Ellie – Bigvai and Shiphrah

‘Talk for 12’ Podcast Interview with Jemima

Jemima was recently interviewed for Orange Evangelical Church’s Talk for 12 podcast. In the episode, “Stillbirth and Infant Loss”, she shares the story of Ellie’s life and death, how God sustained her through grief, and some advice for caring for others who experience similar loss. Listen at: http://www.oechurch.org.au/talkfor12/stillbirthandinfantloss-gy6da

Death Makes Life More and Less Serious

They say that death is the ultimate equaliser. But in life, death can be a helpful reorganise.

Life is a given: how losing my first baby affected the way I viewed my second pregnancy.

Life is so precious, and the arrival of a new baby is naturally a joyfully anticipated event. In the weeks before the birth of our second child I had many strangers ask me, ‘when are you due?’ And one old lady who I hadn’t met before but who lived on my waddling route even cameContinue reading “Life is a given: how losing my first baby affected the way I viewed my second pregnancy.”

Taking Hold – Reflecting on Ellie

Recently my wife and I remembered the death of our daughter as it was the anniversary of the day she died (28.07.20). As with such important times, we tread carefully. It is a time of remembrance, of reflection, of joy at life, and morning of death. Also, as it was the first anniversary – theContinue reading “Taking Hold – Reflecting on Ellie”

Remembering Ellie

This week my husband and I remember the birth, life and passing of our first child and daughter, Ellie. It’s strange to think that it’s been a year. Recently my husband reminded me of something that Mark Thompson, the principal of our theological college wrote to us at the time: “Take hold of the GodContinue reading “Remembering Ellie”

Does a baby’s spirit return?

Over the past few months I’ve had a couple of people express the idea to me that the spirit of a deceased baby returns with the birth of a subsequent child. While I realise that this idea may comfort some people, as a Christian I find it to be problematic with what I understand ofContinue reading “Does a baby’s spirit return?”

Stewarding with Faithfulness

The call to steward whatever we have with all faithfulness is a lesson that I learned in the most difficult time of my life, when I lost my daughter Ellie on her eighth day of life. I knew she was going to die. So I had to decide how I was going to live inContinue reading “Stewarding with Faithfulness”

Grief in a ‘pleasure v pain’ world

Mark Vroegop in his book on lament “Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy” writes this, “Finding an explanation or a quick solution for grief, while an admirable goal, can circumvent the opportunity afforded in lament – to give a person permission to wrestle with sorrow instead of rushing to end it.” (p.19) This quote got me thinkingContinue reading “Grief in a ‘pleasure v pain’ world”

To Ponder Suffering

As I ponder upon the magnitude and intensity of human suffering – specifics, generalisations, through history, at this very moment – I shake my head. Sometimes there are no words. Who can truly fathom it? Who can really give an exhaustive answer? Only God. In our limited experience we can do not much more thanContinue reading “To Ponder Suffering”

Survivor’s Guilt

Some months ago I wrote a post ‘On Envy’. In this I described the guilt that I had felt when having a good thing that some dear friends of mine wanted but lacked. In the months since that post I found myself in a some-what opposite situation. However, God used the things I had learnedContinue reading “Survivor’s Guilt”