A friend of mine and her husband were expecting twins, but the viability of the pregnancy was uncertain. They were warned there might be complications, but they hoped and prayed through to delivery.

The twins were born (two girls), but one of them immediately had some complications. She was moved to the NICU and the doctors weren’t sure if she’d pull through. She showed signs of improvement and fought her little heart out for those rough first few weeks.

After a month, things were looking more positive. But then she suddenly took a turn for the worse, and within a few days she passed.

A funeral for an infant is one of the most heart-wrenching experiences I have ever known, especially for a child who has been alive long enough for the parents to develop a stronger bond. This baby had bonded particularly strong with her dad (her sister seemed to favor her mom). So when the dad was invited to share words if he wanted, he walked up to the tiny casket and sang a lullaby while he wept.

And every person in the room wept with him. The guests, the minister, the funeral director. I’ve never experienced sadness like it.