I believe Kole would have been overcome with your love, if he could have attended his own funeral! My sister would worry that his head would expand in pride. Of course, that is not a danger anymore! He no longer struggles with his fleshly weaknesses!Thank you for such compassion and support shown. I am sure Kole would be relieved to know his parents were well taken care of! I believe Kole has indirectly rescued more people in his six short years, than most people whose lives spans through many decades has had opportunity to do. He is pleased I am sure. We can call him a "rescue hero" for Christ! We love you Kole! You are forever engraved on our hearts! I am sure Jesus is entertained with your conversation, we certainly were! I also know that you are enjoying Jesus! We only see Christ in part here, and have difficulty keeping Him the center focus!
Getting back to a normal routine, for me, has been difficult! The emotional and physical drain of the last few weeks has taken most of my "energy"! I have not been home to call Janni and so I wonder if she feels the same! Looking around my house I see the neglect and the work to do!Our "historical" home always has repairs waiting! I am looking at a window screen flapping in the wind, reminding me of my two year old who had taken it upon himself to take a small screen tear and make it bigger---much bigger! When it happened it did not phase me, for Kole's struggle was so much more significant in my mind! I look around and at all the burdens of this life and know for sure that God never intended for this to be our permanent home! My plea to God is that He will keep us in the palm of His hand! I marvel at our journey and how He blessed us with His presence! I never want to live without Him! That would truly be darkness and despair! Getting back to His Word and to our knees is everything we need to keep moving fore ward. I want to be like my nephew, having his courage. He really never worried about saving himself! I believe he has inspired us to focus on rescuing the perishing. We tried to rescue his life for him here, and yet Kole must have already known Jesus was his "Rescue Hero" and heaven was his home.
Now what do we do? Isaiah 50:4-6 and 10.
"The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He awakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears, and I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back."
"Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on His God."
Amplified version "Who among you who [reverently] fears the Lord, who obeys the voice of His Servant, yet who walks in darkness and deep trouble and has no shining splendor [in his heart]? Let him rely on, trust in, and be confident in the name of the Lord, and let him lean upon and be supported by his God".
God's word is truly a light to our path and to our healing!
Jodi
posted by Kole's family @ 5:20 PM
10 comments
10 Comments:
To The Keller's and extended family-
As a Christian and believer in the Love of our God, we experienced a very overwhelming joy while in the Chapel in Sandusky last Thursday evening. Although we were only in the presence of the throngs of people that were there to share the Lord's Peace and their love to this precious family, I could not help but feel the warmth of God's Compassion. (we left the Chapel after waiting for 45 minutes, knowing that we would not see the family for some 2 - 2.5 hours- and we are not on eternal time yet, with the busy Human schedule of events- had to get back to Oak Harbor for another engagement).
The numerous people from various communities that were there showed the magnitude that this Child had on the area of North Central Ohio. The out pouring of support shows the Love and admiration to this Family and their struggle through this human illness. What a strong show of FAITH and LOVE you showed to all of us watching and praying for you for the past 2 years. Thanks for sharing the latest information through this Blog.
My best wishes are continued to be extended to you, and praise you for your Christian example and Faith watch through these troubled times. YOU are some of the strongest members of our community, and we are proud to call you FRIENDS. You are very special people, and always will be for many, many people of this area. GOOD LUCK in the days ahead, and we can be assured that Kole is in GOOD HANDS for eternity.
Thanks for the example of Love and Hope,
Louie and Val Damschroder, Oak Harbor
Thank you again for taking time to reach out to us.
I wish I could tell you how many people I know that have been touched by Kole's life!
He and your family has inspired myself and our family to think about where we have placed Christ in our lives, what do we believe,and why do we believe it?
Without HIM will we be able to survive when tragedy strikes us?...and it will...we will all experience the death of one we love so dear...
Have we connected to our family in the way God intended? Our biological family and our church family? Do we even have a church family?
We do not!
We have decided that we do not want to be without the love of Christ in our hearts and in our homes. We have also decided that the love of our families is important! Perhaps it is time to mend some old wounds!
It is definately time to establish a relationship with our Father in heaven and a church family.
You have changed us "little Kole"....your aunt is right! You really are a "rescue hero"...
Keller family...please know as you try to get back to a routine....that we are still here...it may seem that we too have returned to our normal routine's...but in our hearts we will always carry the message that was brought to us by Kole and his family.
We barely knew him! Yet our lives have been forever changed! You have touched us. He has touched us!
We ask God as well to keep you in the palm of His hand!
As the days pass.....we will continue to pray for your family!
God's Blessings....
We continue to be encouraged by Kole and all of the little "lights" for the Lord that have been lit by Kole and the entire Keller/Sprunger families. The lights are many and they are eternal, for the lives that have been saved through this struggle will shine the love of the Lord for eternity!! Our pastor at Grace Community Church in Fremont reminded us all on Sunday that Jesus Christ knows how it feels and what it means to truly struggle. There is a peace that comes from knowing that we do not go anywhere or go through anything in this life that He hasn't already seen and felt. While your family certainly feels the major burden of this suffering, we all stand WITH you in hopes of lightening the load, however small our contributions might be. Please continue to be encouraged and comforted by the love of our Lord and remember that without fear there can be no courage and without struggle there can be no perseverance.
It is our privelege to continue to lift you up in prayer and celebrate the life and love of Kole by shining God's love through the many lights that Kole has created.
Matt, Lorraine, and Parker Smith
Amen!
Kellers,
My thoughts and prayers are with you. I thas been so long since I saw you @ one of your clyde games.
I am so proud of who you are and what you have done for people. I feel awful that I did not know in time what had transpired.
I can tell you that you have been in my prayers. I think about how strong you are and know that I need not worry about pain. You know where he is and that is he is happy and waiting for you.
I feel sorrow that I have not been around to support you. I hope to talk to you soon.
Once again, be strong.
Brian Collins
We are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers....
Keller/Sprunger Family, All the support given while Kole was here was such a blessing!! Through my own experience's I want everyone to know that support is much needed and must continue for all of Kole's loved ones left behind. One says, well at least we have peace knowing Kole is no longer in pain, but what they have to realize is, the loved ones left behind are. Another journey begins for them. I realize we all have our own lives, but prayer is needed every day, plus an occasional thinking of you card, a visit or phone call just letting the Keller/Sprunger family know we continue lifting them up would bring them so much comfort. I want both families to know, I for one understand and will be there with them every step of the way. What an inspiration both families have been to all of us!! I have known the Kellers for years and just met the Sprungers after Kole passed, and I must say, Kole was a very blessed little boy to have had two very loving families to see him through this very difficult time in his life. All my love and prayers to both families.
Love Cindy
We are praying for you today and your extended family as well.
God Bless
From Lee Ann Savage
To all of you, my own faith has been strengthened by your's. I received this email today & it made me think of Kole immediately. Then I came to his blog & Jodi was saying what I was thinking when I read The Heart email. "Tomorrow morning," the surgeon began,
"I'll open up your heart..."
"You'll find Jesus there," the boy
Interrupted.
The surgeon looked up, annoyed "I'll
Cut your heart open," he continued,
To see how much damage has been
Done..."
"But when you open up my heart, you'll
Find Jesus in there," said the boy.
The surgeon looked to the parents, who
Sat quietly."When I see how much
Damage has been done, I'll sew your
Heart and chest back up, and I'll plan
What to do next."
"But you'll find Jesus in my heart. The
Bible says He lives there. The
Hymns all say He lives there. You'll
Find Him in my heart."
The surgeon had had enough. "I'll tell
You what I'll find in your heart.
I'll find damaged muscle, low blood
Supply, and weakened vessels.
And I'll find out if I can make you well."
"You'll find Jesus there too. He lives
There."
The surgeon left.
The surgeon sat in his office, recording his
Notes from the surgery, "...damaged aorta, damaged
Pulmonary vein, widespread muscle degeneration.
No hope for transplant, no hope for cure. Therapy:
Painkillers and bed rest. Prognosis:, "
Here he paused, "death within one year."
He stopped the recorder, but there was
More to be said. "Why?" he asked aloud.
"Why did You do this? You've put
Him here; You've put him in this pain; and
You've cursed him to an early death. Why?"
The Lord answered and said, "The boy,
My lamb, was not meant for your
Flock for long, for he is a part of My
Flock, and will forever be.
Here, in My flock, he will feel no pain, and
Will be comforted as you cannot imagine.
His parents will one day join him here,
And they will know peace, and
My flock will continue to grow."
The surgeon's tears were hot, but his
Anger was hotter. "You created that
Boy, and You created that heart. He'll
Be dead in months. Why?"
The Lord answered, "The boy, My lamb,
Shall return to My flock, for He has
Done his duty: I did not put My lamb
With your flock to lose him, but to retrieve another
Lost lamb."
The surgeon wept.. The surgeon sat
Beside the boy's bed; the boy's
Parents sat across from him. The boy awoke and
Whispered, "Did you cut open my heart?"
"Yes," said the surgeon.
"What did you find?" asked the boy.
"I found Jesus there," said the
Surgeon.
Author Unknown - Celebrate Jesus in 2007
Thank you so much for the poem....
It put a chill through my body...
God, bless little Kole..we always knew that he was not here to be lost....
Thank you for your "rescue hero"
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