Into the Fire

I loved this kid. And his family. In the picture above he's pictured with his oldest daughter who is a special needs child. There are three other siblings and his lovely wife Katie. We're always tempted to say he died "too young" and for those left behind that's exactly how it feels. However, our Lord wrote in His word that our days are numbered as are the hairs on our head and many other minute details of our existence. Only He writes the books of our lives. 

Following the Memorial to Isaiah ("Zaya" to many of us), his mom, who's suffered from some serious health issues for awhile, said she was "all cried out" and that we couldn't see the big picture. How right she was and is. And I'm sure her tears were only stunted and not stopped.

His dad's face said it all – grief and that certain helplessness etched on his features. He gave a sterling tribute to the large crowd of those whose lives Zaya touched. There were a lot of us there to pay our respects and mourn the loss of the guy who made everything fun around him. 

Our son and Zaya spent some great times together earlier in their lives. Real friends. Of course it got harder as adulthood, marriage, and children took up a huge portion of Zaya's life, but real friendship never ends, and the pain of losing him still hurts deep. As Christians, we know the reunion with him will be wonderful, but our finite minds cannot immediately rest in that. And God knows that. As his mom expressed: the big picture . . . 

Anyway, I love you, Zaya. Our family loves you and your family. You're so missed. Heaven's gain. 

Father, please comfort his parents, wife, and children. You know grief better than we do, but we're consumed by it at times. Please, show them your mercy in huge doses. Hold them close, Lord, as only you can do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.