Miscarriage, loss, and grief can be very challenging topics to talk about. In today’s episode on the podcast, Rebecca shares her recent miscarriage in the hopes of encouraging others that might be going through a difficult time. She reminds listeners that the Lord has great plans for us, and that are lessons to be found in both the valleys and the mountains of our lives.
The Radiant Mission Podcast | Episode 16
Host: Rebecca Twomey @theradiantmission
Co-Host: Rachel Smith
Thank you for listening to The Radiant Mission podcast! We are on a mission to encourage and inspire you on your walk with Christ and as you journey through life.
In Episode 16 we discuss miscarriage, loss, grief, and the lessons learned during difficult times. We explore the “rush” of modern society, and how we are called by the Lord to rest.
In This Episode on Miscarriage, Loss, Grief, & Stress: A Call to Rest (& Be Blessed):
- Recap, pre-discussion about culture, the sabbath, resting:
- It’s interesting how calm Ben is, he has a very calm demeanor and we wonder if his calm home birth had anything to do with his demeanor. Check out episodes 8 and 9 to listen back on this experience.
- After first birth with c-section, didn’t work out for a long time (a year+). After second birth, which was a home birth, felt so much better.
- The importance of caring for yourself for the First Forty Days after your baby is born (also known as the fourth trimester!).
- Our culture today isn’t aligned for birth today. We are not set up to rest after birth in this modern day, fast-paced world. How does this go-go-go lifestyle impact our bodies as women?
- Reminder: it’s okay not to be “on” all the time
- The Lord calls us to rest on the Sabbath. He created us TO rest. Our go-go-go culture is a burden. “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” The designer of our bodies told us we need rest.
- Rebecca rested for 8 weeks after baby Ben. She then decided to start the 75 Hard Program.
- What is #75hard? It is a mental challenge. For 75 days you work out twice a day for 45-minutes (one workout must be outside), drink 1 gallon of water, take a progress picture each day, follow a diet (no cheating, no alcohol), read 10 pages of non-fiction.
- Towards the end of the program, Rebecca started to not feel great. Her knees hurt a lot and she started to feel tired. As the days approached the end of the program, she realized she was likely pregnant.
- Rebecca’s story with her 3rd pregnancy and miscarriage:
- Felt the symptoms of pregnancy then decided to take a test. Discovered a faint second line. She had not gotten her cycle back after her home birth baby, so went by how she was feeling.
- Over the days, there was still a second faint line, but it continued to get fainter each day. Discusses her experience as she realized the baby was not progressing.
- The baby, Baby August, passed on August 25th, the same day we recorded the episode with Evan on her miracle baby. Rebecca also experienced a miracle: she got to see the baby as it passed. As small as a sesame seed, with a tiny cord and placenta!
- What a blessing it was to have had the opportunity to see her baby!
- Looked for the lesson: a big one was trust in the Lord. Trusting His plan for life and future children. Reflecting on 75 Hard and how hard I had pushed my postpartum body.
- A week later, Rebecca received news that healed the grief she had been feeling (Rachel’s pregnancy!). The Lord used each of us to teach the other lessons! We experienced growth together through these experiences.
- We are all on our own unique journeys: don’t compare yourself to others! We don’t know what path He has other people on.
- Ecclesiastes 3
- Rachel shares that her beloved dog of 14 years passed away recently. Ultimately, God is in control. He is in control of it all. For anyone dealing with loss or death, our spirit is in His hands.
Bible Verses Mentioned in this episode on miscarriage, loss, and grief:
Exodus 20:8:
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Ecclesiastes 3:
A Time for Everything
3 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
9 What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet[a] no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.
15 Whatever is has already been,
and what will be has been before;
and God will call the past to account.[b]
16 And I saw something else under the sun:
In the place of judgment—wickedness was there,
in the place of justice—wickedness was there.
17 I said to myself,
“God will bring into judgment
both the righteous and the wicked,
for there will be a time for every activity,
a time to judge every deed.”
18 I also said to myself, “As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. 19 Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath[c]; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. 20 All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. 21 Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?”
22 So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?
Psalm 147:3:
He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.
Resources Mentioned on this episode on miscarriage:
- The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother by Heng Ou
- A Woman’s Guide to Spiritual Warfare: How to Protect Your Home, Family and Friends from Spiritual Darkness by Quin Sherrer & Ruthanne Garlock
- Love & Respect: The Love She Most Desires, The Respect He Desperately Needs
- Download the YouVersion Bible App
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