Over the week or so I’ve been following a blog that a friend of mine from school posted. As it is with the circle of people I know, we all share things that need prayer. It doesn’t matter if you know the person or not, we share it and we pray. The beauty of the love of the body of Christ is that it doesn’t matter if you know your “subject” or not – prayer is prayer and God hears every word, every cry, every non-verbal, heart-wrenching thought that is sent up to Him.
Without getting to deeply into the story, because I don’t have any tears left today, a family is now dealing with the loss of a child. On Christmas Eve. Yes, you read that right. So please keep the Dan & Kelly Parkins family in your heart and in your prayers. After weeks of dealing with an infant in NICU, it was time to allow the Father of us all to have His Will to be done. His Will was to bring baby Samuel home, to give him the ultimate rest and peace.
I tend to quietly observe topics such as these. Sometimes, I cannot adequately express my thoughts and so I pray silently from afar. Someday when you have a chance, please go back and read Dan’s blog posts about this entire time (http://lothblogs.wordpress.com/ – you’ll have to sort through regular blogs about the church to read the “Samuel” posts). I was astounded by the “Job” in his posts. This was not a “curse God and die” situation for allowing his baby to be in NICU fighting for his life – this was an “I’m going to praise my Lord no matter what because that is what loving God is all about” attitude. The beauty of the heart of this father for his struggling son opened up a window to what I feel is the beauty of the heart of the Father of Life to his Son who gave his life for the rest of us. I have never felt so much like someone was able to convey that message as accurately as this worried father did.
Well, it seems I did have more tears left. I grieve for this family and their loss, even though I don’t know them. In this time of celebrating family, I cannot imagine how they are feeling. And yet I know that in all of this, God the Abba Father had a distinct purpose in mind. I hope he shows Dan and Kelly what that is soon, and grants them peace and joy in this hard time.
Right there with you Carrie! Tears are shed, and yet somewhere in my heart I am thankful for the eternal hope and an end to Samuel’s suffering (although I know there is more for Dan and Kelly). Blown away by Dan’s words, that offered encouragement and ministered to me in the midst of this challenging last two weeks.