For this post I wanted to share something from my heart. My church, Neelsville Presbyterian Church, in Germantown MD has a great ministry in which some of the women in the church knit "prayer blankets." The blankets are of all different colors and are for anyone in the church to claim if they or someone they know is hurting or in need of special prayer. The blanket is supposed to serve as a reminder of the prayers that are wrapped around that individual who is hurting. Below is a picture of one of the blankets.
You see...this ministry had a very special purpose this week.
When Ryan and I attended college at Liberty University we were able to make many special friendships. One of those special friendships was with Joe and Janie. Ryan was Joe's RA at Liberty University and we would often watch Joe play baseball with the Liberty Baseball team. Janie was his girlfriend and biggest fan, so we would always see Janie at the games as well. Often in the evening when Ryan would be walking me to my dorm, we would see Joe and Janie walking as well. They were one of those couples that always radiated joy and they had some of the biggest smiles on campus. We grew to love them so much. Their motto was "love always, no matter what." Joe and Janie were planning to spend the rest of their lives together.
After Ryan and I graduated from Liberty, we found out that Joe was diagnosed with cancer. It was a huge shock to all of us. Joe developed pain in his back and sacroiliac joint which was treated as an orthopedic injury. Given the amount of baseball games played one would expect a few sports injuries. But his pain got progressively worse until nothing brought him relief. After weeks of increasing pain, several trips to doctors, emergency rooms, and several MRI's it became evident that some form of cancer had invaded Joe's body. Joe had a rare form of bone cancer, Metastatic Ewing's Sarcoma.
For two years Ryan and I prayed that Jesus would heal Joe from his cancer. We knew that if anyone could beat a cancer like this that Joe would be the one. Jesus did finally answer our prayer, but it wasn't the way that we expected. On Monday, February 27, 2012 Joe went home to the Lord to receive his eternal healing.
After learning of Joe's death I went to church and claimed a prayer blanket for Janie and gave it to her on the day of Joe's funeral. Right now Janie, Joe's faithful girlfriend and intended of 6 years, and Joe's family need your prayers more than ever as they continue to grieve and heal at this time. Please join us in faithful prayer for this special family. Joe and his family have touched my life in a very special way. Their strength and faith is like none-other. They have a strength that could only come from Jesus.
When Ryan and I attended Joe's memorial earlier this week it was one of those experiences that I will never forget and will forever affect my life.
I want to share Joe's memorial with all of you as well so that you can take part is his amazing story. I want my funeral to be just like his! Just click on the below link to view.
Blessings.
Lauren
