It Is Finished - On Adelyn's Headstone and Victory Over Death

After Adelyn's death in September, G and I started looking into headstones for her grave. Our search slowed some about a month later when we found out the Lord had blessed us and I was pregnant again. We never stopped looking however, and almost ordered a custom stone from an online site. Before we decided to order it, some friends with connections to a headstone manufacturer offered to be our go-between and help us get a nice stone. They showed themselves to be the most devoted and compassionate of friends to us in our time of need and because of them, we were able to get a beautiful stone for half the cost of the online store. We picked it up a couple of months ago, and waited for the seasons to change so we wouldn't have to install it in the cold. G picked out the material (black granite) and we both chose the border and font. It turned out even more beautiful than I imagined. It's perfect.

On Saturday, two months after we picked it up from our friends, we finally had the chance to install her stone. The morning air was cool, but the sun was out and the sky was clear. G examined the burial site, took all of the necessary measurements, and began the task of installing the grass marker. Less than an hour later, the task was complete.

We loaded the tools in the back of the SUV, then G and I stood together and surveyed his work. After a moment of silence we said our customary goodbyes to Addie, climbed into the vehicle, and drove off toward the next event of the day. Though we've had closure in this situation for a while, both of us felt a little lighter when we left the church than we had when we arrived.

I am in awe of God, especially this week. He is continuing to use Addie's life to display His glory to us and to the world. We didn't determine ahead of time to install her headstone at this significant point in my pregnancy, but that's how the Lord worked it out for us. It's not a coincidence that Addie was born at 23 weeks and one day, and that on Easter Sunday I will be 23 weeks and one day in this new pregnancy. Nor is it a coincidence that she was born and died on a Friday, and that Christ-followers everywhere (including me and G) will remember His death on the cross for our sins on Good Friday. My eyes are now opened to the fascinating reality that as long as we live, when we think of our Adelyn Jane, we will also be reminded of the incredible gift that Jesus gave us (forgiveness of sins, a restored relationship with our Creator, and the promise of life spent with Him for all eternity) when He took the sins of the world upon Himself and paid the ultimate price for our freedom. Addie's life is finished, but because of Jesus, so is the control that death and sin had over our lives. We are free!

"When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, 'It is finished!' Then bowing His head, He gave up His spirit...So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and of the other one who had been crucified with Him. When they came to Jesus, they did not break His legs since they saw that He was already dead." -John 19:30, 32-33

As strange as it will sound to some people, these amazing parallels make life worth the struggle. The words of King Theoden (The Two Towers) resonate within me when he says that "no parent should have to bury their child." Yet God buried His own Son for us so that we who must bury our own children can take heart and have hope. And although the body of my firstborn is still in her grave, the glorious truth is that the tomb of Jesus, the sinless Son of God, is empty! Because He died and rose again after taking the punishment for our sin upon Himself, we can look forward to spending eternity with our Savior and seeing our little girl again one day.

"After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb. Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached [the tomb]. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his robe was as white as snow. The guards were so shaken from fear of him that they became like dead men. But the angel told the women, 'Don't be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here! For He has been resurrected, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples, "He has been raised from the dead. In fact, He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there." Listen, I have told you.' So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell His disciples the news. Just then Jesus met them and said, 'Good morning!' They came up, took hold of His feet, and worshiped Him." -Matthew 28:1-9