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Inheritance of Tears was the first book I’ve ever read on the topic of miscarriage. I purchased my copy at a biblical counseling conference years ago hoping to one day read it to know how to care for women experiencing a miscarriage. I never imagined that I would count myself among them and I am so grateful that I had Inheritance of Tears in my possession. Reading through Jessalyn’s stories of experiencing multiple miscarriages made me feel like I had a friend with me who understood the sorrow I was feeling.
As I read through Inheritance of Tears, I felt like I had an older sister in the faith whose faith I could bank on when mine felt very fickle. The truths contained in the pages of Inheritance of Tears are ones I know to be true in my head but my heart was struggling to believe. It was incredibly encouraging to be reminded afresh of the hope I have in Jesus many times over. Jessalyn does an exceptional job of consistently reminding grieving mothers of the gospel message by applying it to the various emotions women experience during and after miscarriage.
I’m especially grateful for her tender words on page 65: “We face loss, pain, and death as those loved and comforted by our holy Savior. Jesus tasted death (Hebrews 2:9) and experienced grief partly for the purpose of personally sympathizing with us. He ‘nourishes and cherishes’ us (Ephesians 5:29) and prays for us even now (Romans 8:34). Indeed, because Christ voluntarily experienced the wrath of God on our behalf, we can experience his perfect and all-sufficient love for all of eternity.
What’s more, as we suffer and experience the unique fellowship of the Son of God in our grief, our lives are being molded to more greatly resemble his, and our affections are being stirred toward greater love toward him. In this way, our suffering with Christ makes us more like Christ as we behold him with greater clarity. This is the fountain from which all sanctification flows, and suffering is perfectly suited to drive us to the Good Shepherd who so lovingly suffered on behalf of his lost sheep.”
I’m thankful for Jessalyn’s humility in sharing that she cried during the praise portion of a church service—it made me feel less alone as I found myself doing the same one Sunday morning. Her example helped me understand what it looks like to hold in tandem grief and obedience. Inheritance of Tears is an incredibly helpful read for anyone who is healing from a miscarriage or for anyone who desires to care well for those who have and are.
