Hold your children a little closer today

I usually do not find myself at a loss for words but today I find my heart heavy and soul a little worn out.  I found out this morning that a friend of mine from our old neighborhood in Kearns lost her daughter this morning.  Rachel was only 7 years old.  I remember when Rachel was born.,  She has a twin brother named Sam which is part of the reason I remember them so well.  The are not sure yet what happened to Rachel.  She had a headache, went to bed, woke up dizzy and started vomitting.  Her parents took her to the ER and she stopped breathing and then her heart stopped and they could not revive her.

This is the third death of a child I know in the last 2-3 weeks. 

The first was a little boy named Devaun who went to same school as my three younger kids.  He had a cancer and was able to live out his last few months in the comfort of his home with his family around him.  His older brother is in the same 5th grade class as my twins.  His death was sad but not unexpected.  They were able to make the most of the time he had left. 

The second happened just before Christmas.  A friend of mine from high school, Mike Bearden and his cute wife Jill were expected baby number 5 any day.  Jill felt like something was wrong and went to get checked out.  Jill's feelings were right and labor was induced.  Max was born not breathing.  They got him breathing but he died in Jill's arms two days later.  I went to the funeral and was truly touched by the thoughts that Mike and Jill shared.

And now Brett and Angela Beyer have lost their precious little girl. 

Part of me wants to question why this is happening and part of me all ready knows that I will never know but don't need to.  I know that all these families will be reunited one day.  That does not make the every day pain and loss that these families feel any easier. 
As a friend, I feel very helpless to comfort them.  I don't know what it is like to lose a child like they have.  I pray everyday that I never have to know what that is like.
What I can do is hold my children a little longer, tighter, and more often today.
I need to ignore the insanity that my children make me fell and enjoy the few precious moments we have together. 
These 3 families have taught me to stop and enjoy the moments a little more.  I need to love these little faces with every part of me possible.

so today I will be grateful for what I have.....