This Child

I was living in Congo the day he was born, and I am living in Congo now - on the day the Lord took him. I cried that day and I’m crying today six years later. 

This child was a bright spot in his little world. Despite his severely limiting illness, he was happy and cheerful and made friends with everybody. 

He gave out hugs and smiles freely and without hesitation.

I am not his family, or even a distant relative, but from the first day I met his parents, I knew we were related somehow. Our friendship was cemented with mud, late-night movies and midnight talks. 

They are the kind of friends that once you have them you don’t let them go. Even though we might feel a million miles apart, I always know they are there for me when I show up outside their door.

So along with others, who are perhaps more closely related, I dare to offer up my thanksgiving to the Lord Jesus for the six years we had this child with us.

The cheerful attitude in the face of suffering, the brave determination, the overflowing joy.

Maybe we wanted more time. 

Yes, we did. 

But remember the birthday parties? The trips to the zoo? Splashing and playing in the river? The picnics? Stories at the library? Sitting around in the living room talking and laughing and watching movies together? Remember the road trips and the late nights?

His parents gave him the best childhood a kid could have, despite the limitations. And he lived it fully, and enjoyed it fully, and showed us what Jesus meant when He said, “abundant life.”

Because we can have abundant life even in this fallen world subject to the curse. Didn’t this little boy prove that to us?

Those years that went by so fast were enough for God’s love to shine through this child and reach out and touch so many others. We wanted it to last longer. We prayed for more time. 

But God said it was enough. This child has done his work well.

He gave so much to us and even with the sorrow heavy in our hearts we can be thankful. 

We have seen the goodness of the Lord, and we will see it again in the land of the living.

Blessed be the name of the Lord.