There are times in a person's life when all color that makes things bright and beautiful are gone in an instant. One phone call, one knock on the door, one look, can be such a life altering moment.....you have doubt that you can ever fully recover. Life as you know it is no more.
This past Friday evening, I received a phone call from back home in South Carolina.
It became one of those moments.
Our friends, Davie and Michelle (mentioned in previous posts), had a forever life changing altering moment. They were informed that their son, Spencer, had been in a car accident. Within an hour of the accident, I received the phone call from my Mama telling me to pray. Pray hard.
And pray I did. I prayed for mercy. I prayed for healing. I prayed for a miracle. I sent text messages to my friend to tell her that we knew and were praying. A simple "thanks...." was my reply. My own mother's heart was literally aching over what I imagined my friend to be going through. I had flashes of this beautiful impish toddler that had the whitest hair when he was The Boy's age. I flashed through all the years of seeing him grow up to the age of 16. Yes, Internets, 16. I remembered the last time I saw him on our visit home and how when I spoke to him the shock I felt when he responded in this gruff man sounding voice. How I grinned knowing the girls were crazy about that voice and that same impish smile he had as a toddler.
I called first thing Saturday morning to hear my Dad tell me it wasn't looking good. Fred and I immediately started praying. I was flat out begging by this point. I got everyone I knew of that believe in prayer busy for Spencer. My Dad called not long after to tell me he was gone. Just gone. At age 16. I'll be honest. I refused to believe it. Would not believe it.
Because to believe it would take such beautiful color out of this world. The color of Spencer. Each and every one of us come from God's palette and we have our very own unique color because He loves us just that much. The color of 16 is so bright and full of promise. It's multi-layered and complex, but simple in belief and innocent of most of the ways of this sometimes cruel world. For color that rich and amazing to be taken away......I just feel it has a way of taking away something that is good in a person's life.
How is a parent supposed to handle such a loss? The reality of losing a child is powerful enough to steal the very breath from your lungs and leave you gasping for understanding. How is a sister supposed to function without her little brother being an integral part of her life? How are grandparents supposed to face the loss of one their precious grand children?
Through all this trauma, one shining light prevails. Spencer's parents are helping God shower blessings on other individuals in this world. They let him be an organ donor. My knees hit the floor in prayer again that God will use this very precious gift to bless others in this very special way. To me, it keeps the color alive to mix with another unique color that is a human being. How wonderful can that be, Internets?
We are unable to make the trip home to be with our friends. Our Family. This family is heartbroken, but know that no matter what.....there is no doubt that all who are there know where our hearts are right now. We are crying with them and praying for them. We, too, are trying to get past the disbelief and cling to the thought that God is in control.
Spencer, we shall miss you. You were a beautiful bright shining light in this world. May the legacy you've left behind in beautiful parts of you heal and help those who would be lost and hopeless without you. We look forward to seeing you again one day.
Spencer T. March 1, 1992-April 19, 2008
Michelle sent me some pictures from Stacey and Jay's wedding. Told you my baby was on the front row trying for the garter! He was ready for action!
He doesn't know a picture is being taken. Notice something? NO glasses. Jeesh. But ya know what? I think this is the sweetest picture.
My cell phone shows you yourself on the display when you turn the camera on and shut it. My kids go into froot loop mode when you do this so I like to take the occasional picture just to see how goofy they'll look. Miss Hope sure is brave to do this with no makeup on.
Lastly, I received this today from Michelle. Some people call it a tombstone...or a head stone....or a grave marker. I call it a beautiful way to portray a beautiful life. The detail is just amazing. I am so touched Michelle thought to send to this me. 