another very sad situation

I learned today that the 4-year-old son of friends passed away this week.

Not quite two years ago, this little one drown in the bathtub when his mother stepped out of the room briefly. He was revived, but had suffered much brain damage. The case got much media attention first because of the situation and then because the family fought a legal battle when the doctors wanted to run one final test, expecting it to determine that he was brain dead with no hope of recovery, at which time they would remove all life support systems. Now, because of their battle, families get to make that call, not the doctors. The family took him home and have loved and cared for him through it all.

In these almost two years, there has been much evidence that he was not brain-dead. He did respond to people. However, they never saw the miracle they had stood firm in faith believing to see. They have continued to pray over him, even after he was pronounced dead. Their family and friends are part of a growing number that believe Jesus really meant what he said in Matthew 10:8. If He left us His authority, why should we not be able to work the miracles He worked, empowered by the same Holy Spirit that worked through Him? Especially, given that He specifically told us to "raise the dead."

Saddenly, thus far, those prayers have been like the many, many prayers for his healing. For whatever reasons, known only to a Soveriegn God, they have not (yet) been answered. There are still quite a number of people continuing to pray - and we will continue to do so up until his little body is lowered into the ground. After all, the widow from Nain was in route to bury her (only) son when Jesus interrupted the funeral procession to raise him from the dead. All things are possible!