A week ago Monday Jason was leaving the house to go to our high school Christmas concert. Just before he walked out the door he handed me a piece of paper and told me to read it when he left. I told him later that he could not have given me a better Christmas gift. I wanted to share this with all of you.
Watching
Over the years I watched him talk to God.
Consulting Him every step he did take,
Asking for guidance down the path he trod.
He prayed about each decision he’d make.
I watched when his reputation was bruised
When it seemed there was nowhere to turn,
As by his friends he was wrongly accused.
How to live down a lie is what I learned.
I watched as he showed me how to forgive.
I saw him in trials turn to God’s Word.
When facing death, he taught me how to live,
As in that sickness he looked to the Lord.
He was the example for me God had,
And that’s what I learned as I watched my dad.
Jason Daniel
“…but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” I Timothy 4:12b
One of the greatest gifts we can give to our children is the gift of a godly example.
December 24, 2008 at 8:47 pm |
What a wonderful gift to receive from your son. Layne was such a wonderful example to all of us. It is especially touching to know that Jason was watching his dad so closely and learning so much. Layne will live on through his children as they live out the Godly example both of you set for them.
December 25, 2008 at 3:35 pm |
Thanks for sharing that, it meant a lot to me.
December 27, 2008 at 1:05 am |
Sharon, Thank you for sharing this with us! What a fine young man you have in Jason! It is obvious that Layne lives on in Jason’s life and will continue to have this same influence over him in years to come when Jason needs to make the most important decisions of his life– besides trusting Christ.
We continue to pray for all three of you as you grieve in your own ways and heal in your own times. You’re doing so well—don’t let anyone or anything make you feel like you aren’t grieving “properly” or aren’t moving on quickly enough. The Lord knows exactly how quickly to allow the “heavenly anesthesia” to wear off and exactly how much you can handle in any given moment of the day. May His strength continue to sustain you and fill your heart with that lasting deep joy. As I thought of you this Christmas, I realized that you have a better grasp of this celebration than some of us because truly had Jesus not come as a babe in the manger, you would not have the hope of seeing Layne again in heaven. “Good tidings of great joy”–that you do have that hope because of Christ’s coming to earth to die for our sins!
Thank you again for sharing your heart with us. Please let Jason and Krista know that we continue to pray for them as well.
In Christ’s Love,
Sandra
December 27, 2008 at 4:45 pm |
We hope you had a wonderful and blessed Christmas. We are continuing to pray for you, Jason and Krista. Your famiy is very special to us. We know that we have the blessed hope that one day we will all see Layne again. Sharon, I don’t think that day is not so far away. If you need anything at all, please don’t hestiate to call us. May God richly bless you and your family in 2009.
Chester and Brenda Vanderpool
December 28, 2008 at 10:51 pm |
Hello Shannon,
Thank you for your blog. It has helped me in my recent miscarriage. Will be praying for you and your family.
December 29, 2008 at 3:50 pm |
Wow! What a powerful poem! I find it hard to believe that Jason wrote that (I still think of him as the kid I knew when we left), but what a testimony to the example Layne set for him.
Thanks for sharing, Sharon.
December 31, 2008 at 11:34 am |
I just wanted to let you know I have been praying for the 3 of you. I know this has been a difficult time in each of your lives but your writing has been an encouragement to meand I’m sure to many others. May God continue to use you and bring each of you comfort to face each new day. Please call me sometime.