tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post3430724289148009766..comments2024-02-22T16:33:15.805-08:00Comments on Celebrating the Life of Ben Sauer: Grieving with HopeMindy Sauerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09961827720597136759noreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-8091439003232843352014-09-02T18:17:54.819-07:002014-09-02T18:17:54.819-07:00I think hope is the perfect name for this sweet li...I think hope is the perfect name for this sweet little girl. :) and im sure ben would love the name hope for his baby sisterAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00135911790444347099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-28054250531965575432014-06-10T12:46:58.907-07:002014-06-10T12:46:58.907-07:00I have been reading your blog for a while you stor...I have been reading your blog for a while you story is sad and beautiful. Your son through his illness taught people to hope and your daughter came into the world to give you hope and courage for the future. I think hope is a good name for herJeff Granthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03971246491550564371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-35218067609431505262014-06-05T08:53:08.775-07:002014-06-05T08:53:08.775-07:00I have been reading your blog for a couple of mont...I have been reading your blog for a couple of months now. I never had the courage to write anything as I really don't know what to say or, better said, how to say it - the sadness and helplessness I feel is undescribable. <br />I do not pray (I don't know how) or go to church very often, but I do think about you and your family EVERYDAY. I hope that Ben is happy "up there" and that you all can find peace and comfort in knowing that God is taking care of him. <br />Through this blog, you have surely helped yourself in dealing with your loss, but you have helped many people (in so many different ways - from the comments I have been reading) and have lead me closer to my long-lost faith. It is however unfortunate that it takes such a tragedy to achieve this! <br />Please continue writing and sending your message of HOPE out into the world - and I agree that this name would be perfect for your little girl; you are an amazing person!Anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06818869056609041853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-67362675495256815782014-06-04T19:54:17.048-07:002014-06-04T19:54:17.048-07:00Exact thing i thought when i read that sentence &q...Exact thing i thought when i read that sentence "I saw a picture of Hope today" would be an awesome name and be so fitting!<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12744539665244500908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-30289711674446200152014-06-04T18:20:33.652-07:002014-06-04T18:20:33.652-07:00Ben was an adorable little boy! And now he is safe...Ben was an adorable little boy! And now he is safe at home in Heaven forever.<br />I think he's meeting our friend's two year old daughter who went to be with Jesus on Sunday. Hope is a beautiful name! Or Grace, as someone else suggested.<br /><br />Kya, who I just mentioned was adopted from China with severe heart problems. Her family didn't know if she would make it, but they poured their love into her just the same. And they have no regrets whatsoever.Christine Tafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16496976381990178507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-86623858331880823422014-06-04T17:21:18.527-07:002014-06-04T17:21:18.527-07:00I agree.... I think Hope is the perfect name!I agree.... I think Hope is the perfect name!Carol Broughtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05627401951143363855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-75457978800889425882014-06-03T20:46:09.572-07:002014-06-03T20:46:09.572-07:00I can tell you as someone who does know what it fe...I can tell you as someone who does know what it feels like to lose a child...138 days ago ... a person who knows this pain would choose to keep her opinions to herself, rather than throw a stone at a grieving mother. I know you believe you meant well, but really, was it more important for you to vent your opinion? Or more important to just be silent this time and help a mother who lost her child? I really hope you will take the time to ponder this next time. There is absolutely nothing more cruel than to purposely hurt a parent who had to bury their child. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16355592000589646868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-41634419534537369192014-06-03T20:33:52.970-07:002014-06-03T20:33:52.970-07:00Thank you for this beautiful post. I lost my prec...Thank you for this beautiful post. I lost my precious Natalie in January and I SOOOO needed to read this at this exact moment. Thanks for sharing. You and your family are always on my heart. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16355592000589646868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-27734456335471969972014-06-03T18:42:46.076-07:002014-06-03T18:42:46.076-07:00Pope Francis is wrong on this point. He was not ...Pope Francis is wrong on this point. He was not speaking infallibly, and he erred. The problem is that he is often asked questions on theological issues by the press, or those challenging him, and he tries to give a very compassionate answer "off the cuff" to the person asking, but it appears to me he forgets he will be quoted in the press and people will think he is speaking out of his "teaching" office. <br />I am sorry you are offended by the words of St. Paul, about people "without hope." You should not be however, because if you are a non-Christian you may not be familiar with the scripture Mindy quoted. It is from St. Paul and the expression, " do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope." means, people with no hope in the Resurrection; no hope for heaven, no hope for salvation. St. Paul was saying a Christian should be joyful in the face of trial and death, because they do have this hope.<br />You have no hope because Jesus Himself said people who do not believe in Him have no salvation, no heaven. Now, you may think that is wrong or unfair or whatever, but it is part of our faith in God. WE believe there is one God. WE believe there is one heaven. WE believe that those who confess with their lips and believe in their hearts that JESUS CHRIST is the Son of God, yea, God Himself, will be saved. All others will perish.<br />I'm sorry if you are a nice person, and good, and follow the natural law, and have lots of "hope," but if you do not believe in Jesus Christ, you will not be admitted to heaven. We believe this because Our Lord Himself told us it is true.<br />This teaching is not to disparage or condemn anyone, but only to state the criteria for salvation. Because we who are Christians realize we are sinners, we break God's law all the time, and we could never act well enough be justified before an all perfect God, and thereby attain heaven on our own merit. If you accepted God's law, and were honest with yourself, you would see the same is true for you. So, then you would ask, "how can I be saved." And the answer is, "Through the Blood of the Lamb, " by your confession that Jesus Christ is Lord.<br />I pray you will be able to come to see there is no hope of salvation except through Jesus Christ.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-47092002742489743552014-06-03T18:33:09.467-07:002014-06-03T18:33:09.467-07:00UpstateGirl, if you are so personally offended by ...UpstateGirl, if you are so personally offended by the posts on this blog, then quit reading them. Please allow Mindy to express how she is coping with her grief without over sensitive people like you laying on a guilt trip about her beliefs. Everyone copes as best they can, regardless of their religion. Stay off this site if you can't handle someone else's perspective without crying "I'm offended."Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07585354266379019723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-61511042358043833652014-06-03T17:01:20.133-07:002014-06-03T17:01:20.133-07:00agreed.... I felt like you were telling us her nam...agreed.... I felt like you were telling us her name will be Hope as well. Blessings to you all.The Kriegelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16765349686788051015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-40725708920670668042014-06-03T06:37:01.775-07:002014-06-03T06:37:01.775-07:00What a more fitting name than Hope?
What a more fitting name than Hope? <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-91772228214044869122014-06-03T01:49:53.346-07:002014-06-03T01:49:53.346-07:00Ouch, quite the slam to non Christians! I am not ...Ouch, quite the slam to non Christians! I am not a Christian.. I have hope, lots of it, and I'm sure there are plenty of others like me. I'm sorry for what you are going through, but please remember that not everyone is Christian. Even in Buffalo. I wonder how something like this makes the Muslim woman who lost a son and has been following you feel? Or the atheist who feels loss just as deeply as you, who would sob next to you just as emphatically? Do they not have hope? Are they a lost cause, their lives valueless because they do not share your beliefs? Most people hope for an afterlife where they can see their loved ones again, including countless other religions and even some atheists. <br /><br />Again, I am incredibly sympathetic to what has happened in your family and admittedly have no idea what it is like to lose a child. Though it seems this blog has been intended for a unaminously Christian audience, I have followed your story as many people have. It is only now that I have felt personally offended.<br /><br />A quote from Pope Francis:<br /><br /> "First of all, you ask me if the God of Christians forgives one who doesn't believe and doesn't seek the faith. Premise that - and it's the fundamental thing - the mercy of God has no limits if one turns to him with a sincere and contrite heart; the question for one who doesn't believe in God lies in obeying one's conscience."<br />UpstateGirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03242371382628800444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-3844018331484971302014-06-02T19:28:37.784-07:002014-06-02T19:28:37.784-07:00Just beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing your...Just beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing your Godly perspective. It is such a blessing to read!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02608966984547353095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-44888858066549668862014-06-02T18:55:47.980-07:002014-06-02T18:55:47.980-07:00Thank you again Mindy. We bless you and are near ...Thank you again Mindy. We bless you and are near to listen as you share your thoughts, your heart and your faith. Yes, our God is faithful.. Hope is a big name for a little girl to live up to. Don't let 'us' sway you. She is her own person already, created according to Father's good pleasure, with her own purpose. Whatever name you choose for her will be perfect :)Michelle Benincasahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10579494650847855974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-69116243364414894492014-06-02T18:55:40.311-07:002014-06-02T18:55:40.311-07:00Thank you Team Sauer for continuing to reach so ma...Thank you Team Sauer for continuing to reach so many people. :) The ultrasound picture of your Baby girl is beautiful. It is nice to hear that all of you are doing well, despite the grieving process.<br />Two years ago our daughter suffered a grand mal seizure, was star flighted from our small town hospital to CHOB, where she was diagnosed with a brain anomaly (AVM on her occipital lobe). <br />In between moments of reality I found myself in the hallway of the hospital sobbing uncontrollably. A female Chaplin approached me (Brenda)...I'll never forget this moment. <br />I felt as though life had been ripped from my fingers in the blink of an eye. Here I was standing in this fearful, saddened, unknown moment...not knowing what to do...I had a almost 7 year old in the hands of medical staff and a 5 year old son and 18 month old daughter staying with family as my husband and I treaded through this unknown water. All of this happened on what seemed like " just a typical Monday"?!?! <br />Meanwhile, Brenda approached me in the hallway, bent down beside me, wrapped her arm around my shoulders and began to pray. I almost forgot how to pray after the flood of emotions claimed my physical and mental state. Brenda helped me rediscover my faith in that moment. Then as we began to talk, I explained our situation and the Mommy struggles I was having within me. Where should I be? What should I do? What is going on? Who do I call? WHY is this happening?? Brenda offered some additonal words, then handed me a necklace, it had one word on it... Hope. A simple word, packed with a punch. I looked her in the eyes, thanked her from the bottom of my heart and gave her a big hug. <br />I needed to have "Hope" that all of this would get taken care of and I was right where I needed to be at that moment in time. There weren't answers to my list of questions. There was time that needed to pass, like you said...one day at a time. <br />Brenda followed us throughout of hours and days at CHOB. She provided all of our family members with a Hope necklace. Something that sounds like nothing meant so much to our family. It provided strength in many times of need. <br />I continue to pray for all of you to have strength to get through the ups and downs, I prayfor peaceful momenta during your grieving process and I pray for Hope...for all of the opportunities your future holds. <br />Amen<br />Jennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05709881403738801790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-32653594530900224282014-06-02T17:54:13.134-07:002014-06-02T17:54:13.134-07:00I love that we can grieve with hope! We don't ...I love that we can grieve with hope! We don't have to think that our lives are over, but as we grieve, we can cling to Jesus in those times. Thanks for sharing! I love that the Lord is blessing you with this life. He is already restoring. Praying and believing He does the same for us after our loss.<br /><br />www.in-due-time.comCaroline @ In Due Timehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16261569299914107796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-43477663267508825062014-06-02T17:19:08.337-07:002014-06-02T17:19:08.337-07:00Thinking of your family. I have known grief....ma...Thinking of your family. I have known grief....many times, different ways. But God is sufficient....even when it doesn't feel like it....and your sweet baby girl. Enjoy picking out the name that sings to your soul. I can't wait to celebrate with you at her birth!Ceekay-THINKIN of HOMEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15111241316745923019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-31088086673673993782014-06-02T16:45:42.908-07:002014-06-02T16:45:42.908-07:00Once again, you have inspired, encouraged and lift...Once again, you have inspired, encouraged and lifted up so many with your testimony of faith and love for the Lord. I find myself thinking of and praying for you often. I feel as though you are a dear friend and I thank God that you are so willing to bare your soul as you do with each and every blog. May God's comforting presence be sensed day by day in the hearts of you and your beautiful family. Praying still, my friend.<br />Angela BakerAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13427671132403886784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-5950002062640196302014-06-02T06:27:07.049-07:002014-06-02T06:27:07.049-07:00Mindy, thank you for the link to Biblehub. I'...Mindy, thank you for the link to Biblehub. I've been finding my way back to church, and have been wanting to read the Bible. I'm trying my hardest to put my faith in God and to truly believe that He has a much bigger plan for us. The last thing I'm sure you want to hear/read is how much you're helping me, so just know that I think of you and your family every single day and I pray for your family every single day. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18299136201034686872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-50258448648046719652014-06-02T06:15:58.273-07:002014-06-02T06:15:58.273-07:00♥ !!!♥ !!!Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08896756586708015333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-59834222939083261792014-06-01T19:04:15.166-07:002014-06-01T19:04:15.166-07:00Amen! Amen! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08900621360640122688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-80827253799053432032014-06-01T15:58:13.518-07:002014-06-01T15:58:13.518-07:00Mindy, this is so true and beautiful! Praise God f...Mindy, this is so true and beautiful! Praise God for all He does for us and for His deep love for us <3 i know whatever name you & your family choose will be wonderful. God is so faithful to be with us in our trials. Sending abundant love and hugs your way!!Emily S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09425204749852180682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-71954590349123801602014-06-01T14:04:10.886-07:002014-06-01T14:04:10.886-07:00Hannah is another name for Hope. Hope or Hannah......Hannah is another name for Hope. Hope or Hannah...Both are lovely names. ;)Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03701591204435242687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2530176397776015894.post-88269335800418527232014-06-01T11:14:28.808-07:002014-06-01T11:14:28.808-07:00Mindy. . . you are a mother of Faith. You are wri...Mindy. . . you are a mother of Faith. You are writing about Hope, and hope in our Savior the Christ. Hope Christine, perhaps? Just a little idea :) God Bless you today. You have been in my thoughts, and I will continue to pray for your family too. Margaret@Holy Motherhoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06228748794937560997noreply@blogger.com