Saturday, March 4, 2017

Dear God,

I did not know Tony but I had been praying for him because he was my son-in-law’s cousin.  At 37 he lay dying of a rare form of cancer.  When he died I went to the memorial service.  There I met Tony, alive with faith, a heart for mission, and a deep love for you and his family, his wife, two-year-old daughter and twin five-month-old girls.

For over an hour we sang and prayed and listened as his sister, his friend, and his pastor shared their life with this man of faith.  I was so moved by this man who quit a very successful job and began training to be a missionary but was stopped short when he was diagnosed with cancer.  I listened to the speakers tell stories but more importantly I listened as you wove your own message into every word.  They told us that Tony had planned his own service and picked the speakers and the songs.  He asked someone to print the words to "Amazing Grace" so those gathered could read the words, really read the words as they sang the old hymn.  Numerous young people in their 20’s, 30’s and 40’s read, wept, and sang.  What a time of inspiration it was.

Sometimes we forget you are really at work in the world.  We go on our way and forget the master of the universe walks beside us.  We make decisions forgetting the Lord of Life is whispering, cajoling, and challenging us to grow in faith so we can serve the world.  Sometimes we forget you until someone like Tony, a perfect stranger to some, speaks a holy word of grace.

Loving God,

thank you
for the
incredible journey
of faith.
Thank you
for your
amazing grace.
Thank you
for the witnesses
who still speak
from the grave. 

Love, Andrea