We found out on Tuesday, that a young man that we knew went home to be with his Lord. This been heavy on our hearts this week. I had trouble sleeping on Tuesday night. I just wanted to lie awake and appreciate the fact that my husband was there next to me.
Thinking about Dan, and his battle with cancer, as well as his strong testimony for the Lord, brought the book Ester Reid by Isabella Alden to mind. In this book, Ester's cousin loses her fiance the night before her wedding. Ester, who struggles with her faith, and joy in the Lord, is deeply moved by the grace that her cousin Abby displays in the wake of this tragedy.
"Oh Abbie, Abbie, how can you bear it -- how can you live?" burst forth from the heart of this friend who had come to comfort this afflicted one.
There was a little bit of silence now, and a touching tremble to the voice when it was heard again.
"'The Lord knoweth them that are his.' I try to remember that. Christ knows it all, and he is all-powerful; and yet he leads me through this dark road; therefore it must be right."
"But, " said Ester, raising her eyes and staying her tears for very amazement, "I do not understand -- I do not see. How can you be so calm, so submissive, at least just now -- so soon when you were to have been married today?"
The blood rolled in great purple waves over neck and cheek and brow, and then receded, leaving a strange, almost death-like, pallor behind it. The small hands were tightly clasped, with a strange mixture of pain and devotion in the movement, and the white lips moved for a moment forming words that met no mortal ear -- then the sweet, low, tender, voice sounded again.
"Dear Ester, I pray. There is no other way. I pray all the time. I keep right by my Savior. There is just a little, oh, a very litle, vale of flesh between him and between my-my husband and myself. Jesus loves me, Ester. I know it now, just as well as I did yesterday. I do not, and can not doubt him ... Ester do you remember we stood together alone for a moment yesterday? I will tell you what he said, the last words that were intended for just me only ...
'See here,' he said, 'I will give you a word to keep until we meet in the morning: The Lord watch between thee and me while we are absent one from another. I have been thinking, while I sat here in the morning, watching the coming of this new day, which you know is his first day in heaven, that perhaps it will be on some such morning of beauty as this that my long, long day will dawn, and that I will say to him, as soon as ever I see his face again: 'The word was a good one; the Lord has watched between us , and the night is gone.' Think of it, Ester. I shall surely say that some day -- some summer morning."
Dan and his wife were only married a little more then a year and a month when God took him Home. Please think of his 21 year old widow with me, and remember her in your prayers. We rejoice with his family that Dan is free from pain, but know that he will be sorely missed.
9 comments:
From what I hear about this young young woman, a new bride and new widow in a period of less than foureen months, she will have the same testimony that Abbie did. We'll all be continuing in prayer for her and all of the family.
It's so hard to find words.
so sad... I will pray for her. Circumstances like this call to mind the verse "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8, 9. Truly, we cannot understand all the ways of God. But I take comfort in the fact that God has told us this is so - He does not expect us to understand, but we know He is good. I hope that He will give me grace to remember that when tragedy touches my own life.
How very sad. I will be praying for this young woman and her family. The death of someone so young is always so hard to hear about.
I am so sorry for the loss of a husband and a son so young. my thoughts and prayers go out to Dan's dear wife and the family.
I am so glad to hear that He is home in the arms of our Savior, nothing brings more comfort at a time like this then knowing He is with the great I AM.
Cristina
While i was opening your blog i felt that my heart will burst. Didn't know why! After reading your post, i know why. I lost two friends who died from cancer.
I will never understand "why" till we all gather in heaven. It has passed 6 years now and still it hurts like it was yesterday. I will pray for his widow and pray for your family.
Bless
That is very sad, but such an encouragement that Dan had such a wonderful testimony to the end. I will be praying for Priscilla. Thanks for posting this Bev.
Beverly I am so sorry for the loss of your friend. I will sure be praying for the wife he left behind. My oldest sister lost her husband when they had been married only 7 and half years. She had four sons to raise. It is a very hard time and she will surely need friends like you and to lean on the Lord.
I hope your Dad has a very happy birthday. connie from Texas
Will be praying, too. A loss like that stays in the heart forever, like Beba wrote, even if it will stop hurting so much.
:-(
Oh, my heart is aching. This was such a perfect excerpt - for the grieving wife, and all of us - to read. I've cast a prayer heavenward. Thank you, friend.
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