I have never before felt such a strong compulsion to come for you. You see, there is much amiss in the world. Many, many suffer, and we wonder and we pray.
The tragedy unfolds in Japan, and I want you close, under my wings. And yet, closer to home, and closer to my heart, a fearful, heart-breaking, wonderful thing has happened.
We have just come home from Texas, and there we said a goodbye that we had not planned to say. There we said goodbye to a child whom we expected would grow up knowing you.
Thank you to Wikipedia, which provides:
“A fingerprint in its narrow sense is an impression left by the friction ridges of a human finger. In a wider use of the term, fingerprints are the traces of an impression from the friction ridges of any part of a human hand. A print from the foot can also leave an impression of friction ridges. A friction ridge is a raised portion of the epidermis on the fingers and toes, the palm of the hand or the sole of the foot, consisting of one or more connected ridge units of friction ridge skin.”
A friction ridge...
The past several days have been one of the most God-honoring “friction ridges” I have ever had the privilege to walk.
In these beautiful days of preparation before Easter, I have watched a beloved family love and leave a tiny little boy, whose short time in the womb may well be the vessel by which the Bread of Life is offered to many. I watched a Mama open her heart and her womb, and let go a child called too soon to glory. I watched a father weep and tell the beautiful story of how those tiny lips were his mama’s lips; how his tiny hands were perfect.
Fingerprints ~
Friction Ridges ~
I watched brothers, too young to bear such grief, bear it with dignity.
I want to tell you about his feet. Liam’s feet. Feet that were the size of his mama’ s fingernail. Liam’s feet hold the majesty of a Creator God who, to quote his pastor, “does not do random”.
How lovely on the mountain are the feet of Him who brings good news.
Liam has that good news. Liam will never tread the path of sin, or feel the thorns of life’s pain. We rejoice. And yet we tread the deep water of anguish ~ missing him.
“A print from a foot can also leave an impression of friction ridges.” Liam has left such an impression on many.
It was a terrible, strange, and stormy March morning when his mama called to tell me he was gone. I felt angry and tossed and dangerous at this news. And I felt that God, in that unexpected weather, was forgiving me those unaccustomed feelings.
God is faithful. As we stood at the cemetery a week later and watched his family say goodbye, the sun fell hot on my back, burning through my dress, reminding me that Liam is in a place of wonderful Light.
“consisting of one or more connected ridge units of friction ridge skin.”
You have no idea, Jackson, how each moment of the last week was orchestrated with great care for Liam‘s family. God connected many, many people through those “friction ridges“. This is how our God works! He draws us forth, He pulls us together. He uses the least of us to see that fingerprints ~and footprints~ are remembered forever. He takes these friction ridges and He connects them across years and miles to show His love. For Liam. For Liam’s family. For You.
We are all being swept forward, as Liam was swept Heavenward. This will be a story of God’s faithfulness that I will ever be glad to tell you. To proclaim to you what God was doing, as you waited in Henan. His fingerprints were all over it.
