Today is my baby's birthday, May 27. He would be five today. I'm not really sure how old he is in heaven. I think he's probably still two. I hope so. I have this dream of raising him up on the new earth, Rick and I together with our little Bronner.
We wanted to do something really special to honor Bronner today, and I believe we have. The video we've posted today not only honors our sweet baby, but I see it as a sermon in and of itself.
(Click here to watch: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1495122219857&ref=mf )
We had a beautiful baby boy, and we loved him with everything we are. He was taken from us. We praise God anyway. We suffer as Christ suffered, and we are assured of an eternity not only with Bronner but with Christ Himself. Jesus has promised us life everlasting if we put our faith and trust in Him. Our faith not only sustains us and comforts us but empowers us to testify to the goodness and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. We know Him in a much deeper and more intimate way than we did before our suffering. We have been tried in the furnace of affliction, and as Job said of Himself, "We will come forth as gold." We can never be what God desires us to be without being humbled under the mighty hand of the Father, but... in this we rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, we have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of our faith, more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:6-7)
And after we have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called us to his eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish us. (1 Peter 5:10)
Death has no victory here. Our Bronner lives just as our Lord lives!
Happy Birthday, baby. Mommy and Daddy will be there soon and very soon.
Your family's witness lives strong. Bronner's sweet eyes just radiate the love of our Father. The video is beautiful! I just love the picture of Rick with arms totally wrapped around Bronner...just like our Father holds us. Happy birthday Bronner.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you all Sherri....you & Rick have such a wonderful outlook & I draw inspiration from you both. God took home a precious angel, and you are so right....you will be with him again one day. Bronner was a precious little fellow.....I loved his "Jesus Loves Me" song. Thank you for posting. I needed this today I believe. I lost my father last month after a very long illness.....and had just lost my mom 14 months beforehand. You have no idea, after watching you sweet video of Bronner and reading you blog posting, how much it has helped me myself. I'm crying now...but I needed it. God bless you & your family. Much love going out to you all today!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Bronner. I cried as I watched the video and held my own sweet little boy that was sent to save my life, my cancer would not have been discovered until much later if not for him. I know that you'll be able to see him again, soon.
ReplyDeleteThat was a beautiful video and such a wonderful and powerful message. Thank you for standing strong even when it was hard. You are a wonderful witness for our big daddy God. ((hugs))
ReplyDeleteMy husband I have also lost a child. I know no where near what pain you do being you had precious Bonner in your life for 2 precious years. I was 36 weeks and 4 days pregnant when we found out his name had been called by our Father to come home. Those were the most painful words i have ever heard in my life is that his HEARTBEAT WAS GONE. I had only weeks before we were to welcome that healthy baby boy into our family. People told us not to name him that it would make it so much harder but on October 18, 2008 we welcomed Sawyer Monroe Neely into our family although God had already welcomed him into his. His cord had gotten wrapped around his neck 4 times due to a cord defect we didn't know about until it was too late. It will be 2 years this October and it doesn't seem like it should be that long. It was a long hard road for us and me as a mother i have my days where i cry thinking of him.We now have been blessed with another little boy who will be 3 months next we and God gave us a piece of our precious Sawyer in him he looked just like he did when he was born. As I was reading your blog though I never thought about it the way you stated it "We Suffered as Christ Suffered". I also wonder what age my son would be in heaven would he be a 1 1/2 old or the same newborn we lost and can't wait to see again. I have dreams of my family being together again in heaven and finally getting to see our precious Angel Baby grow up. My husband and I were saved just 2 weeks after loosing our son Sawyer November 9th 2008 to be exact everyone kept telling us God does things like that for a reason and not sure if that was the reason or not but our little boy changed our life for every even though he was taken from us way too soon.
ReplyDeleteHAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY BRONNER!!!!
Cortney Neely
Eastaboga, AL
Your faith & strength are amazing Sherri, the video you put together to honor Bronner was beautiful! Happy 5th Birthday Bronner! God Bless You & Yours always.... I smile knowing there is a little angel up there watching over his family with more strength and peace than most will ever truly know.... your little one is a blessing to me on his day! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteMTM
Madison, AL
God Bless you and your family. We lost my stepson on March 6th. The pain doesn't go away, you just have to learn how to carry it. We also praise our Lord anyway! We have been reading everything on heaven to just get a picture of where he is. The one book that has given us comfort is "Within Heavens Gate" by Rebecca Stringer. There are more, But most of all the comfort of knowing we will be there soon and be all together with our Lord is the best comfort of all!
ReplyDeleteKB
Tuscaloosa, Al
Sherri-
ReplyDeleteI love the video that you put together! What a beautiful way to glorify God and remember Bronner on this special day. I was at work 5 years ago today the morning Bronner was born. (Brookwood L&D). I was pregnant wtih my own bundle of joy. I can remember when you and Rick came in to have sweet Bronner. I know it was a glorious and PERFECT day! I remember you coming to the desk and walking to your room, we always put our patients having c/sections in the room closest to the operating room. That room is LDR 7. How cool is that! Thought that you would find that interesting. Have a wonderful day! Happy Birthday Bronner!
Amanda Helms
I was moved to many tears as I watched your beautiful video. My how the years fly by. Forty years ago this month,our first son was born. We lost him 10 days later due to a heart defect. You never forget that day. Someone once told me that I couldn't identify with someone who had just lost an adult child because they were greieving over the many memories they had and that the adult child would not be here anymore. I reminded them that I never got to make any memories with by baby and that I was grieving over that and I could relate to their pain. It doesn't matter how old or how young your child is when they are called to heaven. There will always be an "empty place at the table". I pray God will continue to comfort and bless you and Rick and your precious family.
ReplyDeleteGina Tubbs, Birmingham, AL
Sherri-
ReplyDeleteThinking of and Praying for you today. I loved the video. I am glad that I am not the only one that thinks that in spite of Earthly birthdays, they are still only 2 years old in Heaven. I guess we will find out when we are reunited with our sweet babies. Oh what a glorious day of rejoicing that will be when we get to see Our Savior and you get to see your sweet Bronner and I get to see my precious twins, Brayden and Kenadi waiting there with Him. I am sure they are up there having a grand time. May comfort and joy fill your day today. Happy Birthday Bronner!
Love,
Meredith
I will say again what I put in my comment for the video. You and your precious family did not have to open yourselves in this way, but you CHOSE to all for the glory of God. Thank you for being vulnerable and allowing God to shine brightly through you.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing video! Thank you for sharing your son with us through those sweet pictures and videos. You are an amazing woman who just shines with God's light. I have 2 babies in Heaven waiting for me, and I cannot wait to hold them and rock them. I know Jesus is taking good care of them for me until I get there, and that thought comforts me when no other thoughts do. You and your family will continue to be in my prayers.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the intimate look at your lives and your walk with Christ. Our grief for your family is real. I know without a doubt that children know God a lot better than we do. When I talk with my 3 year old granddaughter about God, she never questions me, just smiles as if to say I already know that MiMi.
ReplyDeleteLord, teach us to marvel at Your unchanging ways. To know and trust You without question. Take our hearts and mold them to Your will. Amen
beautiful! Happy birthday Bronner!! Tell my baby Bryson I love him!
ReplyDeleteThank you for opening up yourself and sharing. I lost my little girl when I was 6 months pregnant almost a year and half ago. It's hard to share the emotions with others. I wish I had your strength. It is because of your family's witness that I have made it through the hard days. One day you will see Bronner and I will see my precious Aryn again but until that day we will continue to run the race..
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Bronner!! I am Suzanne Blocker's daughter and I have been forever touched by little Bronner's life, death, and the way God has been glorified through it all. I think of little Bronner often. What a precious little boy!
ReplyDeleteYou will see him again...no doubt. You are a wonderful example to all of us. Thank you for that moving video...Becki
ReplyDeleteIt is extremely rare that I see a dragonfly ~ but when I do, I whisper a prayer for you. Today, when I opened my car door, one came and hung, suspended for the longest moment right in front of my face.
ReplyDeleteIt felt surreal, but in that moment I thought of you and your family. Now I know why. Happy Birthday to Bronner ~ and prayers for the beautiful family who shares him with us.
Thinking of you and your family. Praying for you guys. xoxo
ReplyDeleteSherri-
ReplyDeleteYour unfailing faith and trust through the storm of your life is such an encouragement to all- I pray that God continues to use you through Bronner to change lives for His kingdom. On Thursday, May 27, as I was preparing for work, the Revelation Song was played by Rick- instantly, I knew why- you see Bronner and my son, Jay share the same birthday, however, my son turned 18 this year. I will always remember Bronner on this day as I remember my own son- may God bless you in your ministry.
I have been so moved reading your blog I feel Gods presence and anointing. I am going to share some of the entries with the ladies from our local jail when I go this Sunday morning for jail services God Bless
ReplyDeleteI praise God for you and your family Sherri. Your witness to the goodness of our Lord is astounding. I pray many blessing over you guys.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sherri! Your courage and strength are a true inspiration to me in my walk with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Love, Laurie.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing this amazing video of your precious Bronner. My husband and I just attended Date Night at the Grand where you and Rick spoke about losing your baby and about this video. I remember you speaking about the Passion of The Christ being used and I couldn't wait to see this video because I knew I was going to be touched even more so than what you and Rick had already done. I do not know if you remember me and my husband but we too lost our baby girl, Chloe. I can honestly say that I have never felt so much peace and understanding as I do now. My husband and I have been having a difficult time believing that Chloe's life was cut short. Thanks to you and Rick and precious Bronner, we now know that indeed, her life was complete. Words can not begin to thank you enough for doing what you and Rick do. The ministry that you have is amazing and I want you to know that it touches so many lives including mine and my husbands. If you have time, I would love to be able to share a piece of our daughters life with you as well. I have included a link to a video that my husband and I made of our baby Chloe. Like Rick said, I believe that Bronner is taking care of her in heaven until we are reunited with her again.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8ncZH0mAuQ
Thank you so much for everything including your blog. You are such an amazing person and I am honored to have met you.
God Bless,
Danielle Collar
Sheri I lost my 2 yr old son two months ago. You and Rick have been a true inspiritation to my family. This video is beautiful. I would love to know the name of those songs. They sound like Josh groban but if you have time to email me the names of those songs I would love that. Nursejazz00@Yahoo.com. thank you so much
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