The child we never new
Jennifer Sue Burke was born at Gosford hospital in Australia at six months and 22 days gestation on 15th June 1952. She died there one day and six hours later.
Her mother never saw her, as was the custom of the day. Her father saw her but briefly before a burial in an unmarked grace at Point Care cemetery near the family home at Woy Woy.
On earth Jennifer was an almost unknown child whose life came and went as a mist (Jas 4:14). She was the grass that came and went in a day (Ps 90:5-6). Her days took little numbering (Ps 90:10).
Jennifer was almost unknown on earth but known in eternity. For her parents were Christian believers. And so, just as Abraham’s son was counted as yours before his years of faith (Gen 17:1-13), so was Jennifer. And, as with all, you formed her inward parts, knitted her together in her mother’s womb and wrote her life in your book (Ps 139:13-16). And because of your covenant promises and her parents’ faith, Jennifer is yours as surely as those of her family who profess and maintain faith in Christ (Acts 2:38; 16:33).
Jennifer’s body is long dissolved in that unmarked grace as she turns 70 today. Yes she lives with you in eternity. She was spared her frail tent of an outer nature that wasted away, in order to be swallowed up by life (2 Cor 4:16 – 5:5). She, the youngest of her family was the first to see you face to face Rev 21:1-4; 22:1-5) and I guess she may even be there to welcome the rest of us when the number of our earthly days come to their end.
How good is the grace that saves even newborn infants!
