This is not a blog meant to be about me, or my family. It contains a lot of personal stories, but my prayer is that by the end of each post you feel that it’s about all of us and God and His everyday grace. I’ve written a lot lately about my brother’s fight with cancer in the hopes that some will gain encouragement or insight from our experience. I won’t write much more about this, but thought I’d share with you what I said at David’s memorial service. We are so grateful for the love, support, and prayers from family and friends.
Until I was 11 years old and David was 9, Cris 7, we lived in a house on Highland in Glen Ellyn. I had my own room, but David and Cris shared a room next to mine. Every night we would all be put to bed at the same time and after the lights were out, I’d hear the voices of my brothers coming from David and Cris’ room.
David would say: Hey Cris?
Cris would respond: Yeah?
David would say: Just wanted to know if you were awake.
Then silence for a minute and Cris would say: Hey David?
David would reply: Yeah?
Cris would say: Just wanted to know if you were awake.
This would go back and forth until one of them was too tired and fell asleep.
Today, in one sense David has been the one to fall asleep, but in another he is more awake and alive than he has ever been.
And this is what he wanted us to know.
The chapter of his life with cancer was filled with pain and prayer and hope and questions, but mostly, the refrain, “God is the Author of my story and He is good. I trust Him no matter what.”
As wonderful as my brother was, he was far from perfect (after all, I told you before that he pulled out my Mousey Moo’s tail when I was 8, and for that I think he should have to pay), but he was forgiven for that and everything else, and lived a vibrant life seeking to honor God.
He would want me to tell you, that if you don’t know it yet, this same Life can be yours if you just turn to Jesus and say “I’m sorry for the many ways I’ve messed up. Please forgive me and be the Author of my story. I just want to be a supporting character and let you be the Writer.”
You may think, “Why would I want an Author who let such a great supporting character like David die?” and I’m with you. Continue reading
