Last fall I started reading a blog called Bella Mella by Melanie Clark.
I love her sensible fashion tips that she provides.
And then suddenly in August she put a post up asking for prayer for her 12 year old son Andrew. And all her fashion tips were set aside.
The Clark family would find out their son would have brain cancer and life as they knew it would never be the same. Andrew's skateboard that he rode on daily was put down as he would be taken to doctor's appointments and even checked into the hospital.
Prayer after prayer from all over the country bombarded the throne room of heaven on behalf of Andrew.
Hoping, begging God for a miracle.
Wednesday, December 15th Melanie and her family ushered Andrew into the arms of his Creator.
So as we are stressed about getting the right gift, enough gifts, the perfect gift,
Melanie is picking out what to bury her 12 year old son in.
Choosing a casket to hold his body.
Songs.
Pictures.
Going through his empty bedroom and getting his favorite stuff to display at his funeral.
Holding his skateboard he'll never ride again.
And in the midst of this horrible storm that just started last fall,
she is choosing to keep her eyes focused on Christ.
Her ending of her post says:
God is good.
I would say Jesus is definitely the reason of her season.
The season of her life she never thought she would be going through and yet she chooses to bring honor and glory to her King.
Want to give someone the perfect gift this Christmas?
Give them Jesus.
Keep focused no matter what on Him, because you can get sucked in so quickly to the demands of this world.
If you would've told Melanie that her youngest of 3 children would be dead before Christmas,
she would've never believed your news.
Andrew was healthy and was riding on a skateboard more than he walked
just days before his diagnosis in August.
BUT
if Melanie did have a heads' up of her son's death,
her panic wouldn't have been over where Andrew was going to spend eternity.
Her actions would have been the same ones she displayed these last 3 months.
She would have tried to find a way to save his life, buy them more time, make him comfortable, ask others to pray,
but never worry about where he was going.
Why?
Because Andrew knew Jesus.
And in the last days Melanie had with her son on earth,
she didn't ask him to make a Christmas list and then run out and join the mad shoppers to
buy him the
best skateboard,
latest video console or i-pod.
Instead, she sang songs about Jesus to him,
read the Bible to him,
prayed over him
and laid in bed with her Andrew.
And with his last breath, her 12 year old son reminded her that
God is good.
He gave her Jesus for Christmas.
Let's keep the X out of CHRISTmas
and remember that Jesus is the reason for the season.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Only a Mother can describe her child's last moments in such a beautiful way...
please click here to visit Melanie and leave her an encouraging message.
Love,
15 comments:
I just lost a dear friend last week so this post hit home for me. It really changes the perspective.
Beautiful post Lelia...I read about her story...so sad, praying for her and stopping by to encourage her too. Merry Christmas to you too!
Thank you for this post...I linked to it from my blog.
Debbie
Lord, please comfort those that have lost dearly loved ones in 2009.
I am thankful for you Miss Lelia!! Lots of love from me to you!
Lelia, I've been praying for them since August too. It breaks my heart...but God is good! Andrew shared a powerful testimony in his short life. Your post touches my heart again. I wish those of us in bloggyland could be with the Dorsey family right now. But one day we will all be together!!! Praise Him!
Love you!
Susan
this is such a beautifully written post and I cannot wait to go read hers. I cannot imagine what it would be like to bury your young soon but how amazing that she knows her son is with Jesus for His birthday.
Great post, Leila. I too have been following Melanie's blog...and have been touched by her story (and Andrew's). It def puts things into perspective. So much time, engery and focus is put into all the wrong things at Christmas time. Thank you for shifting this focus for all of us who read.
Merry CHRISTmas!
My heart goes out to Melanie as I stop by to wish you a Merry Christmas, Lelia.
Tender Blessings ~ Rachel
I've been following Melanie's blog since Andrew became ill. The news of his death last week was so sad. Melanie has been such a blessing to me. Her faith and her love for God is amazing.
I have thought of her and her family so often these past few days.
My prayer is that they will feel God's strong and mighty arms holding them and giving them peace during this most difficult time, and that they'll feel the prayers going up for them as we stand in the gap.
Love you and wishing you and your family a very merry Christmas!
Valerie
You always come up with great stuff I just love your site you are very talented I’ll recommend your site to my friends and family members great job very appreciated..keep it up..
Thank you. It has been awhile since I have been here ... but I am glad that I returned. Sometimes it seems like people are so stuck in making sure that things are the way that they think they should be ... that they miss the fact that things should be the way that God would have them be. The body seems so fractured at times ... we could do so much ... but instead we focus on so little.
Lisa
Thanks for sharing the story about Andrew. People don't know what other people are actually going through at this time of year. A friend of a friend lost her husband about a week before Christmas. I seen her in Walmart and gave her a hug and she just started crying. Christmas brought on a whole new meaning for me this year. While everyone was doing last min. Christmas shopping. This woman was at Walmart to just get out of the house because she was so sad. I went right home and told my husband I loved him and my family is treated with the upmost respect from me now.
Thanks and again for posting, blessings. Kim
Your words.
Andrew's faith.
Melanie's faith.
Say it all.
They are in my prayers.
Sweet dreams.
Oh Lelia...that was precious. I have tears in my eyes. WHat a way you have at telling a story and what a story you continue to tell.
I thank God for you!
Connie
So hard. As always you said this so beautifully. Lelia, you captivate me on every word you right. You have such a gift. God compiles the words so sweetly that it is a melody to our hearts.
Melanie is on my bloglist. I knew of Andrew's passing. I knew of her deep faith and belief for a miracle. My heart bonded with hers...as we both believed in the miracle of miracles for our own lifes. I didn't realize though his diagnosis was this past August 2009. So quick. Too quick.
Love you, girlfriend.
Post a Comment