To Susannah, A Letter From Your Aunt

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Dear Susannah,

Today is your 11th birthday. It’s hard to imagine you 11 years old here on earth because my memories of you are as a beautiful one-day-old baby. I think you and Bethany would have looked very similar!

Susannah, we loved you before we even knew you existed. We’d prayed for your daddy and mommy to be given a child for several years, and oh, the joy we felt when they told us about you! The days and weeks passed, a little too slow it seemed, as we were anxious for you to arrive.

One night, while we were away on a ministry trip, we got a midnight call from your daddy, saying they were on their way to the hospital. Mommy was having contractions. How far away Florida felt from Kansas at that moment! During that next month, Mommy was pretty much on bedrest. That didn’t keep you from being as active as ever, and you had well-earned the nickname Thumper.

The day came about a month later. Your birthday. You were so gorgeous: a headful of dark curls, chubby cheeks (even for a preemie!), and tiny, blush-pink lips.

Your time here lasted three short days. Days filled with hope, prayer, tears, and then releasing you to Jesus.

I want to tell you something, Susannah. Your parents are brave. It took courage to face losing their longed-for little girl, to go through grieving, and to hope again. Yet, they did. It was hard, really hard, but they walked courageously, not allowing their grief to overcome them. Eleven years later, God has given them a happy, full home with five more children. But you’re not forgotten. You’re still missed.

You’ve given me a new compassion for those who lose babies. You’ve taught me that weeping may endure for a night, and one’s heart feels like it’s been crushed, but joy comes in the morning. You were created in God’s image, a beautiful, amazing treasure on loan to us for three days.

We love you Susannah, and we can’t wait to see you in Heaven!

Love,
Aunt Sarah

“And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal,
proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb… And they
shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And
there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light
of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign
for ever and ever.”
Revelation 22:1&4-5

29 thoughts on “To Susannah, A Letter From Your Aunt”

  1. Thinking of you all today.
    Such a sweet and moving letter.
    Praise God he has blessed Nathan and Melanie with more blessings.
    Sending lots of love to you all
    xxxxxxxxxxx

  3. Praying for y’all today. Though we’ve not lost a child after birth, my mom has had five miscarriages and my older sister has had three. Doesn’t it make heaven so much sweeter? What a consolidation that they are all safe in the arms of Jesus!

  4. Wow, Sarah. My heart is full to bursting. Thank you so much for posting this letter and video, now pass a tissue please!

      1. Hi Sarah, I’m wondering what year y’all made that video? I’ve watched it several times, and it gets sweeter every time…. yes, and I cry every time too. Praying for all of the Maxwell’s today. Love you guys!

        1. Good question. They originally did it maybe that first year anniversary, but then they added the bridge (that special part which starts about 3 minutes 13 seconds) maybe 5 years ago.

  5. Sarah, your post was full of love, peace and truly heartfelt.

    My heart reaches out to Melanie and Nathan. Susannah’s life began almost nine months before the family experienced the gift of meeting their bundle of sweetness for the first time. Knowing that they will see her again for eternity must offer solace and excitement.

  6. We understand the loss. It is so wonderful to see God’s blessings now. Your family is so beautiful,God is faithful.

  7. This is so precious and touches me on such a deep level. You captured the feelings and thoughts so well. Nathan and Melanie are certainly brave- they allowed the Lord to flow through them even during incredible pain and loss. Thinking and praying for you all today.

    Happy Birthday, sweet Susannah.

  8. So happy the Lord has blessed her with more children!! And they are BEAUTIFUL!!! Melaine seems to be such a sweet, tender-hearted person. Such a jewel!!

  9. That was beautiful, Sarah. I’m still so sorry that your family had to go through that grievous time, especially Nathan and Melanie! We know of a couple who had their first baby stillborn at 5 months and then their next one died at one year! It was horrible for them, and grieved us all. Thankfully, they now have two little boys, but their other little ones are long remembered.

    Grief hurts, so bad. And sometimes it feels like it will never stop! But God is so gracious, and helps ease the pain. And I’m so glad He has blessed Nathan and Melanie with their precious children!

    Love, Rebecca

  10. Your letter is so sweet and heartfelt. Thank you for sharing with us. Prayers for all of the Maxwells as you remember that precious child, and special prayers for Melanie and Nathan.
    Love, Mrs. Patti

  11. What you wrote was so beautiful and touching. I have never lost a baby myself, but now that I am a mother; I can really see how hard that pain would be. Even though my mother had 14 living children, she also had 8 miscarriages; some of them almost halfway along. She had 4 children first in 4 years. Then she lost 5 in a row including the 2 boys they named– Seth and Nathanael. They were starting to think they couldn’t have anymore, but then 3 years after their last living child, along came a girl they fittingly named Hosanna. It just shows how faithful and loving God is. Even after a row of lost babies, they went on to have 10 more healthy children. Losing a baby before it is born is hard enough, but I can only imagine how hard it would be to give birth to a baby and then never get any response from it and lose her after a few days. We wonder why God allows such things, but I guess he has a higher purpose that we’ll only understand in heaven. My husband had an older brother that passed away in a farm accident just before his fourth birthday. Today would have been his 40th birthday. My husband wasn’t even born yet; there’s 9 years between him and his only older living sibling. Someday we hope to meet him in heaven. I love Susannah’s name and have it on my list of girl’s names that I want to use. I think it’s so beautiful. May God be with your family right now.

  14. Awwww… What a sweet letter. I can’t imagine how hard it must have been to lose her. My mom’s had several miscarriages, so we understand. Is the video that one if Susanna? It wouldn’t load up on my iPod.

  15. What a beautiful and heartfelt letter to Susannah! Thank you for sharing it! What a precious treasure Nathan and Melanie and their family have waiting for them in Heaven!

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