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The spring after Jack's accident, my childhood friend Brenda pulls into the parking lot of the small school where her husband is headmaster. She is going to deliver the monthly
chapel message to the students. She has asked our permission to share about Jack's life and death, and how a perfectly imperfect little boy had a
meaningful, trusting relationship with God.
A familiar Christian song plays
on the radio as she pulls into the parking lot, and as she looks toward a tree
on the grounds that she sees several times every day, she notices something she has never noticed before. A bald eagle has made a nest
there. She takes a picture for me, thinking of course of Jack, our rare bird.
Gathering her purse and her keys, she listens more closely to the lyrics on the radio: “I will rise when He calls my name, no more
sorrow, no more pain. I will rise, on eagles’ wings, before my God, fall on my
knees, And Rise. I will rise.”
A rare bird and the healing words about the promise of heaven seem fitting
as she walks into the building to share Jack’s story.
Oh Anna, how beautiful - what a wonder-filled moment indeed.
ReplyDeleteI am so happy about all those little signs from Jack. xox
Chills.
ReplyDeleteI love those times when it feels like God is just rubbing up against us. Thank you for sharing! Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Yes, a mystical, supernatural stimulus that produces hope within the beholder.
ReplyDeleteScripture says that we do not grieve as those without hope. But even having hope doesn't take away the pain of grief. Both exist side by side - grief and hope. Grief isn't necessarily lessened, but the presence of hope provides a reason to believe that somewhere, at the end of all that pain, there is a future that is, or could be, acceptable.
What a beautiful gift hope is. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful molecule of inspiration.
This story brought tears to my eyes. So encouraged that God Loves us so much and sends reminders in His creation about HIs infinite love for his people. Thanks for sharing this reminder!
ReplyDeleteJenni Aiello
Oh my goodness, the chills I have! That is truly amazing. Music and "Signs" have played a part in my life as well so I get this...
ReplyDeleteThinking of you today (even more than usual) xoxo
Tearing up over here in Texas. Yes, I understand. God gives us those special, rare moments that remind us our children that have passed away are safe with Him. I've had multiple friends tell me of similar stories where they saw something that reminded them of our son, and a song would come on...usually I Can Only Imagine, which we played at Ethan's funeral. Thank you for sharing this. It's a reminder to us that grieve, as well as yourself, that there is hope in Him and Him alone. He is so good and loving, and He can always seems to give us strength in ways that seem like "coincidences." We know as Believers they are gifts from the Lord! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteI was raised to be an atheist (I don't judge my mother for this AT ALL as she believed strongly she was giving me a gift. Religion has not been a positive thing in her youth). When I was first learning about the book of Genesis was in a graduate English class "The Bible of Literature" and I had never really read this incredibly dense HIGHLY symbolic story before. I had heard about it plenty, but never read it. Much to my surprise it said that there was an interdiction made against "the tree of knowledge of good and evil." I had always been told it was simply "the tree of knowledge." This was VERY big because my mother had always hammered on the notion that a prohibition against knowledge was a sign that this was not a good value system. But that's not what it said! To not know the difference between good and evil would be a huge decrease in suffering. Not a decrease in pain -- a decrease in suffering. Basically God didn't want us to suffer. I picked up my phone to call my mother and said, "It doesn't say 'knowledge' -- it says..." She interrupted me and said, "I know, I know.... it's knowledge of good and evil. Susy just told me five minutes ago." (Bet you thought that story would never end.) E.
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome timing from a perfect God. Even when we don't understand it At All. I Will Rise was sung at Sully's funeral. Gets me every time
ReplyDeleteTruly beautiful moment. Love. xo
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love these stories. They fill me with wonder too.
ReplyDeleteWow! I just love reading about all the ways we are given signs that remind us of our loved ones. We are being watched over for sure. :)
ReplyDeleteWow - I love that.
ReplyDeleteIt's July 4th today and I woke up thinking of you and Jack for some reason. I said a prayer of comfort and strength for you today.
Love and hugs,
Kerry
Love this! I was really, really missing my sweet momma last night when this song came on the radio. It was so comforting to my soul. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI've just been catching up on your posts. Bald eagles are my favorite rare bird. I love the signs, the small wonders of your Jack, your rare bird.
ReplyDeleteYour book is incredible. A beautiful work. Can you believe it's going to be out there? For a bajillion people to read?!
What a beautiful story....((HUGS))
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