“There is a unique PAIN that comes from preparing a place in your HEART for a child that NEVER COMES”

David Platt

This quote by David Platt speaks to a very specific kind of grief, the sorrow of loving and longing for a child who never arrives. Whether through miscarriage, stillbirth, infertility, failed adoption, or other forms of loss, it captures the pain of creating space in your life, dreams, and heart for someone who never gets the chance to fill it.

The phrase “preparing a place in your heart” suggests that parenthood begins long before a child is born. Parents imagine names, personalities, birthdays, first steps, and futures.

They make emotional room for a child, investing hope, love, and expectation into a relationship that already feels real. When that child never comes, the loss is not only of a person but also of the future that was imagined and cherished.

What makes this pain unique is that it is often invisible to others. There may be no photographs, no shared memories, and no public acknowledgment of the life that was anticipated.

Yet the love is real, and so is the grief. The heart mourns not only who was lost but also who might have been. The quote recognizes that the absence of a child can leave behind a presence of longing that is difficult to explain to those who have never experienced it.

At its core, the quote reminds us that grief is measured not by how long someone lived, but by how deeply they were loved. A child does not have to be held in your arms to have already taken a permanent place in your heart.

The pain comes from that love having nowhere to go, leaving behind an empty space where hopes, dreams, and expectations once lived.

If this resonated with you, you are not alone. Grief can feel isolating, but your story matters. If you feel comfortable, I invite you to share your journey, whether through a few words, a poem, or a personal experience. Your voice could be the comfort someone else is searching for.  Leave a comment below, or,

You can share your stories through griefpoetry@gmail.com