Just a few days after receiving that message I received another. An email from the Pastor at the Campus Ministry I attended on occasion; a long-time friend and important member of this ministry had been killed on New Year's Eve. I was speechless. To this day, I'm still shocked at the idea of him being gone. I could never express to you what an amazing person our world lost that night. I know that you only ever hear the good things about those who have passed, but I don't think I could come up with anything bad to say about Michael if I wanted to. He was a blessing to everyone he spoke to. I am honored that I was able to call him my friend for a few short years.
There's something about this time of year. It evokes reflection and nostalgia on just about everyone. It's especially hard when you've lost someone. It absolutely breaks my heart when my friends ask me for prayer. I love praying for people, I really do, but I kind of hate knowing that they *need* it.
Tonight, when I received that message, I was so much more heartbroken than I ever expected to be. In the back of my mind, I knew it was an option, but I was nearly in tears--and would have been if I wasn't so good at distracting myself. I will faithfully pray for 'Dad' everyday for as long as it takes, but it will break my heart. For him; for his family. Please pray with me for this man and his doctors as they try to learn more about what's wrong. And please pray for the Warren family as they struggle through the holiday season with the heartache of missing their son.
Blessed is he who has regard for the weak;
the Lord delivers him in times of trouble.
The Lord will protect him and preserve his life;
he will bless him in the land and not surrender him to the desire of his foes.
The Lord will sustain him on his sickbed and restore him from his bed of illness.
Psalm 41:1-3
