Over the weekend, I had the privilege of attending the
funeral services of a brave little warrior who fulfilled his mission here on
earth. In his short 8 years, he brought tens of thousands of smiles to every
person he met, and millions more from those who followed his story online. Of
course, I never wish to attend funeral services for anyone, let alone for a
child. It is always a sad situation, but it hits harder when the person is
young. It brings profound pain and loss to everyone involved, but especially to
the parents and siblings.
I couldn’t come up with any words that would bring comfort over
the week since his passing but I have continued to pray for his family and
friends, and thank the Lord that he gave the gift of this little superhero, so that
we may all learn from his bravado, humor, and loving nature. I thought that it
would help me if I turned to God, as I often do, and listen to what He would
place on my heart. In the stillness of my moments in prayer, the following message
came through, and I would like to share it with you.
My beloved,
As we gather in the embrace of our faith, we are met with
heavy hearts and tear-stained faces. We stand together in the shadow of a loss
that words cannot fully encompass – the loss of this precious child. In the
depths of our grief, we find ourselves searching for solace, for a glimmer of
hope to guide us through this darkest of nights.
But even in the midst of our sorrows, let us remember that
we are not alone. We are surrounded by the unwavering love and support of our
community, bound together by the ties of empathy and compassion. Together we
share the burden of this pain, lifting each other up when the weight becomes
too much to bear.
In moments such as these, it is natural to question the
fairness of life, to wonder why such a tragedy has befallen us. Yet, it is precisely
in these moments that our faith is tested, that we are called to find strength
in our beliefs. For it is through our faith that we find hope in the face of despair.
We must remember that the life of this beloved child, though cut short, was not
without purpose. His presence in our lives, however fleeting, left an indelible
mark upon our hearts, shaping us into the people we are today. And though they
may no longer walk beside us, their spirit lives on in the memories we hold
dear, in the love that continues to bind us together.
As we mourn the loss of Ollie, let us also celebrate the
gift of his life. Let us cherish the moments we shared, the laughter and joy he
brought into our lives. And let us draw strength from the knowledge that he is
now at peace, watching us from above.
Though our hearts may ache with longing, let us not be
consumed by sorrow. Instead, let us honor the memory of Ollie by embracing life
with renewed purpose and determination. Let us find comfort in the knowledge
that he would want nothing more than to see us find happiness once more.
I pray that Ollie’s community finds solace in the arms of
faith, knowing that we are never truly alone. And may we carry the light of
hope within us, guiding us through the darkness until we are reunited with our
loved ones once more.
In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.
