Sunday, March 21, 2010

A Braid of Joy, Sorrow, and Hope

March 17 would have been the second birthday of our grandson, Luke. Referred to by his parents as, "Our little man," they decided to bring together children and friends to honor his memory yesterday, on March 20. We gathered at a beautiful park in Franklin, and scores of children and their parents, both sets of grandparents, Greg and Nicol and Summer, cousins, and some people who are walking the same road as Nicol and Greg all met to remember and celebrate Luke's life.

We mingled with purpose, and our ears and eyes delighted in

the sounds of adult laughter

the joy of children laughing

the sweetness of cousins hugging

the balm in lots of hugging

the satisfying fun food

the freshness of new acquaintances

the warmth of family

the delight of a cake walk

the surprise of discovery on an Easter egg hunt

the wealth of sharing

the wonder of God's Hand in holding off the rain

the showing up of the Lord in the little things

the appreciation of decent weather

the peace of no stress

the visiting of Luke's grave site later on

the quiet tears

the shared sorrow

the soft weeping

the reminiscing

the wrapping of all these wonderful elements into the blessed hope that

the best is yet to come

the balm that followed



Postscript: Jim, having lost a baby brother, a teen-aged brother, his father at the age of 10, and his mother who preceded us to Congo in '78, offered to Nicol that Lukey might be offering them this comfort, "Oh! Mama, Oh! Daddy, Oh! Summer, What Glory!

7 comments:

Unknown said...
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Unknown said...

Absolutely beautiful... what a simple, but powerful quote from your husband. Amazing-- thanks for sharing. Praying Nicol and Greg not only continue to hold onto that hope, but can also feel it!

Looking forward to seeing Nicol in concert this summer! From what I can tell, you were an amazing, godly mother to have raised such Christ centered children :)

Annise (Holland, MI)

karen44 said...

Great wisdom comes out of great pain. Your family has had some difficult years, but I know those trials will produce a great harvest in coming years. In fact, the harvest has begun.

Love and blessings to you all.
-karen l.

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