Encouragement

(From post started on Heather's / family blog. Posting here because I wanted to include some honoring of Heather and, well, didn't want her to complain :o) that I did it in a post on her blog.)

We're all accustomed to being temporarily separated from someone we love. However, as time goes on, we become more and more aware that our little one is not just 'away for a while.' What this means for us is that the pain isn't subsiding in a predictable linear fashion: from severe throbbing pain in the beginning toward ever fainter twinges of grief. From my own vantage point, in work circles and in personal circles, this can at times be a noticeable misconception. Hopefully this does not sound like a belabored reminder because my follow-on purpose is to say...

Your prayers are needed. Your prayers are 'at work.' We tell folks that we had appreciated hearing that we were 'being prayed for' in the past, but since entering this season of acute weakness in November, we have been significantly more grateful for prayers, feeling both our need for them as well as the effects of them. That's right--we have experienced the effects of your prayers, sometimes in ways that make us consciously take note that we must have the benefit of someone's prayers right now. Please continue to pray for Heather!

So we are grateful, because of the power of the gospel being demonstrated in the battle of faith, and the victory of grace, in Heather's life...and these things are evidence of your prayers 'at work.' As I watch her focus on her family and others by accomplishing chores and acts of thoughtfulness to others, I encourage her that she is magnifying the sufficiency of God. She is magnifying His grace. I would also want to encourage those of you praying that what you are doing is powerful and effective.

And especially, I wanted to thank you, Heather, for making God big in my eyes. You truly are a God loving woman (Jn 14:15-21).