Comments on: Memorial Stones in Words: Daniel

By: cajungal01

cajungal01 — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 03:09:58 +0000

I love you. I do. And I have always admired you and your amazing husband. I have always stood in awe at the two of you.

And I was amazed at y'all then.

You two were THE perfect parents for Daniel and it was an amazing ministry, not just to Daniel but to all of us that had the honor of witnessing it. Your love for him was true, deep, and strong. God's timing was perfect and I KNOW that He called y'all to that decision to change Daniel's life forever. I am glad you saw him and glad that it was a good (albeit emotional) visit. I feel certain that as God pulled at your heart that night, He pulled on Daniel's too. Whatever it may mean, God's timing is perfect and I am so glad for that.

I love y'all!
:0)

By: Faithful

Faithful — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:52:41 +0000

I know your love and devotion for him, and we think about him often. I pray often that whatever he is going through God is walking him through in a way that will bring him to Christ.
Sometimes, when looking back at pictures, I think of what a great man he was with you, and how he changed so much when he left you.
I'm glad you shared that with everyone to show what devotion you have to God when it comes to his callings. I know there is SO MUCH more you were unable to tell here, but I hope that others will understand that you went through so much with him and he touched so many lives as he began his journey into manhood with you all and all those around him.
I know I will never, ever forget him.

Megan

By: Little Apple

Little Apple — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:02:44 +0000

Thanks for sharing. I arrived at the tail end of Daniel's time with you all and always why I never saw him around anymore. That is heart breaking. I had a foster child for a few months (not nearly the same) but I can only imagine the compounded emotions.

By: Autumn and Haley

Autumn and Haley — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 04:51:47 +0000

What an awesome opportunity! next month I'll participate!

By: Grateful for Grace

Grateful for Grace — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:29:21 +0000

Jan's submission:
My mother died when I was 20. It was very unexpected…and it created a deep and abiding fear that silently wove itself into the very fiber of my life. Unintentionally, my heart set a new course, "Never relax…never enjoy life too much or those you love will be taken from you…always, always, always be on watch for the worst to happen."

Enter life. Enter Chuck. Enter an operation that goes unexpectedly awry. Enter 15 months of being "on watch" for Chuck's survival. The conversation of Chuck's possible death was never discussed between me and God. It would not happen. End of discussion. I would NEVER let Chuck go. NEVER. Chuck would live and I would go first. That had been my plan from the moment I loved him. I knew that my heart would not survive losing him. Thus, I had set in my heart and mind that God would take me first. He would, He would, He would.

In His sweet timing, God allowed me time. He allowed me time to fight…against Chuck's obvious declines and against that germ within my spirit that refused to accept that I could endure life without him. God waited.

In the end, it was not the end of Chuck's life that scared me so. It was the end of my life with Chuck. It was the end of the joy he brought…the comfort…the security of knowing my place in this world. It was the end of me.

For the rest of my life, I will stand in awe of what God did in me in the moments when it was time for Chuck to go. Chuck's death was the most precious moment I've ever experienced. In the midst of my heart breaking…of willingly opening my hands to God and saying, "He is yours," God whispered peace to me. For the first time ever in my life I knew. I knew God would catch me…that He would lovingly provide for me…that my life would be beautiful. I knew. And I could let go.

By: TexasHeather

TexasHeather — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 11:06:03 +0000

GfG, that story is beautiful; I had no idea. Praying with you as God continues to work the good work in Daniel.

I posted my memorial stone story over on my blog, here:
http://texasheather-familyblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/memorial-stones-hugs.html

I still don't want any goodies, though

By: Jan

Jan — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 10:42:08 +0000

Wow…beautfiul. My heart is too full of joy and sadness to comment. Know I love you, your bubby, and Daniel.

By: chili pepper

chili pepper — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 02:31:57 +0000

Grace,

Every month I want to write here and every month the end comes and I miss it somehow!

What a beautiful story of your walk in obedience. My heart fell and soared along with your remembrance as I recalled our foster baby that changed our hearts and lives so long ago...both when she came and when we lost her.

As you say, it was such a part of us and helped formed the parents we are today as well as strengthened our walk with him and yet it is so far in our past that most of our children don't even know the name of our Abbey. The people that held and played with her at church have forgotten that she ever existed. But if I were to see her today, I would be afraid of the emotions. We gave her so much of our hearts, parts that our own children don't even know. Like God made a special place just for her, in the beginning when He formed us.

Thanks for sharing.

Kat

By: Renee

Renee — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 18:43:24 +0000

Thank you so much for sharing! What a testimony to obedience to God! Praying for Daniel as God completes the good work He started in him…

By: MikeandCharlsie

MikeandCharlsie — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 18:38:20 +0000

Wow I can't believe I didn't know so much of that! What an incredible experience. I love reading about how God has moved in your life!Love you!!!