Never-ending Love—A New Book on Infant Loss

Hi Everyone,

I’m excited to share with you the publication of a book that I wrote a chapter for, called Never-ending Love: Sharing Stories, Prayers and Comfort for Miscarriage and Infant Loss

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My chapter is called “Flurries of Stardust.” I wrote about how grief fuelled my poetry, and how writing helped me heal my heart after my Josephine’s stillbirth. My best friend Monique Leblanc and her husband Ryan wrote with honesty and grace about how their faith helped them through the experience of losing their son half way through pregnancy. We contributed to our first book, Love Rebel:Reclaiming Motherhood together years ago, shortly after losing our babies.

Now our words are together between the covers again! Here’s an excerpt the back of Never-ending Love:

“In this long-awaited resource, a range of voices offer their perspective on how faith can be a source of support, hope and healing for those grieving the loss of a child before, during or soon after birth.

 Words of experience and wisdom from various perspectives – several women, a married couple, a medical doctor, a pastor, a theologian, a team of liturgists offering rituals to mark the loss, and approaches parishes and dioceses can take – are complemented by prayers and resources for working with grieving couples.

St. Paul tells us that “Love never ends” (1 Corinthians 13:8). As a Christian community, we can help couples express and remember their never-ending love for their beloved child, who will always have a cherished place in their hearts and their lives.”

Never-ending Love will be a helpful companion for families who have lost babies, as well as friends and pastors who’d like tools, ideas, and prayers to support them better. Here is the link:

As it will be Josephine’s ninth anniversary this Saturday, September 30th, I’m happy to have this book to offer in her memory.

The Day Before (a poem for a dear friend)

Amidst all the nerves and butterflies,

the anxious flutterings

of your mind and heart,

there is one truth that surrounds you

like the atmosphere.

Like the earth,

let yourself be embraced by it,

the truth that you are

utterly and totally loved—

as you are today,

as you will be tomorrow—

now and forever.

You were blessed into existence

by the dream of our Father God’s heart.

He foresaw you all swaddled

in white and lace at your baptism,

and he sees you already,

tomorrow,

swathed in white beauty once again,

as you enter his house as a bride—

not to love perfectly,

despite your human brokenness,

but to rejoice in being beloved

and to share that joy forever

by delighting in your new spouse.

Now and forever—

as you will be tomorrow,

as you are today—

let the truth that you are

utterly and totally loved

embrace you

like the earth.

Like the atmosphere,

may that one truth surround you,

amidst the anxious flutterings

of your mind and heart,

calming all the nerves and butterflies,

so you can rest gently in joyful hope.

Sunset Caress

Amidst the usual evening business,

there was a moment of golden light,

when all the chaos of messy meals—

my baby climbing out of her high chair,

little chubby limbs besmeared with mango

and requiring yet another bath,

as the phone rang and the water boiled,

and the seven-year-old pontificated

on the merits of trampolines

vs slip and slides for summer safety—

all this ceased to grab my attention,

which was caught by the light of a far-off star,

speeding across millions of miles of space

to gaze at me on my porch this evening,

a glowing orange ball

peeking through the dark fir trees.

I paused to gaze back.

My daughter sped around the porch

on her running bike,

her tongue running fast as her feet

to describe her tricks in real time

—but I had stepped out,

and was steeped in golden light—

“I am here, all along; I am here,”

spoke the universe calmly,

all its diverse particles coming together

to deliver me this caress of beauty

from the halls of eternity.