I've just spent the last hour or so replying to messages on facebook from dear friends and complete strangers who have reached out to me to let me know that they are praying for us. What a tremendously humbling thing to do. And I'm not even done. There are so many of you out there reading who have commented on a post or sent a note. I just wanted to take the time to say thank you.
Thank you all for your prayers. "The earnest prayers of a righteous man availeth much." That is God's word and I know it's therefore true, but can I tell you also that I have experienced it? Daniel and I have been held in prayer. I can't describe to you what that feels like because it, like the peace that we also have, passes understanding.
Thank you for your notes. Thank you for your encouragement. Thank you for sharing your hearts. Thank you for your grief and for your joy. Thank you for the time you've spent here. Thank you for passing this along to so many. Thank you for loving us. Thank you for loving Ian.
And, most importantly, thank you for loving God enough to respond in sweet obedience as you did all these other things. The New Testament is full of "one another" commands in which God gives us instructions on how to treat our fellow believers. I'm pretty sure we've been on the receiving end of most of them. I wish the world could see how the Body of Christ has responded to us in this time. Your light is shining. Any who see it cannot but praise our Father in heaven, as I do every day for every one of you. Thank you.
1 comments:
I always read your blogs, and I always like to make a point to let you know I did so. I appreciate everything you write, and for allowing a glimpse into what you are feeling. I don't want to stare at you and poke you and go,"what's going on in there?" ... it's nice to share with the world without being interrupted, isn't it?
You and your beautiful family have been coming up in conversation quite frequently, and commonly words that come out are like this..."never be the same." "so much to think about" "questioning myself" "they were strong, and God used them in a powerful way." I just want you to know, you have set the bar so high for some of us. I can't really speak for others, only relay little things here or there..but for me, Jen, my world is coming down around me..trying to grasp the greatness of God in all this is SO hard, but so easy at the same time. I can't even begin to describe it..but all I can think of this is, because of what God has done here, I have to re-evaluate myself and change the way I think, and some of who I am in order to be more like the way God wants me. For the first time in a long time, I'm not fighting that, because the beauty of being fully molded to His will is more of a comfort than I ever thought I would know.
I know I may feel a bit awkward in person, but I have hidden myself behind the walls of virtual reality for years... and I'm not quite sure how to articulate myself, nor do I trust myself to say the right thing all the time. But here it is: if you ever just want to burst out and talk about whatever is on your mind, it will be to my relief and joy to know you are speaking about what is most presently on your mind that needs to be spoken out loud.
I love you very dearly. I am so grateful to know you even though it hasn't been long since we met. Because I don't know you as well as I would like, I don't know how much to traipse around the topic at hand. What to say or how to be with you. I want to treat you like a normal person, because you are..but I want to be sensitive to your hurting heart. But, I would love to talk about Ian, and I feel that you have wanted to as well.... about his beautiful long fingers when I met him, and how I immediately thought,"this little boy has piano playing fingers!" I did! and it made me so happy! I hope it makes you smile! He was so perfect in so many ways, Jen...just in the way God made him to suit his purpose, even if he wasn't meant for this life. He was perfect because that is how God made him. I sing praises at God's awesomeness and what an effect such a small boy had on so many lives. His act is going to be a hard one to follow, that's for sure.
Much love to you. I am always here.
Shan
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