Monday Manna: It's Okay to Cry

When I saw the verse for this week’s Monday Manna at Joanne Sher’s An Open Book, I knew I had to ask my daughter-in-law’s permission to share something she wrote last September. This was written the day after Sarah and our son, Tyson, lost a long-awaited and much anticipated baby. It was discovered during her check-up that the baby’s heart had stopped beating.


September 26, 2008
I’ve never really had a desire to sit down and write something…until now. God has really laid this stuff on me today and I just have to get it out. Mostly for my benefit…but I hope that I can encourage you through it too.

John 11:35
Jesus wept.

This is one of those verses that I normally just breeze past or use when involved in a game where I have to know the shortest verse in the bible…but today, these words came as a great comfort to me. As I did my bible study today it was over PEACE and the PEACE that Jesus had even through the death of his good friend Lazarus. Verse 4 of John 11 says this “…No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Even knowing that He would raise Lazarus from the dead and that God would be glorified through it, Jesus still wept. Now looking at this story again, I realize it may not have been because of the death of his friend, but because those who knew Christ and knew God’s power still didn’t believe and have faith…BUT the thing I got from it applies either way-IT’S OKAY TO CRY. And after the sorrow and grief have passed and even through it, I believe God IS glorified. I have faith that God is my MIGHTY ROCK and that He has a plan for our lives that is beyond anything we could imagine for ourselves.

I have had moments today where I just break down and cry, but I know God gave us the special gift of this baby…if only for a short while. I believe He is making Tyson and I stronger so that we can be used together as a couple to bring more glory to Himself and that gets me excited. Yes…I will continue to grieve, and I will NEVER forget this moment in our lives, but God is wrapping me up in His arms TIGHT, and I know that He will bring us through this.

We thank you all for your support and love through prayers, email messages, hugs, soup, peach cobbler, etc. May God bless you all for the reflection of His love you have shown us.

Psalm 62:8
Trust in Him at all times, O people;
Pour out your hearts to him,
For God is our refuge.

AMEN!
-by Sarah Guthrie


Sarah is the wife of Tyson Guthrie (my youngest son). In addition to being a wonderful wife and daughter-in-law, she is multi-talented. Best of all, Sarah truly has a servant’s heart. She loves to use her gifts and abilities for the Lord. She and Tyson live in Deep River, Iowa, where Tyson in the director of East Iowa Bible Camp. There she uses her organizational and secretarial skills in the camp office and makes all the campers feel warmly welcomed. Tyson and Sarah have been married for seven and a half years, and continue to seek God’s will for them regarding a family. Prior to their pregnancy they were in the process of applying for adoption, but that had to be put on hold, and now they are waiting and praying. I know they would appreciate your prayers. Sarah's blog can be found here: Everybody Here Loves Camp.