The Loss
Ruth’s toes wiggled in the warm sand. The fresh ocean breeze hitting her face ever so softly. It was a beautiful day at the beach. Her soul welcomed the smell of the ocean. Phillip had let Ruth go with her family to spend the week at her family’s cabin on the coast. It was so refreshing to get away and renew her strength.
As Ruth, sat in the warm sand resting her head on her knees, she remembered how just a few weeks ago, she had carried a little one inside of her. Phillip had been so happy at the news. She had felt so proud being able to give Phillip a baby. Ruth had finally succeeded at making him happy. She had felt loved and had basked in Phillip’s love and in his acceptance of her. Ruth had believed that this baby would change everything for the better in their home. Moments of peace, laughter and endless conversations had returned to her home and marriage.
It wasn’t until that dreadful Wednesday morning when she went to go see the doctor for her checkup. Dr. David couldn’t find a heartbeat. He had sent her to the hospital for more tests. As she lay in the examination room, she shivered at the fear that Dr. David might be right. Fear consumed her and the endless questions attacked her mind. She wanted to cry but she couldn’t. It took some time until a kind tall doctor, that she had never seen before, sat at her side and held her hand. He had looked at her with great compassion and told her that she had lost her baby. She couldn’t remember if she had said anything to him as she quietly cried in that simple and cold hospital room.
The days after her return from the hospital were very quiet. Phillip attended to her, but it wasn’t the same as it had been while she was pregnant. She hoped with all her heart that things wouldn’t go back as they had been before her pregnancy. She hoped with all her heart that her Phillip would continue to love her. She didn’t know what she would do if things returned to the way it had been in the past.
She wanted to trust God, but didn’t know if she could. She really needed God to heal her heart and change her situation around. Would He take her brokenness, pain, and change the course of her life and marriage? The question stayed in her mind as she watched the sun set.
Note by Author:
The only one who can truly change a person’s heart and condition is God. Ruth is finding out that no matter what she does for Phillip, it isn’t enough. Some women find themselves stuck in this situation. They will take rejection and belittling, in hopes that their husband will change. Some, unfortunately, have lost their lives doing so.
If you are wanting to simply talk to someone please call: This is the 24-hour Domestic Violence Line. 1-800-648-1277.