Hello everyone, this is Bill. Amanda has mentioned a few times in the journal that I should be the one to explain how I have been feeling since William died. As Amanda has mentioned we have both reacted to William’s death differently, neither one wrong, just different. Since William’s death I have maintained a bright outlook on everything. I believe some people may think there is something wrong with me or I have completely lost it. J So, I would like to talk about where my heart and my thoughts are.
When I look at William’s life and death, there were obvious challenges; a trach, cancer, eating problems, infections, etc. The thing that has always struck me is the amazing ways God has worked through all of this. I have literally seen people brought the Christ through William. I saw a church full of people praising God at William’s celebration service. I witnessed a little boy being baptized after his parents were moved by William’s life and death. I am amazed and praise God for all the amazing things He did in William’s short 16 month ministry. In the realm of eternal life these blessings far out weigh the struggles. None-the-less, this is earth and there is still an enormous pain that comes from losing a child.
I would imagine anyone reading this would take on all the suffering in the world for their children. I know I would. At this point, if I have to suffer on earth because our son is safe in the arms of Jesus awaiting our arrival, I am willing to suffer. I praise God for the suffering because, “We know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” (Romans 5:3-5) Praise to the Lord who has given us the hope of Heaven! Praise God that I can live out my days knowing that one day, the Lord’s work through me will be done and I will join William singing eternal praises to God our Father for giving me a saving grace that got me to that place in Heaven!
“’Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Chr. 15:55-57) Death holds no power over us, so we can celebrate eternal life for all who believe and are baptized. Salvation is ours and now we can come together as one body in Christ, go toe to toe with the devil and let him know that he can bring pain, conflict, and even death into our lives, but he can not take our salvation. For that we will spend every moment of every day praising God until we are all joined together in the presence of the Lord singing his praises for all eternity!
As the song that was playing while we walked into William’s celebration service says, “Give me joy, give me peace, give a chance to be free, give me anything that brings you glory, but I know there’ll be days when this life brings me pain and if that’s what it takes to praise you, then Jesus bring the rain!” God’s blessings to all of you. I pray that your life will forever be given, “To Him, who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy. To the only God our Savior be all glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forever more.” (Jude 24-25) Please sign the guestbook! J
