Giraffey is Hailey's stuffed animal that is a giraffe, of course. I ordered it for her while she was still in my tummy. I saw it online and thought it was the most adorable, most wonderful stuffed animal ever. If one of Hailey's stuffed animals was going to stay with her forever (you know how we all have the cliche blankie or what not - in my case it was a musical stuffed animal that was a horse...still have it 25 years later!), this was going to be the one. And what made it so fabulous, was the scripture verse sewn on it: "Your love O Lord reaches to the heavens. Psalm 36:5." I loved it.
Thankfully, after Hailey was born, when our friends went to our house to grab a few items to bring to Hailey in the hospital, they grabbed her giraffey. We had it with her and took pictures of it with her. Her giraffe was always nearby her once we came home . I often ran her tiny fingers along its soft fabric and read her the verse on it using it to tell her how much God and I love her.
When Hailey passed away, I brought her giraffey with us in the long car ride home to IL. I held it close and smelled it - it was one of the few items that held her baby scent. In the end, her giraffe brought me more comfort than it brought her. There were many nights surrounding her memorial service where we slept with her giraffey in our bed - a few nights I cuddled to sleep with it as I cried... held it close like I was holding her.
Even now, months later, her giraffey is an item we treasure and probably always will. Every now and then I hold it close to my heart and put my face to its fabric and breathe in - trying to become close to Hailey again...
And the promise in the scripture sewn into the giraffe was one I meant for Hailey to learn and know. Instead, that promise held me up and comforted me after losing Hailey. Even though I was devastated, felt abandoned, wanted to give up, didn't understand God, I had that promise. He loved me through it all, more than I could imagine. And there is no greater comfort than that.
So... that is why Hailey's giraffey is so special to me, and us...and now on to the real purpose of this post!
Well, do you remember awhile back when I told you how I went out on a limb and emailed Holley Gerth, author of the devotional Rain on Me and through our email conversations she agreed to donate copies of her devotional for our Hailey's Hope bags.
She also took it a step further. She works with DaySpring and talked to people in the company, and with her help, DaySpring donated 10 of those giraffes to Hailey's Hope!
I received the package in the mail today! I was afraid I was going to cry, but I didn't. Instead I was beaming as I looked at them all! I am so happy and thankful for DaySpring's generosity and Holley Gerth's help! I know these stuffed animals are going to bring so much comfort and joy to the families receiving them!
A big, heartfelt THANK YOU to DAYSPRING!
What a beautiful donation!! That is awesome!!!!
ReplyDelete~awww....what an awesome story! I took pics prenatally with Bennett-Chadlen's special stuffies, now they are with him. I have those pics in a collage, a framed gift from the photographer. One of them was a bunny, and when you squeezed its foot it would recite "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep". I weep every time I hear or say those words----like now I'm getting teary just writing this!--but it comforts me to know that he has his friends with him for all eternity. I did save the stuffed teddy blanket that he was wrapped in when he grew his tiny wings and spent many nights sleeping with it and cuddling it throughout the days in that first year. Thanks for sharing your wonderful news, and Hailey!--with us. xxoo
ReplyDeleteI love those!!!! I am so glad that you were able to get some for the bags! That is so special :) WOOHOO!!! You are amazing! :)
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