I swallowed the lump that was growing in my throat and offered my condolences and then continued on with my questioning that is required to certify pregnant women for WIC (Women, Infants and Children) benefits.
For the past 13 years, I have worked as a nutrition counselor for the WIC program, and in all this time, speaking with women who have lost children through miscarriage, abortion and early infancy death has never gotten easier. It is a frequent reminder of how fleeting life can be and how fragile we all really are. I learn again and again that I am called to tread lightly with women’s hearts, especially women who have suffered so much pain through losses of which I have such little firsthand experience.
Now, God is calling me to something more, something much more challenging. I am not sure what His purpose is in using me in this way, but I will submit to His call and do the best I can…
Andrea’s daughter was only six years old, when the car came racing out of nowhere. Although she was holding her hand while they crossed the street, that grasp wasn’t strong enough to keep her from the tragedy that befell them that day. Now, six-year-old Mackenzie laid lifeless in the street and Andrea was left sobbing without her. The newscasts were filled with the story, and like everyone else, I shook my head and offered a prayer for the family that suffered such a horrific loss. Then, a few days later, Fr. Dave mentioned that he was praying to the Holy Spirit to help him find the right words to say at this little girl’s funeral.
The site of the car accident just happened to be on my running route at that time. A few months previously I had noticed some yellow finches flying among the trees and wildflowers and had been inspired to write a little poem about it. So, after Mass, I mentioned that to Fr. Dave. He asked me to send it to him so I did. My poem really had nothing to do with anything regarding the accident, but Fr. Dave liked it and he took it along when he went to meet with Mackenzie’s mother. She liked it, too, and asked Fr. Dave to please use it in his homily. Then she asked Fr. Dave to share her email address with me so that we could stay connected.
Andrea and I wrote back and forth a few times, but eventually our communication has dwindled. I have never met her in person and really know very little about her, or her about me, so I will never understand why she chose to reach out to me except that it must be an intervention of the Holy Spirit. Last month, Andrea sent me a message on Facebook reminding me that it has now been two years since Mackenzie died and she told me that she was having a hard time. Whew. I know nothing about grief counseling, but I do know how to be a friend, and I do know how to listen. So, we made arrangements to meet at the end of this week.
Now it is me who is praying to the Holy Spirit to help me bring some comfort to this young mother who has lost so much, more than any mother should ever have to lose. Perhaps all these years of meeting women at work who deal with their own losses has been God’s way of preparing me for this upcoming meeting. Our God who loves and cares for all the little angel babies in heaven loves and cares for all of His children here on earth as well, and He will see to it that we are never left alone without someone to care for us, even if that someone is a stranger. He knows that they will soon be friends.
