A Bookish Sarah

encouragement & bookish things

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Sarah
Welcome, friend! Relax & rest awhile, if you please. I'm an ordinary girl, a follower of Christ, mama to Gabriel, Heidi, & Aidan; and wife to Evan. Here in this little space of the online world, I share all manner of bookish things, including full content reviews, writerly snippets, encouragement for everyday life, and a whole collection of names & their meanings.

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Encouragement

Blessed are those who mourn. . .

* UPDATED *

Sunday evening, June 7th, 2015
My family experienced the unexpected loss of my dear uncle, Kelly Thomas.  Forty years of age, he leaves behind a loving wife, Jana, and four precious children: Janelle, age 12; Keljan, age 8; Joelle, age 6; and Kenton, age 4.

Mother's Day, 2014
Jesus took him Home Sunday evening after he suffered a severe allergic reaction from a red wasp sting to the head.  There are no words as to what a shock this was to me and my family.  We thought they'd take him to the hospital for a shot or something and he'd come home and laugh it off.

But for as long as I live, I will never forget the grief-laden wails of four children upon learning their daddy wasn't coming home.  As I write this, the tears begin to come, for though he was only my uncle, in a way, my siblings and I were his first children at least 11 years before his daughter was born.

We are so loved.  Countless people have come to pay their respects and to bring food.  We have laughed and wept together, we have embraced and prayed together.  And never have I felt such agape--selfless--love.  I thank my God for you.

A Memorial Fund has been set up for my uncle's family.  As he was the sole provider and only source of income, my aunt is dealing with worries for the future, and this fund will serve to calm those fears.  Already, in only three days, we have raised $32,753.  Wow.  God is good! And He will provide.

In prayer there is power.  And yours mean the world and beyond to us.  Thank you.  Continue to remember me and my family.  Funeral arrangements have been set for this Friday and Saturday.  The service is from 5:00-7:30pm on Friday at Laycock Hobbs funeral home in Athens.  Burial is at Clearwater Baptist Church at 11:00am on Saturday.

Again, your prayers and support are so very much appreciated.  May we never take for granted the love we have been shown.  Thank you, my dear friends.

-----------------------------------------

So this is Sorrow.
So this is grief.
Heart-weary, heavy-laden--
Oh, Lord! Where is Relief?

How can we bear
When wife and children weep
For sudden loss of husband, father
Whom Jesus took to keep?

How do you bear
The young wailing cries
Of those precious little ones
Who find Daddy has died?

What do we do
When life must go on?
When we feel time should stop
Because our loved one is gone?

O praise to the King
Who holds every tear,
And whispers His love
Through friends & family dear.

So amidst this pain
And grief and sorrow,
Let us find Love, Hope,
And Joy for tomorrow.

- Sarah Dake -
So This is Sorrow, June 9th, 2015


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May God bless and keep you.

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Comments

  1. Oh, Sarah, I'm so sorry! I know how difficult this time must be as my grandmother passed away in February after battling Parkinson's for a couple years. We may not understand why things like this happen, but God has a plan. His strength is sufficient, His peace is overwhelming, His grace is endless, and He will never leave you. I'll definitely be praying for you and your family.

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  2. I am and will be praying for comfort for all of you.
    Your poem nearly brought tears to my eyes. I lost my grandpa over a year ago, and your words reminded me both of the sorrow and of the hope we have in Jesus.
    Blessings, Sarah. <3

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  3. Praying in this hard time!
    Grace

    ReplyDelete
  4. So sorry to hear this. Many prayers for the family xx

    ReplyDelete
  5. Kiri Liz: Thank you, dearie. We understand God is in control and that He has a plan, but it's still so hard to accept and move on when you feel like the world should simply stop. Thank you for your prayers, they are so needed. <3

    Tracey: Thank you, my friend. It's so good to know we are not alone. You all are such a blessing to me.

    Grace: Thank you! Lord knows we need your prayers.

    Lizzie: Many thanks, girlie. You all are the best.

    Thank you so, so much, my dears. You don't know how much your comments mean to me. And your prayers hold such power. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh, Sarah, my heart absolutely breaks for your family! I cannot even begin to express how sorry I am to hear this awful news. I will be continuously praying for you all. God is an amazing, faithful, loving Creator and He will get you all through this, just keep clinging to Him as I know you are.

    I had to blink back tears reading the beautiful, heartfelt words of your poem. In fact, I'm still fighting the tears. I love you, sweet girl! *many, many hugs*

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh, Sarah. I'm so sorry to hear this. My heart breaks for the loved ones that are mourning his loss. I will pray that God will bring comfort and peace to you all in the midst of this tragedy, and that God will provide for your aunt and cousins.

    ReplyDelete

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To each is given a bag of tools,
A shapeless mass, and a book of rules,
And each must make, ere life is flown,
A stumbling block or a stepping stone.
-Anonymous-

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