We got a call early this morning that Pastor Ralph passed away last night   Its been an odd sort of day with lots of thoughts swirling through my head.  Things like this have a way of changing my perspective.  Yesterday I was researching what we'll be using for Big Boy's high school courses, writing my to-do list for homeschooling the children for the remainder of the school year, making a mental list of goals I'd like to achieve this year and searching for the grade forms so I can fax them to our umbrella school.  I have checked off most of the things on my list and these were some of my last items.  After the phone call, they don't seem as important as they did a few days ago.

The children had been praying for Pastor Ralph to be healed.  SimplyMe has children with simple faith.  After hearing the stories from the Bible all these years, the children thought that if they prayed, God would heal Pastor Ralph.  Almost every night they would report that they were still praying for his healing.  They had actually made plans about what they would do when they saw him at church after being healed.  Baby Boy and Baby Girl both said they were going to run up to him and give him a BIG hug and tell him that they love him.  Baby Girl said she would be so happy that she would probably cry.  And today I had to tell them that he had gone on to be with the Lord.  Baby Girl was actually surprised and (I think) a little angry and asked me what happened (as in this is not the way it was supposed to happen - I prayed and God was suppose to heal him).  When Baby Boy found out, he came to me and said "I guess I'll see Pastor Ralph in Heaven with Jesus."  And Big Boy went to cry alone. 

I know that God is sovereign, but I have to admit I too, thought of all the passages I have read about faith and prayer and healing.  We believed God for a healing miracle, but this was not to be.  This thought crossed my mind... "why bother, God will do whatever He wants anyway."  But I suppose this is where the lessons that I teach the children come back for me to learn.  I 'bother' out of obedience.  I pray, trust and believe because He told me to.  The rest is up to Him.  I will not understand His decisions, but understanding is not a prerequisite for obedience. 

Our friend has stepped out of his earthly garment which was diseased and filled with pain.  He is in a much better place than those of us left behind.  He rejoices and we mourn.  His struggles are over, but ours remain.  He told my hubby once, that if the devil thought that this disease would make him doubt God, then he had another thing coming - that he would praise Him no matter what.  We will do the same.  Though we did not get the answer we wanted, yet we praise him.  Through tears, heavy hearts and confusion we WILL praise Him. 

PASLM 42:11  Why am I discouraged?  Why is my heart so sad?  I will put my hope in God!  I will praise him again--my Savior and my God!  

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