Our own difficulties often appear to be random. Our tragedies look wildly uncontrolled. They are not. They are subject. Limits are set. God is quietly at work, standing in the shadows, ceaselessly watching over His children. -Elisabeth Elliot
I went to a funeral today...a baby's funeral...Knox's funeral. He was to be 18 months old today. We sang "What'er My God Ordains is Right" and "Jesus, Lover of My Soul". I love those songs. I loved them anyway. Now I love them more. They served as a soothing balm.
My heart jumped when I saw his father walk up to the podium. What could Jon possibly say today, of all days. He began by speaking of how he was going to remember Knox - playing cars, chasing his brother Jack, playing in the sand box with the girls, his grin when the family sang the doxology together. Then he spoke of what Knox would never do. That was hard. He thanked God for the 17 and a half months they had Knox. He said that had they known when he was born that they would only have him for this short time, they would still not have given it up. They would rather have had the 17 and a half months with Knox, than to not have had him at all, even with the sorrow and grief they are feeling for his loss. He thanked God that his wife was not alone that night and he thanked the friends who were there with her for all they did. That was good. Then he preached. That baby's daddy preached the goodness and sovereignty of God with strength, conviction, and tenderness. He does not want any one's faith to falter over the loss of his son. He said His God is good. He encouraged us as we sat weeping over his son. What a picture of the Father.
Then Wade preached, with difficulty, but as Jon did, with strength and tenderness. He also encouraged us, encouraged us to look to Christ in grief - that Christ is not a stranger to grief. That God was ever present and is ever present and will continue to be ever present. God never once left Knox, and He will not leave us, He will not leave Jon, Rachel and the kids. As my John likes to say, God has not fallen off His throne.
I went to a funeral today, and I left with a larger picture of Christ, I left with a heart sorrowful but thankful that our God has not fallen off his throne. I went to a funeral and was shown Jesus by two of my favorite people, one of whom was Knox's daddy.
Stand firm dear friends. The battle has begun, but Christ has the victory. Please do not cease in praying for the Anderson's.
8 comments:
Thank you for conveying this beautiful picture of God's comfort and strength. I know the Andersons from Grace Pres in Starkville and found your blog when I searched for "Knox Anderson." I am so amazed at how God's people around the world have come together to pray for this dear family. I have been wondering how the funeral went, and I thank you for including me.
-Virginia, New York
Praying... praying for you, too. You have been marked by this, I know it will bring about something good in your understanding and ministry to others, but yet I look at this and think, "Lord, that was my biggest fear when we lived in Texas and had a pool (by the way they tore our old house down this week)." So when your biggest fear happens to someone, it is almost fear-giving. But in CHRIST, we can rest and in CHRIST we have hope and in CHRIST, we know that really, really we will spend more time with Knox than without him that we're all going to see those we lost who were in Christ. May we continue to tell others of that hope. The Smith family's prayers are for the Anderson's though...I know that they must hurt so badly. Thanks for being THAT kind of friend to them Heather, to me, too!
Love you,
Holly
Thanks for your reflections, Heather. I would have given almost anything to be able to be there with you and the people I love to walk through this dark time.
I am thankful that darkness, evil, tragedy do not have the last word. The resurrection proves this. I'm longing more and more for Jesus to come quickly and recreate this world and make it the way its supposed to be.
One day, there will be no more sorrow or death--for the death of death will occur at the then merciless sword of Christ the Victor. Jesus holds the keys, and one day--at the renewal of all things--he will wipe away all our tears, and death will be no more.
And together with Knox, we'll experience never-ending and ever-increasing joy and ecstasy as we are overwhelmed with the beauty and fullness of God revealed to us in the face of Jesus Christ.
Battle well, my Bride, my Intimate Ally!!!
John
I often hear people say that "God is good because He answered my prayers for healing or for a better job or for whatever . . ." but the fact of the matter is that God is good all the time no matter what is happening. I don't think I have a grasp of what that means but I can see it more clearly now from the Anderson family. A family I don't know except through your blog and our conversation, but a family who I am privileged to be a sister in Christ and I have been moved and encouraged and challenged by their faith and yours sweet friend. How tenderly you write about them and how much more tenderly the Father is holding them and all those touched by Knox. Thank you for sharing your thoughts; I can only imagine how hard it has been. Praying for the Andersons and you, much love,
Angela
Thank you for the update, Heather. My faith is strengthened through Jon and Rachel's so-tested faith. I pray God will continue to uphold them in the hard days ahead.
Julie Serven
Norman, OK
I wish I had been there. Thank you for posting this, Heather! It was so good to see you Sunday morning, even just for a moment.
B-day countdown in three days, friend! I'll be making a call your way!
Love,
Holly
Heather, thanks for your poignant words. What a God we serve that enables a father to preach at his 18 month old's funeral and preach God's full and complete goodness. I cried when I read it. Thank you for sharing with us. I love you guys.
--Allyson, VA
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