1104 results for author: Ashlee Schmidt

In the Word: The Light of Heaven

Welcome to Hope Mommies’ In the Word devotionals. It is our desire that this series will aid you in getting in the Bible for yourself and discovering the joy that comes from hearing from God through the pages of His Word. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
2 Corinthians 4:17The truth of a future glory does not bring your baby back to you, but it will bring you to your baby. Is the view of heaven not greatly expanded when contrasted with the darkness of baby loss?Your child’s story, and your story, are connected to this beautiful light of heaven. Like strands ...

The Shore

Grief is so unpredictable. It’s like standing in the ocean, but facing the shore. I’m not admiring the beautiful coastline as one would imagine. I am standing soaking wet—water dripping into my eyes, fists clenched, body shaking and tense. A permanent grimace is on my face. My knee and elbow are cut open and a pink mixture of water and blood dissipate into the ocean surrounding me.
I am standing there waiting.I am waiting for the next impact, the next wave to hit. In anticipation, I do my best to ground my feet by digging them deeper into the sand below me. I try my hardest to steady my body and brace for what I know is coming. It’s a ...

Erica’s Retreat Experience

I didn’t find out about the retreat until close to the end of registration. But I felt the want, no, the need to go. Before the retreat I was feeling very alone. It was like I was the only one in the world grieving a baby I never got to hold, a life I never got to meet face to face. I felt like I was going crazy and everyone was just watching, waiting for my breakdown. I felt like I shouldn’t be crying this much, sad this often, dwelling on my losses so deeply. Everyone else was over it, so why wasn’t I?I got to the retreat Friday evening feeling literally sick with anxiety. What if they think I’m silly for crying about my Oliver who only ...

Renewing Your Focus

New Year’s resolutions have a bad reputation. Often, our goal is to make this life as easy as possible, not regarding the Lord’s greater plan and trustworthiness, and elevating our own desires above His authority. We often find ourselves living with this temporary, humanistic view of time—we are impatient, frustrated in trials, lacking in perseverance, not living with eternity in mind, worrying, not trusting God for provision, or living in fear. Grief has tempted me to live this way. In missing my baby, I ache so fiercely that, sometimes, I simply just want it to end. Grief brings on fear, worry, and a difficulty in ...

Hope Mommies Retreat: A Place of Healing and Hope

I do not know where my words are [physically] finding you—curled up on the couch with a cup of tea, or up at 3:00am with tear stained cheeks. I do not know where my words are [emotionally] finding you—angry at the hand dealt you and withdrawing from all of your old daily rhythms, or desperately seeking and choosing joy as you rebuild your new normal. I do not know if my words find you tugging at the robe of King Jesus, begging Him to make sense of it all, or if you are running as far and fast away from the gospel as your weary legs can take you.What I do know, courageous sister, is that you are at the right spot. You are welcome here. You are ...

Discussions in Grief: Surrender

Grieving involves new emotions and considerations often too many to numbers. When you find yourself in overwhelming grief, you likely feel buried and lost. In this series, we slowly and compassionately look at one aspect of grief at a time from a biblical perspective for the newly grieving mother. Click {here} to read past posts in this series.  I don't know what comes to mind for you when you think of the word “surrender”, but for me I picture the end of a long battle and the losing side has nothing left. Surrender happens when they give up and hand themselves over to the mercy of the enemy. Surrender happens in defeat, when you have ...

The Weary World Rejoices

For weeks now, the world has been eagerly anticipating Christmas Day. That’s what the Advent season is all about—waiting. Clinging to hope. Knowing and trusting that help is on its way. The baby in the manger is coming. One day all will be made right. Advent invites us to sit in the tension between the promise and its fulfillment. It gives voice to the longing in our hearts. The people of Israel expected the Messiah to liberate them from the oppression of the Romans. But Christ’s coming didn’t bring the political relief they were expecting. Much in the same way, we often expect Christ’s coming to deliver us from all suffering, but ...

A Thrill of Hope

“For to us a Child is born,to us a Son is given;and the government shall be upon His shoulder,and His name shall be calledWonderful Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”Isaiah 9:6 We live in the space between the first and second coming of this born-to-us Savior. Jesus, who came to earth as a baby to save His people, will one day return to bring them home. We celebrate the first Christmas because we know Christ will come again to make all things new. This Christmas may be filled with reminders of your empty arms, but you can still cling to hope in the midst of the sorrow, because ...

Hymns of Hope: O Little Town of Bethlehem

The City of David was situated on a hill just a few miles south of Jerusalem. Weary travelers, brought in by the census, were packed in every available room in town. Yet, in the quietness of night, while the streets lay in sleepy silence, the stillness was broken by the cry of a baby. Into the darkness, Light had dawned, and the course of history was forever changed in that little town of Bethlehem. O little town of Bethlehem,how still we see thee lie!Above thy deep and dreamless sleepthe silent stars go by;yet in thy dark streets shineththe everlasting light.The hopes and fears of all the yearsare met in thee tonight. That ...

Discussions in Grief: Searching

Grieving involves new emotions and considerations often too many to numbers. When you find yourself in overwhelming grief, you likely feel buried and lost. In this series, we slowly and compassionately look at one aspect of grief at a time from a biblical perspective for the newly grieving mother. Click {here} to read past posts in this series.  "I just want to know why!" I sobbed into the phone. I was standing in the NICU talking to a friend on the phone after being told my daughter would die. This friend had lost her baby girl 2.5 months ago. Through her tears, she told me something I'll never forget. She said, "There will never be a good ...