All the Faithful Departed
Eleven years ago on this date, our first child, a son named Alexander Lloyd, was brought into our world stillborn. The heartbreak and confusion of why our beloved child would not grow with us together in my husband's and my lifetime still resonates day in and day out a lifetime later. 
Despite having many subsequent children alive and vibrant around us, I take the loss of our beloved boy as a sign of God's covenant. If I can come out victorious in this spiritual battle over pain and suffering, my reward will be so immensely infinite when on that sweet day I can finally be with the son who was not meant for this life but has an even greater purpose with the Lord. 
It is not a unique story that, living on this Earth, each of us will lose a loved one at some point. We often like to avoid the memories that bring us sadness. However, through the most difficult of times arises the most gratifying results: that Jesus Christ promised to resurrect those who belong to Him. His love surpasses death for all people of all time.
By Alexis Dallara-Marsh