Tragedy for the family of Rick Burgess

I'm sure those of you who are in Birmingham are all now aware of the tragic passing of Rick Burgess' youngest son Bronner over the weekend. If you need further details, you can find them on the website at www.RickandBubba.com. I listened to the show this morning and was blessed to hear how Bubba and "Speedy" conveyed their thoughts regarding the events of the past weekend, and their steadfast faith in God.

As a parent who's lost a child, I can tell you that the pain this family feels is unlike any other, the doubts that will trouble them will be many, the anger that will well up within them is understandable, and yet their God will sustain them, and they will come through this as a beautiful portrait of His grace.

For others of you who might be struggling with what has happened, why God allows these tragedies and other thoughts, I wanted to share with you some scriptures that have given me great strength and peace over the years since she died. Kathryn would be 14 next month. It is hard to believe it has been so long. There are days when it seems like yesterday and days when it seems another lifetime ago, as though someone else lived through that. I guess it was someone else - so to speak - for I am forever changed, this is a different person who now lives.

The best explanation I have for why things like this happen is this. First, we live in a fallen world, and as a result, people are born spiritually dead, and will die a physical death. Second, everything that happens for the Believer is ultimately for his good and God's glory (Romans 8). We can't see how anything good can come from something like this, but it already is...

Job 13:15a
"Though He Slay me, yet will I trust Him."
Throughout the book of Job, we see that Satan is having a field day in Job's life, but that all of this adversity, has come upon him by God's allowance. That truly is a frightening thing for many Believers. But then we know that the "fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Prov. 1:7

Job 2:10b
"Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips." Throughout our loss, and all of these years that have followed, we have purposed in our hearts not to blame God for what happened, as though He had done some evil thing in our lives. This adversity has drawn us closer to Him, than we ever would have come without it. This great tragedy has made us who we are today, Believers who trust Him no matter what.

Shortly before our Pastor's first wife died, she shared a verse in our Sunday School class that meant so much to her, and now to me. Psalm 119:71 "It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes." It is indeed in our darkest times of affliction that we learn the most about who He is and how we must trust Him and His wisdom. I have learned to say, along with Paul, "...Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Corinthians 12:9 Because, indeed, His grace is sufficient!

Psalm 139:16 (13-15 too)
"Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them."
Before we were even born, as God fashioned our bodies in our mother's womb, He had ordained every single day of our lives. I believe, every minute. This truth kept me from "what if-ing" myself into an early grave. "What if I'd done this, what if we'd done that...???" Those were questions that could never have been answered. But I believe, according to the scriptures that the times and seasons of our lives are in His hands.

I could go on and on and on. The Lord has indeed shown me a taste of His glory and His awesome power over His creation. Our children are not our own, they are His, and He may do as He sees fit in their lives, and in ours. And, He causes things here to happen to remind us of that fact.

We are very frail vessels indeed. "But we have this treasure (Christ in us) in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us." 2 Corinthians 4:7 The Lord has created us and He knows that we are but dust, it is by Him, and through Him alone that we have the strength to endure anything in this life.

I am praying God's grace upon this precious family in their time of loss. Please join me in praying for them, and that their witness will be unhindered during this very public loss for their family.

When Kathryn died, someone at the hospital gave us a poem. My husband scoured the internet this morning and found it. It was of much encouragement to us at that time. (Correction to my previous post that the author was unknown, this poem is authored by Edgar Guest.)

"I'll lend you for a little time, a child of mine," Christ said.
For you to love while he lives, and mourn when he is dead.
It may be six or seven years, or twenty-two or three,
But will you, 'til I call him back, take care of him for me?
He'll bring his charms to gladden you, and should his stay be brief,
You'll have his lovely memories as solace in your grief.
I cannot promise he will stay - since all from earth return,
But there are lessons taught down there I want this child to learn.
I looked the wide world over, in search of teachers true,
And from the throngs that crowd life's lane, I have selected you.
Now will you give him all your love, not think the labor vain
Nor hate Me when I come to you and take him home again.
I fancied that I heard them say, "Dear Lord, Thy will be done."
For all the many joys he'll bring, the risk of grief we'll run.
We'll shelter him with tenderness, we'll love him while we may,
And for the happiness we've known forever grateful stay.
But should the angels call for him, much sooner than we planned,
We'll brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand."

One of the greatest lessons we learned, but so quickly grows dim, is this-- DON'T WASTE A SINGLE DAY WITH THE ONES YOU LOVE! I am so sorry for their loss, but so thankful for the reminder of that lesson we learned and had gotten lazy about.

If you have children, hug them close tonight, and give them special kisses, I know I will.
God bless,
Lori