saying goodbye

www.ethanpowell.com

Today the little boy, Ethan Powell, that I have been praying for these last several months, died peacefully in his mom and dad's arms. I don't know this family personally, just through others, but I feel as if I lost a member of my own family. He was not yet 16 months old. Fighting leukemia is all he has ever known, until now. Now he knows what it is like to laugh, run, dance, and be in his Savior's arms--with no pain, no tubes, no medications. I sit here and think of this precious boy with this big grin running to Jesus and how completely perfect he is at this very moment and I smile at the thought. And then my thoughts go to the ones he left behind--2 parents who have been living and breathing Ethan and this battle for 16 months--and my heart just aches! How do these parents walk away from their sweet boy's body to never hold him again? This was their only child. 2 weeks ago they were rejoicing because he beat the leukemia, and now they are in agony because his immune system was just too weak to fight a virus. Millions of people were praying for this baby to survive, but the Lord had a different plan, and though I can't possibly understand His reasons or ways, I know His glory will be evident. It takes great faith to believe the Lord will heal, but greater faith to praise Him even when He doesn't, and I am thankful to be one of millions who have witnessed their faith in this storm. I have held my Eli all day long and am grateful that he has let me. Please pray for this family to feel overwheming love from our Lord surrounding them as they face tomorrow without their son. Their loss is so great.