Counting On stars Josiah Duggar and Lauren Swanson suffered a miscarriage late last year. Jessa Duggar is pregnant and showing off her baby bump at 25 weeks, but she’s not insensitive to Lauren’s pain. In fact, she’s penned a lengthy, lengthy tribute to her sister-in-law’s loss. “Pregnancy,” Jessa’s lengthy post begins. “Such a precious gift, and definitely not something I take for granted.” “As we look forward to meeting our baby,” she writes. “We’re also feeling an exceptional amount of grief.” That grief, Jessa explains, is “over my brother Josiah and sister-in-law Lauren’s loss of their baby.” “Lauren and I shared the exact same due date,” she reveals. “We have cried so many tears, both together and apart,” Jessa shares. “My heart aches for them.” “I weep when I think of how difficult it must be for her to see me pregnant in the very stages where she would’ve been,” Jessa writes. She says that Lauren should have kept pace “right up through the baby’s due date.” “And yet, even in a flood of emotions, there are perplexities of the human heart that may cause us to want to clam up or remain silent through such a trial,” Jessa observes. “Because of this,” she says. “Many people feel like they’re walking this road alone” “It is true that speaking for the sake of filling silence is not needful and is often hurtful,” Jessa continues, waxing philosophical. “I’ve watched Lauren converse with people who have been unknowingly insensitive,” she says. “And I am amazed by her graciousness.” “I’ve heard some try to give reasons or explanations, not realizing that their unsolicited opinions might be very painful, like salt to a wound,” Jessa says. Sometimes, the words that people use to comfort only cause greater pain. “One might never know the tears you cry at night as a result of their words flowing back through your head,” Jessa expresses. “Often times, ‘I love you and I’m praying for you’ along with a hug are quite sufficient,” she suggests. Jessa emphasizes: “We do not need to fill every silence with words.” “But at the same time,” Jessa continues. “Conversations of lost dreams should never feel suppressed.” “Silence can stifle healing,” she acknowledges. “But a carefully chosen word may work to help bring life and healing to the soul.” “We must all reinforce the fact that emotions over a life lost are not something to be resisted,” she suggests. “They’re not wrong,” Jessa emphasizes. “And you should never think that for a moment.” Grief is healthy, folks. “If you’ve lost a child, know this,” Jessa writes. “YOU ARE A MAMA, and you will never cease to think about and cherish the life you carried…” “So no matter how hard or difficult the journey,” she instructs. “Please don’t feel guilt over this.” It is around this point that Jessa’s message becomes too long for her captions and spills over into her images. “You’ll never stop wondering all of the details,” Jessa notes. “From what the baby would look like, hair color, eye color, personality, etc.” “It’s only natural,” she admits. “Your tender heart just goes to show what a loving, caring person you are.” “That you care so deeply for one you were only graced [to] hold for a short time,” Jessa affirms. “My heart aches for you,” Jessa expresses. “As topics of babies or pregnancy arise in conversation.” It sounds like Jessa is dealing with a version of survivor’s guilt . “It’s likely you were already acquainted with the first trimester symptoms of nausea, food aversions, and fatigue,” Jessa says. “And,” she predicts. “You would have given anything for the opportunity to labor and deliver your baby” Jessa notes that this would be the case: “No matter how long or painful the process.” “When complaining or grumblings are verbalized over colicky babies or sleep that’s been broken up for night feedings …” she begins. She continues: “… Oh, what you wouldn’t give to be in their shoes!” “We do continue to pray that God will bless you with a baby to hold in your arms,” Jessa writes. “But,” she notes. “This is not to insinuate that having another will remove the grief over one that’s been lost.” “That life can never be replaced,” she affirms. “And will forever hold a special place in your heart.” “Lauren, you’re such a positive, life-giving soul,” Jessa praises. She notes that this continues to be true “Even in walking through such a great hardship and suffering so much loss.” “I don’t know how you can grieve through such a trial,” Jessa confesses. “And at the same time be so thoughtful to say, ‘Jess, if you ever feel too sick or tired and need some help …'” “‘Do not hesitate to text or call,'” Jessa recalls Lauren saying. “‘I would be more than happy to make a meal, watch the boys, etc.'” “That is God’s grace,” Jessa writes. “And it radiates from your life.” “We love you both so much,” she concludes. “And pray that God would continue to comfort your hearts.” A miscarriage is tough enough without a pregnant in-law who is a constant reminder of what you don’t have. It’s good of Jessa to acknowledge this with so much compassion. View Slideshow: 33 Stars Who Have Suffered a Miscarriage
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Jessa Duggar Shares Baby Bump Photo, Mourns Lauren Swanson Miscarriage
