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This first episode is an opening message from our Founder and Bridget’s mom, Ashley Opliger. Ashley shares her heart behind starting the Cradled in Hope podcast and welcomes grieving moms to this sacred space.

She reads the first chapter of the book she is writing which is also titled Cradled in Hope. This chapter is a letter to grieving moms letting them know they are loved and not alone in their grief.

Ashley welcomes brokenhearted moms to meet her in spirit at the blue barn building that Bridget’s Cradles calls their headquarters. Here, she wants to sit in your sadness with you and hear your baby’s story. Together, we will find hope and healing through faith in Jesus.

This is the heart behind the podcast, and we pray this first episode points you to our hope in Jesus! We have many more wonderful episodes to come, so we hope you’ll sign up for updates and stay awhile. Come as you are. Your grief is welcome here. Though we may grieve, we do not grieve without hope. Welcome to Cradled in Hope!

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Episode 1: Welcome to Cradled in Hope with Ashley Opliger

Ashley Opliger: [00:00:00] You’re listening to the Cradled in Hope Podcast. I’m your host, Ashley Opliger. I’m a wife, mom, and follower of Christ who founded Bridget’s Cradles, a ministry in memory of my daughter, Bridget, who was stillborn at 24 weeks. Our nonprofit donates knit and crocheted cradles to hospitals in all fifty states to hold babies born into Heaven.

I’m also the author of the book Cradled in Hope, a biblical guide for moms grieving miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss. This podcast shares the same name—and the same heart—as the book: to help you find the comfort, compassion, and healing of Jesus in the midst of deep sorrow.

Rooted in the hope of the Gospel, this podcast is a sacred space for your broken heart to land. Here, we are going to trust God’s promise to heal our hearts, restore our joy, and use our grief for good. With faith in Jesus and eyes fixed on Heaven, we do not have to grieve without hope. We believe that Jesus cradles us in hope while He cradles our babies in Heaven. 

Welcome to the Cradled in Hope Podcast.

Ashley Opliger: [00:01:03] Hi, sweet mommas. Welcome to the Cradled in Hope Podcast. Oh, how I wish you didn’t need to be listening to this podcast right now. My heart aches that you’ve found Cradled in Hope because you’ve experienced the indescribable pain of losing a baby. 

[00:01:19] I never would have imagined that I would be hosting a podcast about pregnancy and infant loss, and I’m sure you never expected to be listening to one either. But when my daughter, Bridget Faith, was born into Heaven at 24 weeks into my first pregnancy, my entire life changed, and I know your life has changed, too. 

I would do anything for us to have met and been connected in a way other than our mutual heartache of losing a baby. It’s a club no one wants to join and a grief no mother should ever have to endure. But here we are, two mommas with broken hearts, missing our babies and wondering how we will ever live without them. 

[00:01:59] In this first episode, I want to take a moment to share with you the journey I’ve been on and how this podcast came to be. After Bridget went to Heaven in 2014, God led us to start a nonprofit organization called Bridget’s Cradles. We donate small knit and crocheted cradles to over 1,065 hospitals in all 50 states and comfort over 26,000 bereaved families a year.

[00:02:25] Over time, our ministry has grown to do more than our core ministry of sending cradles to hospitals. We also have our own support groups, remembrance events, and resources online.

[00:02:36] But in the midst of all that, God gave me a very personal calling and planted a seed in my heart to write a book for grieving moms to find hope after pregnancy loss. However, it wasn’t until six years later that I actually started writing this book, titled Cradled in Hope, a title He had actually given me very early on after losing Bridget.

[00:02:57] Years passed, and I was busy in ministry and in motherhood. I’ve had two little boys since Bridget, and I spend most of my days with them. But last year, in 2020, I finally took the initiative to start writing my book and sharing the message of hope God had placed on my heart. In October, I was honored to be accepted into a special writer’s program with Compel Training of Proverbs 31 Ministries, and I spent the last few months writing my book proposal for Cradled in Hope.

[00:03:27] It was during this experience that I was introduced to the world of podcasting, and my life has changed. First, I started being a guest on other podcasts, and I simply fell in love with it. With my background in Communication Sciences and my Master’s Degree in Speech Pathology, I finally felt as though my ministry had collided with my passion for communication. I could share my testimony and the message of hope through the airwaves, and God could deliver that message to anyone immediately without any barriers. 

[00:03:56] I love people and hearing and telling stories and asking questions. Hosting a podcast just felt like such a natural fit of how God made me and the passions He has given me.

[00:04:07] So for now, Cradled in Hope is a podcast. But one day, Lord willing, I hope that I find a publisher, and you’ll be able to hold a printed version of this same message too. In the meantime, I pray these episodes bring you hope and healing. Some of the episodes will be me sharing a message, and others will be interviews with special guests.

[00:04:28] I am looking forward to introducing you to other bereaved moms, so you can hear their stories and gain wisdom from their healing journey. All of our episodes will be centered on Christ, on the Good News of the Gospel, and the hope that we have to see our babies again in Heaven through faith in Jesus 

So in this first episode, I want to spend some time welcoming you to our ministry, to the Blue Barn building in Kansas that we call our headquarters, where I welcome moms for support groups and where I record these episodes.

[00:05:00] Over time, I trust that we’ll be able to get to know each other better. We have a Cradled in Hope Facebook group I hope you’ll join so I can virtually meet you. And in future episodes, you’ll hear more of my story and the work God has done in my heart and life through my grief. But for now, I’d like to read you my Introduction chapter to Cradled in Hope.

[00:05:20] I’ve edited parts to make sense for a podcast versus a book, but the same message applies. I hope you know how much you are loved and how glad we are that you are here. Welcome to Cradled in Hope.

Ashley Opliger: [00:03:52] We hope you’re finding encouragement in this episode so far. We want to take a moment to share some resources our ministry offers to support grieving moms like you.

On our website, bridgetscradles.com, you’ll learn more about our nonprofit and find many hope-filled resources, including free e-books to help you plan a memorial or funeral service for your baby, meaningful ways to honor your baby in your heart and home, and gentle guidance for navigating difficult days like due dates, Heaven Days, and holidays.

We invite you to join our community of grieving moms through our Christ-centered support groups, offered both in-person at our headquarters near Wichita, Kansas, and virtually through Hope Online. These gatherings provide a place to find comfort, connection, and biblical hope alongside other moms who understand your pain.

You can view upcoming dates and sign up on our website. While you’re there, we’d also be honored for you to share your baby’s story with us.

For ongoing support, we welcome you to join our private Cradled in Hope Facebook group—a safe space for grieving moms to find friendship and walk their healing journey together.

To stay connected with us and receive faith-filled encouragement, follow us on Facebook and Instagram at @bridgetscradles, @cradledinhope, and my personal page @ashleyopliger. 

Now, let’s get back to the episode.

Ashley Opliger: [00:06:51] One of the aspects of hosting a podcast that I’ve found challenging is that there’s a distance between you and me. The airwaves and device screens separate us. 

[00:07:03] This is difficult for me because I desire to connect with you in an authentic and vulnerable way. I wish we could be together in person, but I trust that God has you right where you’re supposed to be, listening to this right where you are. There are no coincidences with Him.

[00:07:19] I believe He had everything to do with you finding this podcast because He had me make it for you. I have cried so many tears for you, and I truly want to be a close friend on this journey, even if it’s on your favorite podcast app. 

[00:07:34] So if you can imagine this with me for a moment, I’d like to invite you to a place in a little town in my home state of Kansas called Kechi. It’s a quaint town that sits just north of Wichita, our state’s largest city. With a population of 2,000 people, Kechi consists of a friendly mayor, a water tower, and a four-way stop that intersects one main road called, you guessed it, Kechi Road. 

[00:08:07] If you’ve ever taken a road trip through small town America before, you’ve probably driven through a town like this. You know, the one with just one park, one gas station, and no chain restaurants or stores. But here you’ll find a small quilt shop, an old playhouse, and a glassblowing studio. It’s a creative little town with ma–and-pa shops specializing in arts and crafts and homemade knick-knacks. On Kechi Road also sits your neighborly post office, where the two loyal staff members know every customer by name.

[00:08:32] People are friendly here. The pace is slower. It’s this hometown feel and connection that I’ve grown to love about this little town. So after you’ve dropped your mail off at the post office and picked up your Dum-Dums sucker, a staple always offered on their counter, you’ll pass by some railroad tracks and horse stables, all in a minute’s drive.

[00:08:54] On your left, you’ll find a cute building that looks like a barn. Its metal exterior walls are painted blue just above gray stone that wraps around its base. In modern farmhouse appeal, the building boasts a white tin roof and white porch columns. Light enters the building from four windows on its exterior walls and illuminates the calming pastel colors that decorate the cozy room inside. Can you picture it? 

[00:09:20] I want you to have a visual image because although we can’t be here together in person, I’d like to meet you here in spirit. And I know you’re wondering why I’m taking you here, of all places. It is because this Blue Barn building houses Bridget’s Cradles headquarters, and it is here that I welcome grieving moms in to find hope and healing.

[00:09:41] Face to face, eye to eye, and heart to heart, we have held each other’s hands and wiped each other’s tears. This building has been my healing home, and I want it to be yours, too. I want it to be a safe place for you to say your baby’s name and share your hurts, fears, and doubts. It’s a safe place for you to cry, ask why, and bring your pain and sadness.

[00:10:06] Here, you can grieve real and raw and be vulnerable with your heart. It’s your sacred space to remember, reflect, and dream, and it’s even okay to laugh and allow yourself to feel joy. I want you to feel known and loved. God has ordained this podcast and Little Blue Barn, and I believe they are both filled with His Holy Spirit.

[00:10:29] So please come as you are. No need to dress up, put makeup on, or pull yourself together to impress anyone. There are no pretenses here. Sweatpants and T-shirts are welcome, encouraged actually. I hope you don’t mind that I’m dressed down myself. I’m here to be your friend. You don’t need to be at a specific place in your grief or feel a certain way about God right now.

[00:10:54] No sorrow is too fresh or too far out for you to come. Your grief is welcome here. So put your hair up in a messy bun or ponytail and come as you are. It’s just going to be you and me, two grieving moms trying to survive the excruciating loss of our babies. 

[00:11:12] Imagine you pull up to the Blue Barn, park your car, and let out a sigh. “Okay, here I am. I don’t know what to expect, but I’m showing up.” I know it feels vulnerable to come to a support group, counseling session, or meet another bereaved mom for the first time. Even listening to a podcast about grief and opening yourself up to your pain and the process of healing can be scary.

[00:11:38] But here you are. You’ve made it. You’ve shown up, and I am so proud of you for the courage and bravery it took to get you this far. You are one strong momma. You walk up to our front door and ring the doorbell. 

[00:11:53] I open the door and greet you with a hug. I know not everyone is a hugger like me, but I don’t know how else to show you how much I care. I hope you don’t mind, but I’d like to give you a good hug. I won’t make it awkward or weird. Just imagine a hug coming from a friend who deeply cares for you and grieves with you. Let yourself feel it. If you need to, stop listening to the podcast for a moment. Close your eyes to embrace it. You need it, and it’s okay to let your walls down to receive it.

[00:12:26] You can cry with me. I’d let your tears fall on my shoulder, and I’d be present with you in your pain. I wouldn’t try to offer any magic words or pat answers. You won’t hear me extend platitudes or religious cliches like, “Everything happens for a reason.” “God needed another angel.” “She was too beautiful for Earth.” “You have other children you should be grateful for.” “You’re still young and can try again.”

[00:12:54] I know these well-intended statements from other people only cause you to hurt so much more. I will never minimize your grief or try to justify your loss in these ways. I know there are no perfect words that I could say to take your pain away, so I’d simply say, “I’m so sorry for your loss, and I’m here for you.”

[00:13:14] I would then show you around the cozy 1,000-square-foot room, pointing out the beautiful floral mural on the wall of Psalm 139, the “fearfully and wonderfully made” verse. It was hand-painted by my friend in memory of her daughter in Heaven. 

[00:13:29] I’d share my story with you and tell you all about my daughter, Bridget. I’d explain about the ministry operations and support groups that happen here, which I’ll tell you more about later in future episodes. I’d offer you a water bottle and a place to put your purse. We would then take a seat in two comfy gray chairs next to each other, separated by a cute table with gold legs that holds my Bible, an essential oil diffuser, and a pretty lamb’s ear plant.

[00:13:56] I’d diffuse lavender scent if you liked it, and I’d have light worship music on in the background. String lights softly glow overhead in the open rafters, and Kleenexes sit close by for when we’ll need them. I know that you’re missing your baby with a longing and sadness that words can’t describe, so I’d sit with you and let you share your baby’s story with me.

[00:14:19] You’d start from the beginning. You’d share with me how long it took you for you to conceive your miracle baby, the one you had prayed for and struggled with infertility for years. Or you’d tell me about how this pregnancy was a surprise that came at an unexpected but needed time. Though your story and circumstances may differ from my own story or another mom’s story, I know that your baby was wanted and loved.

[00:14:45] You’d tell me all about your pregnancy, when you first saw those two pink lines, and how you told your friends and family. We’d talk about if you had a gender reveal party and the theme you had picked out for your baby’s nursery. And then, with tears in your eyes, you’d tell me how many weeks you were or how old your baby was when the unthinkable happened.

[00:15:08] You’d describe the horrible sequence of events that led to the devastating day you were told at a doctor’s appointment that your baby no longer had a heartbeat. Or maybe for you, your baby had medical complications diagnosed in utero, and they weren’t expected to live past birth. 

[00:15:25] Or perhaps you were shocked that after a healthy pregnancy, your baby was born. But instead of hearing the shrill of newborn cries, silence filled the delivery room. Or in a mother’s worst nightmare, you put your infant down for a nap, and they never woke up. 

I’d listen intently to every detail you were comfortable to share with me, and my heart would ache with yours. You’d tell me your baby’s name, and I’d comment on how much I love the name you chose for him or her.

[00:15:57] You’d then explain about the heartbreaking moments and days that followed your baby’s death. We’d cry together as you shared with me the sorrowful days you experienced planning your baby’s burial or cremation and attending their funeral.

[00:16:11] If you had pictures of your sweet baby, you’d pull those up on your phone. I’d look in awe and wonder at his or her adorable little features, so fearfully and wonderfully made. We’d talk about his long little fingers or her cute button nose. We’d mention the special blanket or cradle wrapping your baby in love and how much that meant to you.

[00:16:32] If your loss was early, we’d grieve over the fact that you didn’t even get the chance to see your baby’s face or tell people you were pregnant. We would talk about your early miscarriage and how emotionally and physically traumatic it was for you. Then you would express all the hopes and dreams you had for your pregnancy and for your baby, and we’d mourn all of these things together. 

No matter if you lost your baby at eight weeks or eight months into your pregnancy, or eight days or eight months after their birth, I’d grieve with you for your beloved baby.

[00:17:04] I’d let you know that I firmly believe that life begins at conception, and that God created each of our babies in His image. No matter what medical complications or tragic events led to our babies’ deaths, I believe they have eternal souls that will live forever in Heaven. 

[00:17:22] Though our stories may not be the exact same, I want to unite with you in our shared heartache. We have both lost our hopes and dreams for our babies’ lives on Earth. We have endured the most painful loss a human can experience on this Earth, the loss of a child. 

And whether you lost your baby a few weeks ago, a few years ago, or maybe even decades ago, I want you to know that I will enter back into the waves of fresh grief with you. I know that no matter how much time has passed since your baby went to Heaven, that you will always miss and grieve your baby, because I still miss Bridget, too. 

[00:17:59] Now I want to ask how you’re doing, how you’re holding up in this moment. I’d wait to give you time to process a vulnerable answer. I don’t want you to have to pretend here.

[00:18:09] You don’t have to act like you’re doing better than you are. I’m a safe place for your heart to land. I’ve been where you are. I’ve experienced every imaginable emotion of grief there is to feel. I’ve walked through those agonizing weeks and months of pure sadness and hopelessness. Nothing you could say would scare me away or make me think any differently of you.

[00:18:32] There’s no judgment here. I just want to sit with you in your grief and empathize with you. I know we are separated over the airwaves with this podcast, but I believe our hearts are connected by the Holy Spirit. He’s with me, and He’s with you. You are not alone in your sadness. 

[00:18:58] There’s one crucial thing I need you to know before we journey any further into this podcast together. I do not plan to leave you here in this pit of despair. Though I’ve been in the depths of this pain, God didn’t leave me there either. He lifted me up and He healed my heart. He restored my joy and redeemed my pain. Sweet friend, I know hope and healing are coming for you, too, and I plan to walk with you every step of the way until your heart’s made whole and you feel like you are living again.

[00:19:25] I can’t promise that it will be a comfortable or smooth ride. The road to healing is not a straightforward, well-paved path. Instead, the road to healing is oftentimes filled with unexpected bumps and potholes along the way. But I can’t let you miss out on the beauty that is waiting for you down this road.

[00:19:45] I’ve walked it with my own two feet, and I’ve experienced the radical redemption on the other side, and I know I’ll get to watch you do the same. It starts right here, right now, one foot in front of the other, one day, one hour, one minute at a time. 

[00:20:02] If you haven’t been told this before, please let me be the first to tell you. I believe God has a wonderful plan for your life, even despite this horrible tragedy you have experienced. He loves you and your baby more than you can imagine. I promise He will comfort your heart and restore your joy. There is hope for you. This is not the end of your story. You will find healing, and one day you will use your pain to comfort others.

[00:20:31] And please understand that healing does not mean forgetting about your baby or simply moving on. No, it’s quite the opposite. Healing means we will surrender our suffering to God and allow Him to use our grief for good. It means that we can remember our babies and look forward to the day we will see them again for all of eternity.

[00:20:53] God has cradled us in hope for the journey ahead. So momma, hold my hand. God gave us each other to carry one another through our grief. You do not have to go through this alone. So whether you’re walking through this podcast one episode at a time or one day you find yourself in Kechi, Kansas, know that I’m here waiting for you with a big hug at the door.

[00:21:19] We’re in this together, and though we grieve, we do not grieve without hope. Let me pray for you. 

Jesus, thank You for bringing the two of us moms together through this podcast. Though we wish our stories were different and we hadn’t met each other because of our shared heartache, we need each other, and we need You even more.

[00:21:43] God, will You meet us here? Our hearts are broken, and we invite You to come in and comfort us. We miss our babies so much, and we long to see them again. Will You rescue us from these deep waves of grief? Jesus, as we journey together through Cradled in Hope, will You open our hearts to find hope and healing?

[00:22:03] Because of You, we can grieve with hope. Be with us and hold our hands through this healing process. We love You. Amen. 

Ashley Opliger: [00:22:12] Thank you for listening to the Cradled in Hope Podcast. We pray that you found hope and healing in today’s episode. 

Don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss new episodes when they release each month. You can also find this episode’s show notes and a full transcript on our website at bridgetscradles.com/podcast. 

Be sure to sign up for our email list on our website, so that we can keep you updated on upcoming podcast episodes, support groups, and other hope-filled resources.

You can also purchase my book, Cradled in Hope, wherever books are sold. It’s a biblical guide for grieving moms to find hope after miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss. Written from the depths of my own heartbreak, I share vulnerably about losing my daughter, Bridget, and how God met me in my grief. Through Scripture, theology, and soul-deep reflections, Cradled in Hope offers biblical wisdom, practical guidance, and the eternal hope of seeing your baby again in Heaven through faith in Jesus.

To accompany the book, I’ve also created the Cradled in Hope Guided Journal—a beautiful companion that includes space to write your responses to the discussion questions, full Scripture passages from each chapter, and additional reflection pages and guided charts to help you process your grief and draw you closer to Jesus. You can download the free digital version on my author website at AshleyOpliger.com/Journal, or order the printed version on Amazon if you prefer to write by hand.

Are you looking for ways to use your grief for good? Visit our website to learn how you can volunteer or donate to Bridget’s Cradles in memory of a baby in Heaven. 

Do you want a quick way to make an eternal impact? Share this episode with a friend or leave a review on Apple Podcasts to help more grieving moms find the same comfort you’ve received here.

Thank you so much for listening and sharing. Until next time, we will be praying for you. And remember, as Jesus cradles our babies in Heaven, He cradles us in hope. Though we grieve, we do not grieve without hope.