Joana appeared upstairs suddenly. Her face was a puzzling
mix of pain and shock. Then the tears came. I just hugged her
knowing something really bad had happened. “What is it Sweetheart?” Luz
and I inquired. She choked out words that impacted our hearts like a
sledgehammer, “Krystal...she’s gone…” We couldn’t believe what we were hearing.
Krystal McCain, Joana’s friend since the 4th Grade and the daughter of people
we deeply admired and cherished was dead. We asked all the natural
questions, “How? When? Where? Are you sure!” There were no answers. This
nightmare was real and no one knew why.
Our thoughts immediately shifted to her parents and
family – Pastor Henry and Brenda, her sister and two brothers. The thoughts of
what they were enduring – the loss. The pain. The situation seemed
unbearable. After a long week, we headed
to Detroit to pay our respects and support our friends.
Today was the day. Nearing the church, it was clear that
this family was well-loved. The turnout
was immense. Parking occupied several city blocks. The line for greeting the family during
family hour resembled the line for a state funeral. Entering the door I received a pamphlet. It was an invitation. As I read the pamphlet, I realized I had
already accepted this invitation and I smiled.
Even in their grief, this family was reaching out to others inviting
them to be blessed by walking in faith with Jesus and they have and I have.
Upon reaching the sanctuary, I saw the family
on their feet, greeting every single visitor with a hug and a blessing. I witnessed a family in the midst of
gut-wrenching grief resolved to make a statement to all who came to grieve
alongside them. They were resolved to live out the reality in their lives of
Christ in them, the Hope of Glory! My turn came and hugs were shared with
energy and strength. I was blessed by
the very people I came to bless, but the best was yet to come.
Hebrews 10:32-34 says that when Jesus followers suffer, they
become spectacles.
“But remember the
former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict
of sufferings, partly by being made a public
spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers
with those who were so treated.”
The McCain family willingly presented themselves as a
sanctified spectacle of transparency, tears, laughter, grief, joy, struggle and
victory as they shared the reality of their pain through the security of their
faith. The siblings shared their
memories, loss and confidence in the Lord.
The grandparents shred wisdom born of years of struggle and called
everyone present to a deeper level of commitment. Brenda shared her thanks, her
love and her confidence that Krystal would be well pleased with the event held
in her memory. Pastor Henry, her father,
displayed a trust in the Lord and strength in the Spirit that touched me and
all present in the deepest places of our hearts. There were times I was so stirred by the
vitality of the faith on display that I literally wanted to shout affirmations
aloud as if my favorite team was winning the Super Bowl.
This family invited us into the inner sanctum of their
unbearable experience and by doing so, left us all stirred, encouraged,
emboldened and empowered to demonstrate our own faith with more gusto as we
left the sanctuary than when we entered it. So powerful was the call to faith
that a strong contingent of attenders not only left stirred, but departed the
experience forever changed as they themselves embraced the way of following
Jesus. The McCains were willing to bear the unbearable to honor a beautiful child
and to glorify a Marvelous Savior. I
will never forget beautiful Krystal.
Neither will I forget the amazing family of which she is a part and the
gift they gave hundreds of mourners on this never-to-be-forgotten Saturday
afternoon.
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