First, a big shout out to my youngest daughter, Janna, who celebrated her birthday yesterday. It was especially a sad one since Mike, her husband, passed away last Wednesday night. Please say a prayer for her.

He was 7 years old when he and his parents heard the word everyone dreads: The “C” word. How do you explain that to a 7 year old?  Not even the parents can understand it, let alone a 7 year old. But Keaton fought. He endured 8 years of various treatments/surgeries/remission/return. He loved life and laughing. He fought a good fight. His faith was amazingly strong and transparent for a teenager. He recovered well enough to play for his high school baseball team last Spring. But it would be his last. This brave, young man lost his earthly battle on Thursday, August 20th at 8:30 pm. His mom called to tell me. Earthly battle lost; heavenly reward gained.

His name was Jim. He and I rode hundreds of miles together on bicycles. Our friendship goes back to the 80s when he and his family began attending the church I pastored. We talked. We laughed. His family came and stayed with us when we lived in Castalia/Sandusky and they went to Cedar Point. But our world changed when he began describing symptoms he was experiencing I told him what I suspected and asked him to get checked because I wasn’t ready to lose a friend. It came back with the dreaded “C” word. He went through surgeries, chemo, different types of treatment, even visiting one of the most renowned cancer hospitals in Texas. After 15 years their verdict was we can’t do anymore for you. A little over two years ago, I was 5 minutes from his house when his wife called to tell me Jim had just passed. 5 minutes! He was the first of my dearest and closest friends on this planet lost to the “C” word.

One day I was talking to the mother of a young man who was real close to Keaton and was taking cancer’s return hard. The mother invited Keaton and His mom, Jessica, to church so she could meet me. She mentioned my name and Jessica said, “Oh, I know him. He was my dad’s best friend.”

Jessica’s dad, Jim, was Jessica’s son, Keaton’s, grandfather! WOW! I didn’t see that coming. It still blows me away. It never ceases to amaze me how God pulls things off. Who would have thunk it? That kind of stuff only happens in books or Hallmark movies. Right?

Today grandpa Jim and grandson Keaton are reunited. Jim is showing Keaton all the glories of heaven as they explore heaven together. But most of all, Keaton gets to see Jesus in all His radiance and splendor. While I miss Jim and I miss Keaton, I have to ask myself, “What could be better than that?” The answer that comes back to me is “N.O.T.H.I.N.G!”