Somewhere over the rainbow
Today is National Rainbow Baby Day apparently. Didn’t know that? Don’t worry, neither did I until about half an hour ago. But, as my little rainbow winds down in her playpen before bed, I thought I’d honour the occasion with a quick blog post.
For those who aren’t familiar with the phrase, rainbow baby is a term give for a baby born after the loss of a child. Rainbows have come to mean many different things to many different people but in this context, as in their biblical origins, they speak of fulfilled promises.
We are in no doubt that Charlotte’s birth marked the fulfillment of a promise God had made us to place a child in our arms as well as in our hearts.
In the 11 months since she made her entrance into the world, Charlotte has changed our lives and touched many others, as her sibling did before her. Both have been and will always be precious gifts given by God.
Having a rainbow baby is never a replacement for the child (or children) who has gone before. Each occupies his or her own place in the family and in the heart. But a rainbow baby can remind us that good things can follow bad, joy can follow sorrow and tears of joy can follow tears of sadness.
After a loss, having a rainbow baby is not a given but when one comes it is a precious gift.
For anyone interested in finding out more about our experiences of having our rainbow baby, here’s an easy-access guide to my previous blog posts about it.
March 2019 – Welcome to the news we’ve been longing to bring you
March 2019 – Mother’s Day, a day for reflection and a day of challenge for many
March 2019 – Holding my babies in my heart, even though neither is yet in my arms
August 2019 – Hello readers, and sorry for the long break
September 2019 – A big bouncing bundle of news just in
September 2019 – I gave birth this week but I didn’t become a mum
October 2019 – The challenges of navigating pregnancy after loss
November 2019 – Reflecting on change, two years on
March 2020 – The Father’s Precious Gifts
March 2020 – A reflective Mother’s Day to one and all
March 2020 – The story behind the song
June 2020 – A date that changed our lives forever
July 2020 – A reminder of faith and hope in the most routine of tasks
July 2020 – Three key events so perfectly timed
Sarah Moore is the author of For the Love of Lentil, A journey of longing, loss and abundant grace, which tells the story of her experience of pregnancy and miscarriage. Copies of the book are available here.