Happy Birthday Lyle...I haven't forgotten you.

Dear Lyle.

Today is your birthday.

You were born on Nov. 10, 1971

Unfortunately, that was also your death day.

I never got to hold you.

I never got to say goodbye.

Back then there was no "Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep" organization where kind

people like my blog friend Jamie come and take pictures for the family to keep.

...

The hospital took you away and put you in the morgue before I even saw you.

They told me, John and my mom it would be too upsetting for us to see you.

I knew they were wrong but I was too sick to argue.

You were buried while I was still recovering from your difficult birth in the hospital.

You were gone from my life but not from my heart.

I agonized with grief.

Then one night I awoke with the following words racing through my mind.

I wrote them down in a poem.

The words gave me comfort.

They brought me peace.

I consider this poem a gift from God.

It still gives me comfort.

I wrote it for you.

I called it Only Son

At that time you were my only son.

...

Only Son

(Cruel words-Kind Answer)

"Your baby's dead!" How cruel the words.
How shocking to my soul.
It can not be. It must not be.
God would not take my son from me.
...
But it was true. My babe was gone
Taken from my arms and breast.
I wept. I cried in agony.
My torment knew no rest.
...
How could it be? How could it be
God took him in his infancy?
Before he walked or talked or cooed for joy
God took away my baby boy.
...
Then in His loving tenderness
God touched my heart that I might know
I'll have my son. I'll hold his hand.
I'll watch him grow into a man.
...
Though I wait to sing him songs of love
I'll sing them in our home above.
For now I'll prove my faith and worth
and thank God He let me give him birth.
...
...

And so Lyle I wait.

I am trying to live a good life.

I am trying to live as Jesus taught us to live.

I am trying to keep His commandments.

I want to be worthy to be with you in our eternal home one day.

...

You would be 38 years old today.

I imagine that you would be much like your younger brother, David.

I am sure that you would be a fine man with a lovely family.

I miss you. I have not forgotten you.

I can smile when I think of you today because I know families are forever.

Happy Birthday dear son.

Love, Mommy