and prayers, Adele. And thank you for all your heart-refreshing photos of God’s creation. Love and blessings to you!
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Oh, Trudy! I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your sweet little Zane! Wish I could give you a real hug in person. Blessings to you and all your family as you grieve this tragic loss.
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Thank you for your compassion and blessings, Lisa. Just knowing you wish you could give me a real hug in person warms my heart. Love, hugs, and blessings of strength through all your trials also!
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Sending you love, hugs & prayers Trudy. As a Mum of two stillborn children, a year apart my heart absolutely bleeds for your family.
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I’m so, so sorry you lost two babies, Jennifer. My heart bleeds for you, too. Thank you so much for your empathy and prayers! Love and hugs back to you! You have been through and are still going through so much in your life. May God give you strength and peace for each moment!
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Thank you Trudy, He certainly does 😊 ❤️
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Trudy, I am so sorry to read of your devastating loss. Praying for you and your family as only the Lord can bring His peace and comfort at times like these. {{hugs}}
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Thank you so much, Joanne. Your prayers for God’s peace and comfort are so appreciated. Hugs back to you! Love and blessings to you!
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Oh, dear Trudy! I am SO sorry, dear friend! May the God of all comfort wrap His arms of love around you tightly and hold you and Rebekah and Bryan and the rest of your loved ones as you grieve. I am praying for you and sending much love to you tonight.
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Thank you so much, Cheryl. I so appreciate it. May the God of all comfort wrap His arms of love around you tightly as well, also around all of Shawn’s family. My heart hurts for all of you. Love, hugs, and blessings of strength for each moment!
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Dear Trudy, thank you for sharing a bit of Zane’s story with us here. There’s something about writing in the company of others that helps us through these dark hours of pain and loss. You have built a beautiful, faithful community here, dear one. We will continue to walk with you through the sorrows, the joys.
May He give you peace as you continue to grieve.
xo
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Thank you so much, Linda, for your continued walk of love and support with me throughout these past years. You have helped me through a lot and your prayers are so appreciated. 💕 Love, hugs, and blessings to you!
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Trudy, I just read your post, and I am so sorry to hear about Zane. That must have been heart-breaking for your whole family. I love your testimony of knowing God with you, even in your grief, and the little glimpses of his love that you got to see. The photos of the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail are amazing and I love the Lego flowers too. Praying for you and your family to continue to know God’s comfort and peace. Sending love and hugs!
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Thank you so much, Lesley, for your compassion and prayers. Yes, it’s amazing how God sends glimpses of His love even in the midst of deep sorrow. Sending love and hugs back to you!
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