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Safe in the Arms of Jesus (Vol. 4, No. 46) Several calls were on my called ID when we returned home Sunday afternoon. I recognized one number and was just about to call it when the phone rang again. It was Bill calling with news of an accident involving our church middle-schoolers on their way home from an event in As I prepared to make my way to the hospital, I received a second call. The local hospital waiting room was jammed with several hundred folks concerned about the kids and the driver of the Suburban. The caller asked me to go to the church building instead of the hospital for a prayer vigil. At the church, several hundred gathered and slowly, as it became available, the news about each of the seven children and the driver was read. We would find out later that the Highway Patrol officers responding to the call expected that there would be no survivors when they saw the ferocity of the crash. Yet, thankfully, all of the occupants were wearing seat belts. We knew from the early reports, though, that the injuries were severe. Miraculously, two of the children were treated and released that night. A third underwent surgery in I haven’t mentioned the seventh rider in that vehicle. Eleven-year-old Brody was buried today. I just came from his service where more than 2,500 family, friends, and even strangers gathered to celebrate his wonderful life. And to mourn the shortness of it. Our youth minister, Jim, and one of our elders, Rob, officiated at the service. Beautiful words delivered with passion and genuine love. I can’t imagine how it could have been done any better. While I could point to scores of statements that really hit home and to dozens of details shared about Brody that will live with all of us from now on, I’m constantly pulled back to Rob’s recollection of a time with Brody’s family just yesterday. They were being told of Brody’s expression of faith on this youth trip and his decision to make Jesus his Lord. What a glorious gift in this devastating time. Rob went on to say that even though the loss of Brody was unbelievably heart-breaking, the knowledge that he was safe in the arms of Jesus was phenomenal. Rob turned to the rest of the parents in the packed auditorium and said, “You know, sadness aside, it doesn’t get any better than that – to know that your children are safe in the arms of Jesus.” I can’t stop thinking about that. So, if you’ll allow me, the rest of this is for my kids – sons, daughter-in-law, soon-to-be daughter-in-law, precious granddaughter . Dear Jeremy, Justin, Jamie, Alex, and Landrye, I pray that each of you will escape tragedy and suffering and sadness in this life. God is always with us, in good times and bad. Don’t be tempted to forget Him. Regardless, please know that above all, I pray that you will always be safe in the arms of Jesus. I’ll ask for nothing else. Please walk with Jesus. It just won’t get any better than that. We will all be together again. I love you, Dad, Joey, Grampa
Shine On!
copyright 2004 Joe L. Cope
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