Jason's 42nd Birthday!

Today is Jason's birthday! He would have turned 42 today.

I have so many happy memories of my childhood with Jason that make me laugh and make me long for that simpler time. I am looking forward to seeing him again in heaven someday and laughing again, making new memories! And in heaven, there will be no more loss, no more pain, no more sickness, no more chaos and no more good-byes. For all of eternity, as hard as that is to even comprehend, there will be unending joy and peace! With what the world is going through right now, heaven sounds pretty amazing (to say the least)! I am grateful to be alive and to have my health, but times like these really put things into perspective... an eternal perspective. The hymn, "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus," written by Helen Howarth Lemmel, comes to mind. Here is an excerpt:

"O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There's light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace."

I don't know if Jason knows that it is his birthday, but I hope he knows how much he is loved and missed by countless people whose lives he touched in the 26 years he was here! He lived his life for Jesus and left a beautiful legacy. We were/are blessed to have known him and treasure our memories of him.

Below is a beautiful note from his parents:

Happy 42nd Birthday Jason!

For those of us who have committed our lives to the Lord, His love is something that He pours on us regardless of circumstances. We read extensively about it in the Bible, and we experience it on a daily basis, by His provision, under His protection and through His guidance. Yet it is difficult to put it into words. It truly is indescribable.

One way that God showed His love to us was by blessing us on May 16, 1978, by giving us a beautiful, healthy baby boy, full of life, laughter and mischief. Much prayer went into raising that little boy, and God gave him a tender heart for His Word and a compassion to share that with others. We had him for a short 26 years. May 16, 2004, was the last day we saw him. When we said our good-byes, we did not know we would never see him again on this earth.

On August 15, 2004, on a secluded beach, under the cover of darkness, evil sought to destroy God's servants, Jason and Lindsay, and in the process, destroy our faith. But God, in His love, would not allow that to happen. Though sorrow weighed heavily upon us, God's love reminded us that Jason and Lindsay were alive and living in the presence of their Savior. They were safe. That was the greatest comfort grieving parents could ever experience. God began pouring His love into our broken hearts. Our hearts were ministered to, our testimonies were strengthened. Not only that, but other people's hearts were changed because of this tragedy. God still cared! Yes, God still showed His love to us, no matter the circumstances.

Today we celebrate God's gift to us. Happy 42nd birthday, Jason. We love you for all of eternity.

Mom and Dad

Words cannot describe the depth of the love of God! Perhaps Frederick M. Lehman best described it in the 3rd stanza of the great hymn, "The Love of God":

"Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry,
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.

The love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure,
The saints' and angels' song."

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Happy Birthday Jason! ♥ You will never be forgotten!