The Best Main Plans
We'll be at the airport preparing for the long journey to Moldova in about 44 hours and there's lots I should be doing.
But I'm not.
Sometimes God steps in and reminds us that He'll work things out...and He'll also direct us where we're needed.
A couple of days before Christmas, the 19 year old son of some very close friends died.
It is a tragic situation the circumstances of which need not be borne out here.
But we heard God calling and reminding us that our bags would get packed, we'd remember our passports, and Shell could handle any minor household emergencies we didn't plan for before we left..
Right now we had to put those preparations aside, we're needed elsewhere...with our friends in their grief.
Death, especially the unexpected death of a teenager, requires so much of us, not only emotionally and physically, but answering all the questions, filling out all the paper work, figuring out what to do with family and friends... planning a funeral you prayed you'd never live to see.
So we've tried to be there and do whatever we could.
The funeral is planned.
Gordon will preside, I've written and will try to deliver a eulogy...Amy will sing. We've tried to remove some of the unthinkable burden from our friends. In between we've hugged a lot of people, prayed with a lot of people, and cried with a lot of people.
I don't know if we've done all we could, but I'm reminded that oftentimes in situations such as this the best approach is, "Don't just do something, stand there!"
Simply "being there" is often far more comfort than any words or action.
About 19 hours after Amy sings our friend's son into the grave, we will board a plane with the partial intent of bringing hope to children in a very far away land.
We'll be on that plane, but we pray that before we leave we will have helped re-plant a few seeds of hope here too.
posted by Michael
©The Main Point by Michael Main
6 Comments
6 Comments:
Hope all goes well both for the funeral and the trip...
So sad about your friends' son. Grateful you were there, though, for everyone's sake. It will mean so much to them, I'm sure.
Many prayers today and as you head to Moldova!!
Katy www.fallible.com
I have a nineteen-year-old son and I can't even begin to imagine the pain your friends are experiencing. I'm so glad they have friends like you and Amy to minister to them.
I'm praying from them and for you.
Death of a child. My most single greatest fear. A child going before its parent is so unnatural. However, we are to have faith in God...and all things glorify God. Period.
Sometimes it is just hard to hear that...
Peace Bro,
A missing MrJ
Ackk...let me add my condolences...I too quickly went into my own thoughts.
Peace and Good Will to all involved.
MrJ
My family and I would like to thank Amy and Michael for being there for us in our most horrendous time of grief.They helped make decisions I was not able to make. I did not know or understand, nor did I want to know or understand how to make funeral arrangements for my son. I did help Amy choose a song or two for her to sing. I don't even remember what I did agree to. One song I do recall, is the one that says, he walked with me and talked with me in the garden...I can't remember the rest.
I suspect it will always be such an excruciating experience, yet, some parts are forgotten. Losing your child at any age is a painful experience, no matter the circumstances. Our son was a loving tormented soul. His life was and is a gift to us. He was a light in our lives for many years. I feel one of the hardest things about losing your loved one is, you also, somehow, lose some of your friends. I believe it is because they do not know what or how to say anything to you for fear of saying the "wrong" things, but ANYTHING said is better than nothing said at all... I also believe sometimes your pain is too much for them to handle along with their own personal pain. I miss my friends. I not only mourn the loss of my son, but I mourn the loss of my friends. I am not positive, even at this point that surviving the loss of him as well as my support system, that I can survive anything else negative life has to throw at me. Perhaps, that is also a reason for my friends to keep their distance. I hold no grudges, only sadness. My biggest hope is that none of them have to experience what my family has had to. To all of my friends, I LOVE YOU, as I know God loves you. Perfect are we? No, but He loves us anyway... May God bring peace to my family. Please pray for us, we need all of the prayers we can receive.
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