Choose Hope for 2018

The pain of losing a child, whether to miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss, is among the most agonizing of sorrows. Whether your loss occurred many years ago or very recently, the ache you carry in your heart is heavy indeed. There is nothing that can prepare you for the devastation of losing a child, and there are no words that can take away the pain that results. But dear one, your grief does not need to be carried alone.

For the past twelve years, our nation has officially recognized October 15 as an opportunity to honor and remember our precious babies who have gone home before us, and to spread awareness of the tragedy that befalls 1 in 4 women.

Sweet momma, as we approach this day of remembrance can I present you with a challenge?

Extend Comfort

This October 15, take the time to reach out to another grieving mother. Because infant loss effects 1-4 women, chances are high that you know of another woman whose arms are aching with emptiness—whose heart is mourning a child who is no longer with her on this earth. Write her a letter. Send her a text to let her know that you are praying for her. Let her know that she is not alone.

^“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-5

Let us choose this October 15 to comfort another with the comfort that we ourselves have received.

Buy a T-Shirt

Every year, Hope Mommies holds a t-shirt fundraiser for October 15. All proceeds from t-shirt donations go towards scholarships to our annual retreat. Starting today our Choose Hope shirts are on sale until Sept. 21. Purchase a t-shirt for yourself, and invite your friends and family to get one too. When you buy a t-shirt, you are giving another Hope Mom the opportunity to experience hope and healing.

Then, on October 15, we can all wear our t-shirts and flood the skies together with remembrance—or we can choose another way to remember together (i.e. lit candles, a family ice cream outing, a service project, etc.). Together, we can bring awareness to this silent grief that affects so many women and families every day.

This year we are offering adult, youth, toddler and infant sized t-shirts. Click here to order yours.

Don’t forget to take a photo of yourself or your group and share it using #HopeMommiesOct15.  

How will you be honoring your babies this October 15? We’d love to hear how you shared hope and remembered your precious babies on this day! Send us pictures and share with us how you have chosen hope on October 15 HERE.

Ashlee is the Editorial Coordinator for Hope Mommies. She and her husband, Jesse, live in Milwaukee with their children—five on earth and two with the Lord. You can get to know her more by reading her blog, Beyond Undone.

Are you a writer who would like to join the blog team? Learn more and apply here.