A warm summer evening greeting to all! This evening as I was reading to my children before bed, I had not only noticed Leah wearing Kole's winter long sleeved Ohio State shirt---Leah herself pointed to her shirt claiming it as her favorite, because it had belonged to Kole. She looked sweet and cuddly in it and very feminine (unlike Kole of course). I smiled and yet my mind glimpsed a time when Kole was very sick and Steve had took a clean dry pair of Kole's navy warm up pants and gently put them on Kole. Kole was so thin at this time. His pants were very loose. The memory was a tender memory, with a touch of sorrow. Steve could not have been a more loving father gently dressing his son and speaking tenderly to Kole in reassurance. Both he and Janni hovered over Kole, caring for his every need. They did not think twice about what they were willing to do for their son. They did it with joy! My grandfather always had a saying that went something like ---if you want to, you don't have to. Love has a way of fueling our care and our touch and our "want to". Steve and Janni were fueled by love. The love was fueled by God alone. His love never runs dry, but reproduces itself and is extended to all. I know I have said this countless times, but, for it is truth that requires repeating. God does not have an exclusive club. We can only choose to exclude ourselves. I believe Janni and Steve are a reflection of their heavenly Father in this way---if anyone approaches them, they will welcome you with open arms and you will sense that they value all people.

It is hard to loose someone you value. We valued Kole and longed to be near him for a longer period of time. God however created Kole and values him even more! We were taught that God has claim to what He has made. He is right in all He does. It says in Psalms 103:19 "The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all." God ruled that Kole was to return to Him. God welcomed Kole and values him even more than we could ever know. We get tiny glimpse of how He welcomes with Janni and Steve's example, for they are disciples of Jesus. But, let me tell you, Jesus dresses Kole and wraps Kole in perfect welcome and perfect love. Kole is valued by God. Kole is at home with His Maker. Kole lacks nothing. We may lack our loved one for a time, for that is the plight of this fallen earth. Yet, We who believe will never lack our God. He is the "With of God". God is "with us" past, present, and future. There is no separation. Why does God allow human family members to separate from one another--- because He is always reminding us that He provided our human companion ships to bless us but never to complete us. Also, we are never to complete our human companions. We are to compliment our human relationships and be helpmates to one another. We are to point our beloved family and friends to our Maker. As well as remind each other of His love, speaking His Word and truth for accountability. God alone is all sufficient. That is a tough truth to swallow, but it is truth. We see Kole as precious and we want him. We desire to see God as even more precious and want Him even more. The Bible says that we are to worship the Creator above all created things including people.

For me it is important when memories of Kole flood my mind, that I control my thoughts and think about what is profitable. The enemy would like to get me to despair and think that Kole was abandoned and was suffering unbearably. The enemy is wrong. Kole was surrounded by a heavenly host. He is now in the presence of His Maker and that heavenly host. I believe Kole is truly at home with his Maker wearing the most "comfy" clothes imaginable! He has on his "Heavenly State shirt". It's colors will never fade and the fabric will never wear out! Praise His Name!! In fact, Kole is on God's team which will never loose. One day, I will be wearing the same --- I too will be clothed with Christ in new heavenly clothing. Will you?

Jodi