Can Faith Help?
God never promised sun without rain
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain
But God has promised strength for the day
Rest for the labour and light for your way
Grace for the trial and help from above
Unfailing sympathy
Undying love.
"Why did it happen? I don't believe that these things happen for a purpose. There's a spiritual battle going on and often the devil has his way. What we learn is a by product. God our loving Father, cushioned us and sustained us with his grace. It wasn't Him who hurt us. He hurt with us."
"Relatives helped in practical ways, by having the children, for instance. Many found the issue too uncomfortable to deal with and did not visit as often as they might have. I was fortunate to have friends who were there when I needed them and other people were supportive. My faith and my friends old and new, got me through it."
In 1988 there was no practical information about these syndromes, no family link network and no support. If Beth and Jonathan had been born with normal chromosomes there would probably be no SOFT network supporting hundreds of families and no "Facts for Families" booklets, providing parents and the medical profession around the world with practical and positive caring information. God turned the sadness of their births into something good, and what we have built together from the bleak foundations of our respective tragedies is a miracle that neither of us could have achieved without His help.
Jenny & Christine
Founder members SOFT U.K.
"During Chantal's birth, life and death, we have been the object of tremendous help from the only souce: GOD, through his people praying for us in our parish, simply opening our eyes wider to His wonderful creation. All of this has strengthened us. He provides us with a sense of direction when we were disorientated. We have asked all the questions: "Why us?, what's the reason for such a short life?, Why are people disabled?" etc, etc, The realisation that these questions cannot be answered only helped strengthen the sense of wonder of life. Here on earth life is peppered with imperfections, but new life is still a miracle. Chantal's life was perfect, her body was not."