A Day of Memories and Asking a Favor of You

In Memory of our first born precious Son-

July 12, 1977 -October 3, 1981

(Photo August 7, 1981-Uncle Jeff's Wedding)

God's Loan

- Author Unknown

"I'll lend to you for a little time,
A child of mine," He said.
"For you to love the while he lives
And mourn for when he's dead.

"It may be six or seven years
Or twenty-two or three,
But will you till 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 these precious memories
As solace for 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've looked this whole world over,
In my search for teachers true.
And in the crowds that throng life's land,
I have selected you.

"Now will you give him all your love,
Not think the labor vain,
Nor hate me when I come to call
To take him back again?"

It seems to me I heard them say,
"Dear Lord, Thy will be done.
For all the joys thy child shall 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.

"And should the angels call for him
Much sooner than we've planned,
We'll brave the bitter grief that comes
And try to understand."

                 - Author Unknown

Our oldest son was killed as the result of an accident on our farm in 1981.  It changes your life forever.  As I have shared with many, you reach a point where you know it is not going to get any better and you just learn to live with it.  At that point you move on and adjust your life to go on.  I look at my husband and see how much the accident changed him as a person.  Then I think if it changed him that much, how much did it change me that I can't see.  Our next son was 18 months old at the time of the accident and our youngest son was born 10 months after the accident.  I wouldn't recommend going through pregnancy and grief at the same time.  It was not planned-but in God's timing it was what we needed.  


A quote from one of the books I read at the time of his death said, "When you lose your parent, you lose your past.  When you lose your child you lose your future."

So as a favor to me,  would you please give your child a hug or give them a call to tell them you love them?    Too often we don't tell those important to us how much we love them or value them in our lives.  I would give everything to be able to hug my son and tell him I love him.  

A couple of months ago I started a second blog- it is going to be more of my thoughts, my relationship with Christ, and stories of my family and friends. I haven't been extremely faithful about writing on it, but since I know some of my blogging friends prefer to have this blog with only quilting stories/ experiences.   I decided to have a second blog also.  The button on the sidebar will take you there.  It is titled, "Linda's Faith, Family and Friends."