Because death comes whether we want it to or not. Last January I was grieving with one of my best friends over the loss of her precious mother. This January we grieve for the loss of a very kind and good man. My parents gained awesome neighbors a few years ago that turned into family friends (you just never know if you're going to get good neighbors or not). Kurt and Brenda have always been so kind to my parents and to my children. Stephen loves Mr. Kurt and has been so concerned for him the last few weeks. If Stephen gets a soft spot for you in his heart, then he'll do anything for you. Stephen loves his Papa and Mr. Kurt has always been good to Papa, so Stephen loved Mr. Kurt right from the beginning.
We have prayed for months for God to heal this godly man, but God had a different plan. Stephen took the news the hardest because he has prayed with great faith for healing for Mr. Kurt. Just last night he prayed that God would heal him just like he healed Lazarus. Stephen has a faith to believe that even though Mr. Kurt is in heaven that God could bring him back if He wanted to. And yes, of course, God could, but my mind doesn't even think to pray for that.
Life is hard and so many times I bring my cynical self before the Lord's throne with my prayer requests. My theology tells me that there's nothing that God can't do. My mind and heart have known grief and sadness and the cruelty of a sin filled world. My heart knows that God doesn't always answer our prayers the way we want. I don't understand in the least bit why the Lord would take good people...people that are making a difference in this world for Him to heaven at such a young age.
But then the Lord reminds me of Isaiah 55:8-9 that say
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts."
If you've lived long enough, you know that we can't always figure out why God does what He does. I don't know why the healing doesn't come sometimes or why He doesn't answer prayers that are offered in great faith...prayers that it seems the Lord would be glad to answer. But the Lord has a better plan, a plan that our finite minds cannot understand.
I love the rest of Isaiah 55.
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth
And making it bear and sprout,
And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
“For you will go out with joy
And be led forth with peace;
The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you,
And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
“Instead of the thorn bush the cypress will come up,
And instead of the nettle the myrtle will come up,
And it will be a memorial to the Lord,
For an everlasting sign which will not be cut off.”
I love that even in the midst of heartache, this family is continuing to pour out Christ's love. Mr. Kurt's precious wife, Brenda, put this on facebook tonight.
In lieu of flowers, the Conner family requests donations be made to "The Raining Season" and add "Sarah's Care Project" in the Memo line. Mail the check to 4047 Williford Way, Spring Hill, TN 37174. Sarah is a child from Sierra Leone, Africa. She is coming to Nashville to receive vital medical treatment, and she will be placed in the care of Brad and Lindsey Conner For more information on her and The Raining Season, please visit http://savetheorphan.blogspot.com/ and especially refer to the October 25th post titled "Saving Sarah".
Kurt and Brenda's son and daughter-in-law are taking in a precious child from Africa. And so Kurt's legacy of faith continues....and just as Isaiah 55 says "this will be a memorial to the Lord, for an everlasting sign which will not be cut off. God's Word will not return to Him empty...it will accomplish what He desires." And God desires amazing things for this precious family.
Thank you Mr. Kurt for the life you lived so well and the legacy you left here on this earth.
