Community

*I've added a link at the bottom of the page if you want to help the family financially.


This has been a hard week.  This week a sister in Christ, a fellow mom in our home school community, entered into the presence of Jesus. 

Monday morning at the opening time for our group it was announced that this family had added a new bundle of joy a few days earlier.  A "pink" bundle of joy I must add!  They already had two boys, so there was a lot of rejoicing about this new daughter.  Little did we know, that within a few hours many of us would be brought to our knees praying for this mom's life.

Everything seemed to happen so quickly.  We received the prayer request, began praying, scheduled a corporate prayer time, emailed and texted friends and family to lift Leah up in prayer, and then waited.

Last night I slept with my phone, waiting for news.  Many of us talked and knew that if we woke in the night we would pray.  As I rose this morning and hadn't heard anything I was at a loss.  Again, all I knew to do was to pray.

I received the news about Leah's passing early this morning and was broken-hearted.  Not because I have any doubt of where she is, but because I think about her family, her boys, her baby girl, and the void many of us will feel when we return to class on Monday and her chair is empty.

Leah was a joy.  Every time I talked with her or saw her from across the room she was always smiling.  There was a realness about her that made you immediately feel comfortable and to know that you could be completely yourself.  She was a helper, always participating in any needs that arose in class.  What stands out to me the most though, is the love I saw between she and her boys.

Today, one of the moms in our home school group opened her home for us to come together.  As soon as I saw her email I knew we would join them.  Today I desired community.  Today we needed community.

Then tonight I watched a church unite and come together to support their Pastor, Leah's husband.  Earlier in the day a few women in the church organized a time where others could come together and pray.  There were hugs and tears, and then a time of prayer.  There was individual prayer time and then small group prayer time.  

At the end of prayer time, it was announced that Pastor Dan had come to briefly share.

As he stood in front of his congregation, who he referred to as family, I wondered what he would say in a moment like this.  I quickly got out my phone to take notes, because I could feel that it was going to be powerful and that I would want to read it again, and that I would desire to soak in the words of someone sharing in the midst of grief.

Here are some of the words Dan shared tonight.

"The goodness of God doesn't stop because of tragedy."

"I've been asked what I need.  I've gotten so much already.  Just knowing you care means so much.  Please don't let satan use this opportunity to do anything destructive.  God is still sovereign.  I hope He gets the glory out of this."

"We don't mourn as those without hope.  We have heaven.  Honor Leah's memory but take that opportunity to share the Gospel.  That's what it's still about."

After he left the room, before we closed in prayer, a man in the congregation stood up and said that we just witnessed a man who lives what he preaches.  To that, there were many amens.

As I was talking to my dad tonight he reminded me of something Pastor Jon Courson said after his 16 year old daughter died.  Someone said to him that they were sorry for his loss.  He responded, "Oh, I didn't lose my daughter, I know exactly where she is."

I pray we are all comforted by knowing exactly where Leah is, and that if we have accepted Jesus into our hearts, one day we will have the joy of joining her.  What a blessed day that will be for each of us!

In the mean time, as Pastor Dan exhorted us to do, tell someone about Jesus.  Lead someone to that assurance of knowing where they will spend eternity.  Let this spur us on to realize that all of our days are numbered, none of us are promised tomorrow, so be bold for Christ, share this wonderful gift that is free to anyone wanting to receive it.  Don't just pray for someone, pray with someone!

And remember this family in your prayers.

This is what was sent around last night, which is why it says to pray for Leah.  We know that where she is, she no longer needs our prayers. :)

But, please pray for Dan, Elijah, Joshua, and Zivah.

If you would like to give, please click on the link below.

Leah Tucker Memorial Fund