THANK YOU FOR ALLORAH - This Hopeful Hive

As Ella learned to say her nightly prayers, she always made sure to include her little sister. In her prayer she always says, “Thank you for Allorah.” Our sweet girl has now been gone from this earth for two years today, but every single night since she left, her big sister has never forgotten to pray, “Thank you for Allorah.” She said it last night, and we can promise you that she will say it again tonight.

Ella has done this all on her own. Not once have we ever encouraged her or discouraged her from continuing to pray about her sister every night. After Allorah passed, it was often painful for us to hear her praying this. Just knowing she would never return to us on this earth, and knowing Ella could not fully comprehend what all had happened. I mean, how does a four-year-old grasp the concept of death? Honestly, it’s been both inspiring and difficult hearing her continue this prayer, and continuing to be thankful for her sister who is no longer with us. We couldn’t change the situation for her, and oh how we would give anything for her to have her sister again on this earth.

As time went on, we began to think that this part of her prayer will eventually fade. As she realizes that her sister is not coming back and the memory of her fades, she will eventually stop thanking God for her sister – so far, she hasn’t! Every single night she has prayed, “Thank you for Allorah,” and for two years we can’t say that part of us hasn’t wondered why. Why does she continue to pray this? Why and how has she not forgotten? We are so happy that she hasn’t forgotten, but what struck a cord with her to keep this precious prayer part of her routine?

We’ve learned so much from our, now only six-year-old, daughter. What we have come to realize is children have the capability of understanding difficult things better than we do. As adults we have the tendency to over-analyze hard topics, like in this instance “death.” Meanwhile a child’s innocence provides us insight into what it truly means to have true faith. Remember that verse that Jesus said for us to be as little children?

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18:1-4‬ ‭NKJV

At some point between childhood and adulthood, we lose a certain level of humility and the ability to have full faith in something. Our years of life will undoubtedly involve some sort of experience with disappointment in things of this world, and sadly that can seep over into our spirituality as well. Meanwhile, a child, unmarked by the harshness of real life allows them to have unwavering faith in a promise. If they are taught that God promises us a home with Him in Heaven one day, they have nothing stopping them from believing it with their whole heart. THIS. This is one of the many reasons why Ella’s continued prayer of thanks is such a gift.

Ella has no doubt that she will see Allorah again one day. She believes in God, believes that His Word is TRUTH, and knows that in His Word He promises that precious souls like her sisters go to Heaven when they leave their fleshly bodies here on earth. She hasn’t asked, are you sure Allorah is in Heaven? Or worried, are you sure I will be able to see her again one day? Instead, when the topic of Heaven comes up she happily adds, “I’m excited that I’ll get to see Allorah again one day.” Now don’t get us wrong, there are many times the conversation has been different as Ella sobs that she misses her sister, but time has done a beautiful job of turning her memory and state of being into a joyous thing for her big sister.

Ella wholly understands that her sister was a gift, and her prayer is a nightly reminder of what a true gift our sweet, precious Allorah was.

Her short presence on this earth has impacted our lives more than we could ever dream. We see life in a fuller manner. She has enabled us to understand that every second should be cherished. Trust us, human nature is good at urging you to forget this truth – fight it! With every negative thought, follow up with a collected, “does this really matter?” to snap you back into reality. You’ll thank yourself later!

Allorah’s life has given us PERSPECTIVE. She has allowed us to connect with people on a more meaningful and deeper level. She has helped us to reach new levels of humility and compassion. She has given us a sense of joy that we didn’t know was possible. You are probably thinking, “How in the world can you ever be joyful or happy after losing a child?” For a long time we felt this way. Just after she passed, we had multiple conversations revolving around the topic of never being happy or laughing again. Guess what: we laugh a lot! We’ll admit, that pure feeling of joy that you have before ever experiencing any hardship, you know, that “kid on Christmas morning, not a care in the world” kinda happy – we know we’ll never have that again. However, what good is life without love and laughter? and how would we allow Allorah’s light to continue to shine if we allowed our own light to stop shining?

We can laugh and be happy all because of God’s promises. How we experience happiness and joy today is forever changed. It’s not a pure feeling, because the realization of what we have went through to reach this present happy moment won’t leave us be. The best way would be is to describe our new way of experiencing happiness as “clear” joy instead of “pure” joy. We can’t just be happy in any given moment. No, it’s as if while we are entering a happy moment our mind must give us a reality check and remind us to soak it in. Like a reminder of “hey you’ve went through the trenches to reach this moment – DON’T MISS IT!” This clarity is both a blessing and a curse. This logic tries to rob you of the moment by making you consider the past, and at the same time gives you the necessary nudge to not let it pass without being aware of its beauty. Clear joy is tricky, but we’re so amazed that we have found happiness and grateful to God for his peace that allows it daily.

The sense of “clear” joy Allorah has provided us is just understanding that it is a gift to be happy. Don’t take for granted a smile or a laugh. Don’t take for granted time with family and friends or just a simple conversation with a stranger. Don’t take for granted the happiness that just looking at your child can bring you. Seriously, we encourage you to take just a minimum of 30 seconds daily to look at your child in their eyes and study them deeply.

Our hearts stop at the thought of just seeing Allorah’s smile one more time, hearing her laugh one more time, and looking into her beautiful blue eyes one more time. We would give anything just to be in her presence one more time. We held her for the last time our arms on this day two years ago, and we will never crave anything more than the feeling of embracing her body against ours for the rest our lives. Although we can’t physically be in her presence and see her face-to-face, we can be joyful and thankful for all she has given to us.

Thanks to GOD FOR BEING FAITHFUL to us. His promises are far too many to count, and yet, he has the power to keep them all! We know that every time Ella prays “Thank you for Allorah” that God hears every word. His promises are our greatest strength daily. Charles H. Spurgeon said it beautifully:

“The promises of God are to the believer an ‘inexhaustible mine of wealth’. Happy is it for him if he knows how to search out their secret veins and enrich himself with
their hidden treasures. They are an ‘armory’, containing all manner of offensive and defensive weapons. Blessed is he who has learned to enter into the sacred arsenal, to put on the breastplate and the helmet, and to lay his hand to the spear and to the sword. They are a ‘pharmacy’, in which the believer will find all manner of restoratives and blessed elixirs …Blessed is he who is well skilled in heavenly pharmacy and knows how to lay hold on the
healing virtues of the promises of God.”
Charles H. Spurgeon

May we all find it within ourselves to harness a “child-like” faith and KNOW that God ALWAYS keeps his promise!

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”
Hebrews‬ ‭10:19-23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Our family thanks you in advance for any thoughts and prayers and support you send our way today! If you have a minute, tell God “Thank you for Allorah.”

We want to shout THANK YOU to all who supported a great cause by ordering shirts on Allorah’s “made it to Heaven” anniversary last year. It was your support and generosity that helped raise $726.33 for the TEARS Foundation that helps families that experience the loss of a child. Your support has touched us and all that those funds went on to help, and we are so thankful for you all!

Today and everyday, we want the world to know that:

GOD ALWAYS KEEPS HIS PROMISE

Below is the link to order another shirt to raise funds for the TEARS Foundation: