In Loving Memory

Sometimes you just know that The Lord is loving on you. This weekend has been one of those times.

Bri sent me a message on Friday morning asking if we would be home on Saturday. I responded, letting her know that we had a day trip planned and wouldn't be back until late. I found out later that her and Meagan had been thinking about coming over but would wait for another time.

At the time of her message I had not yet connected the dots between the request and the date on the calendar.

Fast forward to Saturday morning when our plans fell through at the last minute and I sent Bri a message letting her know that we would be home after all. Jim and I ran by the grocery store and picked up some ribs to cook...even if it turned out to just be us at dinner.

The day's agenda quickly changed from a day trip to an afternoon at home with Bri, Meagan, Derrick, the kids, Will and his girlfriend, Taylor. We grilled, visited on the back deck and taught Davin how to catch catfish from the pond in a dip net.

Meagan and I also had an opportunity to share our desires to honor Desi's short life in some way that we couldn't quite explain...but knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that God was stirring in our hearts. It wasn't a long conversation. Or even a particularly sad conversation. Just a few minutes of speaking from our secret places.

At the end of the evening, when Meagan and Derrick packed up the family and Bri loaded up the grand dogs, Jim and I looked at each other and said, "this is how today was meant to be". It was good and we were thankful.

During Worship service this morning, I was thinking of Desi and our conversation the night before when the Pastor shared the following verses:


13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.Psalm 139: 13-16

Immediately following the reading of the Scripture, our Worship leader spoke of friends of his who had lost two precious babies and their testimony of the goodness and faithfulness of God in spite of their great loss.

This launched us immediately into the song that has become an anthem for our family since that fateful day three years ago, "Blessed Be Your Name".

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
Between the thoughts already on my heart, the verses that we have held on to regarding Desi's purpose, the testimony of others suffering this kind of loss, similar losses in families we know and love, and that song which moves me to tears on its own...well, I lost it. Right there in front everyone. Not so much because of the grief and pain...but because I knew in that moment that:
He has not forgotten me.
I am seen by Him.
I am loved.
And He is faithful!

Blessed be His name!!!!
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