Remembered

By Heather Ledeboer | Category: Pursuing God, Sawyer's Story, The Journey of Motherhood

There is something incredibly touching about being remembered, something that draws us to want to leave our mark in the world.  I think of all the times I have seen names carved out or written on rocks at rest stops or on picnic benches.  I remember when my husband and I first carved out our initials on a tree.  We as humans want to be known AND we want to be remembered.  I think this desire is placed in us by the same God who wants to be known and remembered by us.  Though or time here may be brief, we were created with a lifespan that far exceeds or time on this earth.

 

This photo was taken on the shores of Western Australia by a family that lost their own son, Christian Dudley, before birth.  Later, this family started a unique ministry called To Write Their Names In The Sand.  In their own words, "To Write Their Names In The Sand is a place of remembrance. It is our hope that we can bring rays of hope and light back into bereaved family and friends lives. To watch the sunset and be a witness to Christian's legacy please visit here." 

Since they began this ministry, this couple has since taken requests for over 3,225 names to be written in the sand of the seashore that is just minutes from their home.  Recently Sawyer's name was added to the sand on the shores of Australia–one of two continents that I have not personally visited (the other being Antarctica;).  You can see it on their website here.  I think it turned out  beautiful and feel that it is fitting that his name was captured in the setting sun, just as his time with us quickly faded.  I can't help thinking about the brief time that his name remained in the sand after this photo was captured.  I am sure that the tide quickly swept it away.  It is the same with all of us.  Our lives are short, but they need not be without meaning or impact.  I believe that we cannot know the full meaning or impact that our lives are capable of, without also knowing the God who created us.

The photo below was taken by Emily, who lives in Hawaii and had a stillborn son, Gabriel in 2002 (incidentally also on May 10th).  Emily says this on her website, "For his angelversary my sister wrote his name in the sand at a beach close to her home on the Windward Shore of Hawaii. It is a special beach set aside as a ‘quiet place of reflection’. I love how the photo turned out- and it seems so suitable to me that it is not a permanent thing, but rather, just like Gabriel, it is here for just a minute and then gone. But for a brief moment, the world is a little different because of him.
"  You can see her website here.  Thank you to both Christian and Gabriel's families for creating beautiful memories for families who have lost a child.

 

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14 for [God] knows how we are formed,
       he remembers that we are dust.

 15 As for man, his days are like grass,
       he flourishes like a flower of the field;

 16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
       and its place remembers it no more.  Psalm 103:14-16

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6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
       all the days of my life,
       and I will dwell in the house of the LORD 
       forever.  Psalm 23: 5-6

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17 May his name endure forever;
       may it continue as long as the sun.
       All nations will be blessed through him,
       and they will call him blessed.

 18 Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel,
       who alone does marvelous deeds.  Psalm 72: 17-18

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25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
       And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

 26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
       but God is the strength of my heart
       and my portion forever. Psalm 73:25-27

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1 I will sing of the LORD's great love forever;
       with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. 

 2 I will declare that your love stands firm forever,
       that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself.  Psalm 89:1-2

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4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
       and his courts with praise;
       give thanks to him and praise his name.

 5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
       his faithfulness continues through all generations.  Psalm 100:4-5

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5 Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely,
       who conducts his affairs with justice.

 6 Surely he will never be shaken;
       a righteous man will be remembered forever.

 7 He will have no fear of bad news;
       his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.  Psalm 112:5-7

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1 Praise the LORD, all you nations;
       extol him, all you peoples.

 2 For great is his love toward us,
       and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.
       Praise the LORD.  Psalm 117

Posted Wednesday, February 25, 2009