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“When I think of heaven in all its splendor and promises yet to be, I can’t help but wonder if I’ll see mothers ... as far as the eye can see. Nothing would be more peaceful ... nothing more heavenly.”

— Christopher M. Jones | Mitchell's Journey

When Mitch was scared of the future, he always received great comfort from his mother. My life experience tells me that is how things have always been: in times of trouble we cling to faith and our mother's embrace. 

I don't think that's a coincidence either, for mothers are the closest thing there is to heaven. I have seen the power of both, and I am forever grateful. 

As long as mothers walk the earth, there will be a measure of comfort and peace for weary souls who seek relief. Even a hug from my wife, when I find myself deep in grief, brings my heart a comforting peace. When I think of heaven in all its splendor and promises yet to be, I can't help but wonder if I'll see mothers ... as far as the eye can see. Nothing would be more peaceful ... nothing more heavenly.

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“Of grief and healing, I have much to say. Despite the heartache and deep dismay, I’ve discovered portions of peace aren’t so far away. ”

— Christopher M. Jones | Mitchells Journey

Tiny Mitch was seated at our old kitchen table about to celebrate his second birthday. He was a gentle child who had a loving and tender disposition about him. I always felt like Heaven loaned us something special when it came to Mitch. I know that all of our children are special, truly special, but there was something unique about this little boy and I couldn’t put my finger on it.

Natalie made cupcakes which our kids and some cousins decorated. Ethan had cheated and already stuffed a cupcake in his mouth, as evidenced by the crumbs on his face. He was a turkey, but we loved him so. Laura-Ashley stood by her baby brother with her eyes set on the cupcake she wanted. The cousins stood transfixed over the mouth party that was about to take place. Oh, to be a child again …

Mitch curled his tiny fingers as Natalie slowly lit each candle. As I took this photo I received that same impression I had on the day of his birth … that something was wrong with my son. I wondered to myself, “Who are you little Mitch? What is happening with you? What are you meant to do?” I couldn’t see into the future; I only sensed a storm was brooding over the horizon and my soul shuddered. 

After the candles were lit, tiny Mitch attempted to blow the candles. After a few attempts, the candles were out and the kids were enjoying their sugary treats. My memories of this evening are vivid and I can’t help but think how grateful I am that the time spent investing in our children pays dividends for a lifetime. I am glad I wasn’t too busy to be a dad. I know I’ve got a lot to improve on – but I got this day right.

Later that night I rocked tiny Mitch in my arms. As he lay softly in my embrace, he would reach up to touch my face with one hand as he held his sippy cup in the other. I would sing songs to him, tell him fantastical stories, and say him I loved him repeatedly. Soon, my baby drifted off to that place of magic and dreams – and the little boy in me wished I could follow him to Neverland. In that moment, never a child seemed so at peace. Never a father just the same. I held him a little longer, not wanting that heavenly moment to end, grateful for the gift of parenthood. There was nothing in the world I wanted more than what I held in my arms in that moment. As I tucked him in, Natalie, the sweetest mother I have ever known, kissed his face ever so gently. 

I remember kneeling at the edge of my bed that night, long after everyone was asleep, thanking God for the gift of family. I was deeply flawed and felt inadequate as a husband and father, yet I was given the greatest gift in all of humanity: family. 

A year later we would learn Mitch had DMD and that he would likely die in his late teens or early twenties. We were told his muscles would soon atrophy and he would stop walking before he was a teenager. Not long after, he wouldn’t be able to lift his arms or turn over in his bed. His sweet little body would get weaker and weaker until he wouldn’t be able to breathe on his own. Eventually, his heart, also a muscle, would succumb. Death was certain, but when was not.

It was at this same table I wept while reading medical texts that described the horror show I would soon witness. Not only did it detail what DMD does to the body, but what it does to the family. We were told by many that most marriages don’t survive … that this would not only break our hearts but most likely break our family. So, as if one were to brace for a tidal wave, Natalie and I clung to each other and promised to never let each other go.

It was at this table, in the still of night, I knelt in prayer begging my Father for a way out. My son would not be spared. In fact, because of early heart failure, he would die much sooner than anyone imagined. Exactly the opposite of my heart’s desire. Just because I didn’t get want I wanted, doesn’t mean Heaven doesn’t care. In fact, I recognize tender mercies that show me He is here, there and everywhere. Most importantly, I see evidence that He cares.

Mitch had an impression similar to the one I had about him, another tender mercy. When he came home from the hospital, not knowing he was going to die, he said, “Mom, my birthday feels so far away. Can I have an early birthday?” It was unlike him to ask for any such thing – and we knew that he sensed change was happening. Mitch had an early birthday – which was a gift to our son and our family. He was just as tender that day as he was in this photo.

Tomorrow is my son’s birthday; he would have turned 14 years old. It’s been 3 years since he left our family and I wish I could say grief was a thing of the past … but it is not. As long as I’m mortal, deep grief will last. Grief is a struggle; sometimes peace seems so far away. That is until I recognize healing is a process, not a destination, and I can nurture it each day. 

Of grief and healing, I have much to say. Despite the heartache and deep dismay, I've discovered portions of peace aren’t so far away. 

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“So when I’m discouraged, empty handed and with nothing to show, I can hear the loving words of my Father, ‘Be patient, my child, you will grow; take care of your soul and soon it will show.’”

— Christopher M. Jones | Mitchell's Journey

I pulled up to the cemetery one summer evening only to find my sweet wife sitting by our son with a look of heaviness on her countenance. Grief had washed over her and my soul ached that I couldn’t take it away. I, too, was suffering a father’s grief and wondered if the pain would ever end. As far as I could tell, hell was my new home and there was no escaping it.

I could tell my wife was having a sacred moment, so I sat in my car from a distance and gave her space. I have learned that in matters of grief, allowing our loved ones to grieve in their own way and in their own time is key. As I waited patiently, I had a prayer in my heart that her burdens would seem light. Though I was being crushed under the weight of grief myself, I prayed that I might find a way to carry her burdens so that she might find a little rest.

When her moment passed, she motioned for me to join her and we spent some time talking about how we were each holding up. For every day, every hour was a battle to survive. We sat on the warm grass and wept together and longed to have our little boy with us again. The journey of grief seemed like a broken road that stretched out to infinity. Infinity never felt so long. Never felt so lonely.

I recently heard a friend of mine give an address where he described the unique phenomenon of how Chinese Bamboo Trees grow. After being planted, the seed won’t break the soil for 4 years. It silently lies in wait under the surface and seems to do nothing at all. Yet, in order for it to grow, one must water and care for it every day during those first 4 years – even though there is no visible sign of growth whatsoever. Then suddenly, in the 5th year, seemingly out of the blue, something astonishing happens: the Chinese bamboo tree can grow almost a hundred feet in a month and a half. As my friend shared that fascinating fact, I immediately saw a connection to grief and growth.

At least for me, my first 3 years felt like a constant state of sorrow with no sign of relief. Each day I patiently watered the soil of my soul with prayer, meditation, study and a lot of writing … for writing had become my therapy. It has been said that “Writing is closer to thinking than speaking.” So, when I say writing, I don’t mean simply pouring out my hurt on a page … instead, when I wrote, I tried to think, analyze and process what was happening to me. I determined what meaning my sorrows would have in my life. I didn’t ask, “Why Mitch?” or “Why me?”… instead, I asked, “What am I to learn from this?”

I have discovered that growth through grief is just like the Chinese Bamboo Tree. It takes constant care and feeding long before any visible growth occurs. To the sufferer and the observer, feelings of discouragement and depression can surface because there may seem to be no signs of hope. But I have learned from personal experience that if we’re patient, and if we care for the soil of our souls, we can eventually see growth and better days ahead. 

So when I’m discouraged, empty handed and with nothing to show, I can hear the loving words of my Father, “Be patient, my child, you will grow; take care of your soul and soon it will show.”

I will always grieve the loss of my son. Despite my grief, I can still grow. I don’t know much, but this thing I know.

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When our children were little they looked forward to our Friday night den parties. I remember these nights so well. After they were bathed and dressed in their jammies, each child would carry a Sippy cup of juice mixed with a little water, a small bowl of popcorn and their favorite treat into our family room to watch a Disney movie. We didn’t have much – so we made what little we had count. Despite our struggle to make ends meet life was sweet back then and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. 

I had a lot of self-doubt at the time, wondering about my place in the world and what I was supposed to do with my life. But one thing I never doubted was my desire to be a good husband and a loving father. I loved being a dad. I wasn’t the best at it … I really wasn’t … but I tried. Looking back, I would have done so much differently as a father. Yet, I don’t let my failures of the past haunt me … instead, I try to forge those failures into a personal lesson learned. A kind of mental note I take, so I can avoid future mistakes. I’m not sure I am good at that, either. But I keep trying to learn and grow from my wins and losses. One of the many beautiful things about children is their unconditional and abundant love. No matter how many times I might have disappointed them, been grumpy or impatient, they forgave me freely … and for that, I am eternally grateful. 

It is interesting how forgiveness begets deeper love – and deeper love begets more forgiveness. Another note taken.

So on this ordinary summer night, Mitch became especially giddy. This tiny boy, the youngest of the bunch, loved being with his older siblings at every opportunity. He wanted to be just like them. 

Mitch danced around the room in his cute little sweat pants and Spiderman shirt singing incoherent songs. He would then run back to this table, take a quick drink, then prance around some more. I could never pick him up and kiss him enough – sticky cheeks and all.

Reflecting back on good memories has been an important part of my healing – and I am grateful for so many of you who have listened with caring hearts and mourned with those that mourn. There is healing in that, too. Though I reflect on my memories in this place, I am actively creating new memories with my family – and that is just as important to my own healing. I need them both. 
As ordinary and routine as life may have felt at the time, looking back, these moments now serve as a counter balance to sorrow and loss. When grief seems especially heavy, these sweet memories give me something to be grateful for. And gratitude is no empty thing: for it fills my heart and causes my soul to sing. Gratitude, my friends, soothes grief’s terrible sting. 

Note taken.