Wednesday, July 9

Safe and sound


I wrote last week that that my oldest son was coming home after spending a year in East Asia.  If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you saw as I progressed through the day that he was traveling.  Thank you so much for those who prayed for his safety!

Here is Will at the airport, along with his dad and brothers.  Will is average height (about 5'8"-5'9"), but he's the only average-height guy in the family.


Will posted this on Instagram that night:


Anxiously awaiting our arrival at home was Snickers, Will's 11-year-old beagle.  Snickers was Will's 12th birthday present, all those years ago.  Although it was very late at night when Will arrived, Snickers greeted him at the door.


Will's brothers had taken good care of Snickers while he was gone, but there's nothing like the bond between a boy and his dog.

 

What I haven't shared yet, simply because it's been so raw, is how anxious I felt while Will was traveling.  Just a couple of days before Will left Asia, college friends of ours were traveling with their children to a family wedding.  They were involved in a horrific highway accident.  The mom (age 50) and two oldest children (age 22 and 19) were killed instantly; the dad and youngest child are still hospitalized.

My heart is broken at the death of my friend. She was a delightful Christian woman. I've been married 29 years, and I still have a bridal shower gift she made for me. The world is a much poorer place for her absence. But my heart is especially broken as I think of her husband and surviving son. In an instant, their lives were forever altered.

So as Will prepared to travel home from Asia, I found myself worrying much more than usual.  But on the day that he was boarding the plane, I read these words in my daily devotional book:

Jesus says, "You gain confidence through knowing that I am with you--that you face nothing alone.  Anxiety stems from asking the wrong question: 'If such and such happens, can I handle it?'  The true question is not whether you can cope with whatever happens, but whether you and I together can handle anything that occurs.  It is this you-and-I-together factor that gives you confidence to face the day cheerfully" (Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, June 29 entry).

Obviously Will made it home safely.  I must say that I was all the more thankful for having not taken his safe travel for granted. 

Right now I'm clinging to the knowledge that the Lord is with my friend and his son, that the "you-and-I-together factor" that Jesus promises will sustain them in a time of unspeakable grief.  Would you join me in praying for them?

And then you may want to thank God for your loved ones--and give them an extra hug.

I'm joining:
Thought-Provoking Thursday at 3-D Lessons for Life 
Thoughtful Thursday at Eat Sleep Be
Fellowship Friday at Christian Mommy Blogger
Weekend Bloggy Reading at Serenity Now



13 comments:

  1. oh dear friend... my heart breaks for you, for your friend and his son. you know i know the loss of a friend... and i know how much it hurts. i know how the world somehow just feels... less. it fills me with joy to know that while i was praying for you & for will's travel, God knew just the prayers your heart needed... even if i didn't know the whole of it. love to you xoxo

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  2. I'm feeling a little emotional today anyway, but then I read this and now I'm crying. I am so sorry to hear of the death of your friend, Richella. So sorry. I know that anxious feeling when our kids are travelling, and the anxious feeling any time they are out of our sight, but I also know that they are more safe in His care than in ours. So glad Will is home with you.

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  3. There is no greater feeling of peace and thankfulness than when our children come home safely.
    Prayers for your friend.
    God bless,
    Chris
    somuchathome.blogspot.com

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  4. Richella, I am sorry for your loss and happy for the safe return of your son. I enjoy that same book by Sarah Young, a Christmas gift from my sister in 2012. I will keep your friends in my thoughts and say a prayer for their behalf.
    Rita C at Panoply

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  5. I am so glad that Will is home safe and sound, such a sweet answer to prayer. I can't imagine the kind of grief your friend is going through. Such a horrible event. I will keep them in prayer. It is so true that our lives can change in an instant. God Bless you all.

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  6. Oh Dear One! what a loss for you and for your sweet friend's family.
    I am grateful for how Sarah Young's words through Jesus Calling seems well "planted" each and every day. I remember the June 29th reading and it was appropriate for my struggles (nothing like yours!) that day.
    So glad that all your men are under one roof again.
    Blessings and hugs xoxoxox

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  7. I am so sorry to hear about your friend and her family.. So very sad.. It is so difficult sometimes to think "why" these things happen but we are reminded this world is not our home.. On the other hand, thank God for Will's safe travels and return home.. What a blessing! Ik now your are rejoicing as a Mother! I will agree with you in prayer for the Father and young son left to mourn and go on in this life.. From your comments it seems their faith is strong.. I pray the grace of God overwhelm them during this time and healing comes both physically and to their wounded heart.. Blessings!

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  8. I'm so glad Will made it home!
    I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend and her kids. That's terrible!

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  9. I am so very, very sorry over the loss of your friend. I will be praying for her husband and child.

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  10. Oh, Richella...I'm so very sorry about your friend and her family. That's truly terrible. I'm already praying for them. I'll be sure to keep them in my thoughts and prayers. I know you're so relieved that Will made it home safely. The pic with Snickers is priceless! I hope you got it on video too. :) Will's Instagram pic and comment was hilarious! I bet he has a great sense of humor. :)

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  11. I'm so glad your son is safely home and your anxiety has lifted a little. My heart is so sad at the loss of your friend and half of her family. They have a long road ahead. I am praying for Grace for them, for healing light to touch their hearts and hold them up. take care. ;j

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  12. Glad Will made it home safe & sound. That is so sad about your friend. It's going to be so incredibly hard on her husband and youngest. :(

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  13. Praying that our God would comfort this family in their loss. It's amazing how loss causes us to be more grateful for what we have. Visiting today from Thought Provoking. Blessings!

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