HAVE or HAD?

  Last week I was again faced with something new; what do I say if someone asks me how many children I have?  What would you say?  My first thought was to say I HAD four sons, but one passed away so now I have only three.  It sounded strange to me (and to a certain extent it felt out of touch with reality) to say I HAVE four sons.  You may be ahead of me on this one, but it took a little bit for this to register with me.  It suddenly clicked a few days later that I had been thinking about that question in earthly terms, not taking into consideration that in reality, none of us are simply earthly beings, we are all eternal beings; our lives on earth are simply the first stages of the rest of our lives.  “Silly!  Of course I HAVE four sons!”  

   This was taken in St. Louis in 2006 when we initially took Benji there to get him listed for his lung transplant

 Yesterday I started reading a book called “One Minute After You Die”; he also talks about the fact that we are all eternal beings.  Based on what we choose to do with Jesus while we are on earth, the moment we die we will either go to a place more glorious than we could ever imagine, or we will face eternity in a place more horrifying than we could ever imagine.  We are so grateful Benji chose to be “inChrist” while on earth, which gave him the necessary passport to his eternal destination- heaven.  Benji, having gone to heaven sooner than us is in a way, no different from him having moved to another country.  If he had moved to another country, though not physically with us, he would of course still be alive.  Now, though not physically with us, he is alive in heaven.  He IS still my son; he just lives in a different place.  

 So, if you ask me how many children I have, I will tell you I HAVE four, one just lives in heaven.

And I am so grateful for 

ALL FOUR of our sons!

*If you don't already know and would like to know more about the story behind "inChrist", you can read about Benji's story at his Caringbridge site.  caringbridge.org/in/benji

Special Delivery

For my first post, I'm sharing something we received in the mail this week.  Both Allen's mother and father have passed away; Allen's mother when he was two and his father just a couple years ago. His sister said she was trying to read what Dad's thoughts might have been at the time of Benji's death and this is what she wrote.  These beautiful words brought tears of sadness, but also comfort and peace.

As I step out to meet the ship

In the mist of the morning’s dawn

I hear the whistle as it draws nearer

Someone special is coming home

“Special delivery”, I hear him say

As my Master tells us the news

“Special delivery my dear ones”

As he waves his hand to the ocean of blue

We stand at the edge of Jordan’s bank

Mom and I- in awe and wonder

The ship pulls in just ahead

And she will dock just over yonder

We stand there by Jesus’ side

Waiting with outstretched arms

The gates open wide and joy bells ring

As we welcome Benji home

Jesus is the first to take his hand

No fear or pain on Benji’s face

What a bright light of joy and love

Because he knows he’s won the race

Such a glad reunion- as we hold him close

And welcome him to our fold

His message to you, “Don’t grieve for long

For it is well, it is well with my soul.”