Shannon's Story- The Voice

Three years ago, when we lost our baby at 7 weeks, I was devastated. As any woman who has experienced a loss of a child, my heart was shattered into a million pieces. The only way I was able to find peace and break away from that deep sorrow was by serving others. A family in my parent's neighborhood had just lost their 20 year old son in the war in Afghanistan and I was scheduled to sing at a church service where his family would be attending. The service was the day after I miscarried. My first reaction was to cancel. Surely anyone would understand. But then I thought of that sweet mother who had just lost her son and I knew that I needed to sing. I would sing for her, I would sing for myself and I would sing for our lost children. “Be still my soul, the Lord is on thy side. When disappointment, grief and fear are past, all now mysterious shall be bright at last.” The words to the song I sang resonated with my soul and brought me peace, if only for a few moments. Peace that I could cling to to carry me past the days of deep sorrow. Eventually the pain lessened and we carried on with our lives. The memory of that baby slowly faded. Never forgotten entirely, but faded nonetheless.

Fast forward to the present day. My Mommy's Hallelujah song had “gone viral” as they say, and without warning, my life was thrust into the world of virtual “fame”. All of a sudden person after person was asking me to sing this, or sing that for them. It was all very overwhelming. As kindly as I could I told each person that perhaps once things slowed down a bit I could give their song the attention it deserved. This was my initial mindset when Emily first approached me to sing 'Angels Remembered'. But for some reason, I felt prompted to at least listen to it and go from there.

The words of the song instantly brought my baby whom I had lost to my mind and I felt that I needed to sing it. This gave me an opportunity to ponder and pray to my Father in Heaven and I felt a strong feeling that my child was a girl. I felt guilty for not having thought of her more often over these past three years. I felt the need to apologize to her, to let her know that I still loved her, yet I felt a peace and reassurance that she knew that anyway. It was a powerful reminder to me that she is here and is a true member of our forever family. This opened up an opportunity to talk to my daughter who was only 1-year-old at the time I lost the baby about her little sister and who she is. That has been a very tender thing to experience.

As I was in the studio singing 'Angels Remembered' the first few times I was just singing the words, but not feeling the words. Before we began the third take, I said a quick prayer and asked that I could feel my sweet daughter with me. I closed my eyes and began to sing. This time, I sang for her, I sang for all the mothers who have lost children and I sang with my heart wide open. A powerful spirit filled the room I know my daughter present along with many other angels who came to listen to their song. It was a precious moment in time, one that I will never forget.

I am grateful that I have been able to play a very small role in the message of this song. My prayer is that any mother who has lost a child can find peace. That the spirit can come and fill her heart and she can know that families are indeed forever because of the atoning love and power of our Savior Jesus Christ. I am eternally grateful for Him. I know that it is only because of Him and His infinite love that I can see my sweet daughter again and to live, not only with her, but with my husband and our other children forever as well. This is the best news of all!

My sweet daughter will no longer be a forgotten angel, but shall forever be my 'Angel Remembered'.