Mark J. Zia is an associate professor of theology at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. He is also a father who lost a son at birth two years ago. Having lost a son myself I can understand the pain he must still feel, and I sincerely hope that no one who reads this has experienced such pain. He has written a beautiful meditation on grace from pain:
If I were to ask a dozen people “what is the worst thing that could happen in life,” I have no doubt that “death of a loved one” would be a common response, and if I were to ask what could be even worse than the death of a loved one, no doubt an even more heart-wrenching response would be “the death of a loved one who was also a child.” Today marks the two-year anniversary of the death of my youngest son, who unexpectedly passed from this life to the next shortly after his birth. I am thankful to Almighty God for the gift of my youngest son, who lived and thrived for many months within our family while still in the womb. When there could just as well not been life, God gifted us with the life of our little boy whom we were able to hold in the hospital and who will always live in our hearts.
In these past two years, I have often reflected on the difficult questions of life, including the meaning of death of the innocent, and yet as I continue to grieve, I also continue to see more than a ray of hope in an otherwise tragic situation. It is an unexpected journey for me, because as a professional theologian, I have always approached these issues from a pastoral and academic perspective, but never through lived experience. Citing the difference, Pope Pius XII said it best: “We get learning from books, but we get wisdom from suffering.”
Go here to read the moving rest. God gives us those we love and He gives us the grace in our despair if they depart this vale of tears before we do. God will give us courage and strength to endure even the most terrible pain if we seek His grace, especially in the midst of our suffering.
Thankyou for this article.I lost my daughter the day she was born. God bless you
God bless you Linda. May your daughter and my son pray for us all.
Sadly, I did not know Mark had lost a son. He literally lived next door to me when I was growing up back in NJ. Though he moved out of his parent’s house ages ago, before I even got into high school, I still remember many interactions with him, his sister, and parents. My parents and his mother still live in those same houses, so I see her whenever it happens that I visit my parents.
I have 4 of my own right now (a boy, a girl, and twin girls), and my nightmare is losing one of them (or a future one). My prayers and condolences to you, Linda, and you, Donald.