It’s been a year, my precious daughter,
A year since we first heard your cry,
It’s been almost a year precious one,
A year since we said goodbye,
Four seasons come & gone,
With thoughts of you always lingering
in all we say or do.
In 9 long months of waiting
& 9 short hours on earth,
You touched us for a lifetime
and we will never be the same.
You blessed us with a compassion,
a caring we never knew.
The gift God means for us to share,
is our love for you.
God let us keep you but a moment,
But in that fleeting moment,
We held a precious gift from above
And our lives will be forever changed.
Written for Cristin Claire Shaffer
(May 17, 1999 to May 18, 1999)
by her Mommy
on her first birthday in heaven
May 17, 2000
We will love & miss you always
Mommy, Daddy & Big Sister Cassidy
It has been a year of contradiction-of heartbreak & joy, of tragedy & triumph. A year
where some friends became strangers & strangers became friends. Losing Cristin was
the hardest thing our family has ever experienced & probably ever will. We know
nothing can change that hurt we feel when we think of her & what could have been.
Instead of dwelling on what we lost, today I choose instead to focus on what we have
gained this past year.
Friendship--from the most unexpected places & unexpected people. The one blessing
that has been bestowed upon our family by God has been the comfort of friends & those
who have become friends. He let us know so many times we were not alone and sent
these “angels on earth” to guide us through our pain & give us comfort & assurance.
Compassion--This verse says it better than we ever could: “ Praise be to the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the
comfort we ourselves have received from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
In His comfort & care of our family through this time--He has taught us to reach out &
comfort others who are not as far along in their grief as we are.
A greater appreciation for our blessings--I can say I always counted Cassidy as our
greatest blessing, but since Cristin’s passing, nothing can describe the deepness of love,
joy & thankfulness for this bright, beautiful light in our lives. I thank God every day for
the blessing of her.
A greater faith in the Lord--Many do not understand this & they ask “You lost a
child--how can you not be angry at the Lord & how can you say your faith has grown?”
Honestly--the first 2 months after Cristin’s death--I was oh so angry with God & could
not understand how He -who was supposed to love me-could let this happen! But though
others who reached out to us in their love for Him, He showed us His love in a whole
new light. You may not think a small kindness or a word of comfort means much in the
face of something tragic, but you might be the only glimpse of God’s love & comfort that
person will see. I have gained a great faith & I know that the Lord is watching over us &
our baby is in His gentle care. He has shown me what I have been asking for all along
-the question “What plans to you have for ME?”.........”For I know the plans I have for
you, declares the Lord,....plans to give you hope and a future.....You will seek me and
find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11,13
I would just like to thank all of those special, wonderful people who have been there this
year to hold our hands, both literally & figuratively. We truly could not have made it this
far without you.
If you would like, please join us this day in remembering our dear child by lighting a
candle with our family. She was here such a short time, but she has forever changed
those whose lives she touched.
Love & God bless,
Bill, Jen & Cassidy
