Yesterday was a tough day. We went to the funeral of a dear sister in Christ I had known for 50 years. Her husband was the Youth Director when I was in the Youth Group at Our Redeemer Lutheran in Dallas. The church was packed with lots of people from my past, including one of my best friends from childhood, Jerry (more on him in the days to come).

The pastor did a wonderful job on the message, pointing us to all Jesus had done for our dear one who was now with her Lord. Yet my heart remained heavy. Just about an hour before we left to attend the funeral, our oldest daughter, Rachel, called to tell us that her 13-month-old niece, the daughter of her husband’s sister, stopped breathing while at the babysitters. She never woke up. Her name was Josie. Her parents’ names are Casey and Jenny. I am asking all of you to surround this couple with your prayers in the days to come.

Josie was named after her grandmother, Jenny’s mom and Rachel’s mother-in-law, who died the week before Rachel and Jon were married. Cheryl observed that Josie got to meet and hold her granddaughter. But there is even better news. Josie is with her Savior. Jesus, who said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them,” has welcomed one of His precious little lambs into His loving embrace. Josie was made His through the water and the Word of Holy Baptism and now enjoys being with Him.

This is our faith and confidence. May this certainty stay with Casey and Jenny through the devastatingly painful days and nights to come. My they also feel the loving embrace of their Savior as they are not longer able to hold their child.

I thought of a song I discovered more than a few years ago that has this refrain:

And the arms that hold the universe Are holding you tonight
You can rest inside It’s gonna be alright
And the voice that calmed the raging sea Is calling you His child
So be still and know He’s in control He will never let you go

You can listen to an arrangement of this here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_B-mPUT9Os&t=232s&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:5f59b992,vid:j_B-mPUT9Os,st:0

Again, please pray for Casey and Jenny, Rachel and John, and all their family. And consider sharing this post so that more brothers and sisters in Christ will include them in their prayers, too.