Saying Goodbye...

In the past few months I have stumbled upon blogs of people that I went to church with growing up. Most of them are my parents age, and therefore people of influence in my life. It has been exciting to read what the Lord is doing in their lives and to see how their children are doing - kids I watched in Sunday school and grew up with as well. It has also been heart breaking to learn of men and women who have gone to be with the Lord. Many of them it seems were not old enough to say good bye.

One of the blogs I stumbled upon was Doug's. I knew he and his wife from church and actually worked with his wife Jane for a year or more when I was on the church staff. We didn't spend a ton of time together, but she did teach me a lot about patience (working on the weekly bulletin together), worship and seeking after the heart of God. I found out recently that she has been battling cancer for some time. Dougs blog is a day by day journey through the final days of her life. I have been struck by his honesty and realness as he struggles with letting her go. I have wept with him while he asks the Lord "how should I pray?" And it has been a blessing to be reminded of the hope we have in the midst of a sinful world.

Pray for Doug today as Jane went home to be with the Lord a little after noon. I cannot, not even a little bit, imagine... She is with the Lord though and for that we Praise Him. He gives and takes away, his timing is perfect and his peace beyond understanding. Our prayers are with you Doug and family.