August 23, 2000

Dear Family of Like Precious Faith,

Thank you for your many expressions of love and concern
and words of comfort from your hearts and from God's word.

Today was a day of grace. We arrived to hear that Skylar
had perked up somewhat yesterday after we left, even eating
some chicken that his other grandma had prepared and half
of a hot dog. He felt well enough to joke with his doctor
who has been visiting him each evening.

We were encouraged when Skylar walked out of his room. He
was awake and alert most of the day, a big change from the
last few days. Uncle Chris and I ran some errands. Skylar's
Mom gave me money to buy him the new Tigger video (from the
Winnie the Pooh stories). Skylar had enough energy and span
of attention to watch and enjoy the entire movie, which was
a real blessing to see.

I was able to make Skylar some fresh apple juice today; he
drank some twice and seemed to enjoy it.

Tonight before we left for the hotel, I went in and sang a
bedtime song for Skylar. He asked me to sing the song that
he wrote some time ago, "Someone Has Risen"...

Someone has risen to heaven,
To save us from our sins.
He had to do it for us
So we could enter in.
And His name is Jesus,
He died on the cross to free us.
Someone has risen to heaven,
So we can live with Him.

We talked about how Jesus had died and rose from the dead,
that He was stronger than death, and that forty days later
He had risen right in front of his friends eyes, up into
the clouds. How He promised to come back the same way and
to raise all of His people from the dead and to take all of
us to live with Him forever.

We talked about how God has promised that He will wipe away
every tear from our eyes, and that we will never be sad again.
"Do you know what forever means, Skylar?" "A long, long time."
"That's right, Skylar, forever will NEVER end." Skylar could
see the tears in my eyes. "Let's pray together, and then I will
give you a hug and kiss goodnight" I said.

We prayed, and I asked the Lord to come back soon and take us
to live with Him forever. No sooner had I said "Amen" than
Skylar surprised me by speaking out his own prayer:

"Please make Papa not be sad any more," he prayed. With more
tears in my eyes, I thanked him for praying for me.

"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven
and the first earth passed away... Behold, the tabernacle of
God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall
be His people, and God Himself shall be among them, and He shall
wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer
be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed
away." - Revelation 21:1,3,4

Amen, Come, Lord Jesus.

The grace of our Lord Jesus be with all of you.

-Dann (for us all)