This weekend was interesting. Closure provided on one front while a beginning on another. On Saturday, Liz and I went down to Prairie du Sac for Sam Hagstrom’s funeral. It was rather heartbreaking and I confess the only reason I didn’t break down crying during “Children of the Heavenly Father” was that the old ladies behind me were singing off-key enough (flat enough?) that it distracted me. There may be difficulties next time that hymn comes up at church though. 
I admire Sam’s parents, my friends Dan and Trish, for their strength through Sam’s life here on earth and now even more as he’s moved on to the life everlasting. I truly believe that you need to be a parent to even begin to understand how painful what they’re going through is. I’m a new parent. I can cry just imagining it. I cannot comprehend what they’re going through. I admire their strength of faith, family and love. I have two links to share related to this. The first is actually an LJ cut (have tissues ready)…
God’s Lent Child
I’ll lend you for a little while
A child of mine, God said.
For you to love the while he lives
And mourn for when he’s dead.
It may be six or seven years
or forty-two or three.
But, will you, ’til I call him back,
Take care of him for me?
He’ll bring his charms to gladden you
And should his stay be brief,
You’ll have his lovely memories
As a solace for your greif.
I can not promise he will stay
Since all from Earth returns,
But there are lessons taught below,
I want this child to learn.
I’ve looked the whole world over
In my search for teacher’s true.
And from the things that crowd life’s lane
I have chose you.
Now will you give him all your love?
Nor think the labor vain?
Nor hate me when I come to take
This lent child back again?
I fancied that I heard them say
Dear Lord, thy will be done.
For all the joys thy child will bring
The risk of grief we’ll run.
We will shelter him with tenderness,
We’ll love him while we may.
And for all the happiness we have known
Forever grateful stay.
But should thy angel call for him,
Much sooner than we planned
We’ll brave the bitter grief that comes
And try to understand.
Author Unknown
The second is an editorial by Sam’s maternal grandparents.
Sunday was a beginning. Our daughter, Laura Kay, was baptized at our morning church service. Her sponsors were Joe and Melissa Barbey. I cannot think of anybody better to carry the candle of Laura’s faith with us. The service was wonderful, with a nod to the miracle that Laura was given to us even after Liz’s successful battle with cancer. Afterwords we enjoyed a meal with friends and family at our house. Tossed a football around a little and watched our green & gold pull off an improbable victory.
