Monday, April 14, 2014

When Tragedy Occurs in Our Scope of Influence

*Today I ask for prayer.  Please read!


In this day and age, we hear of tragedy every single day, unless we cut ourselves off from the media (via computer, radio, print, or Television).  Often I find myself in the odd ball out category of not knowing a lot about current events because, quite frankly, it's depressing. But unless one lives literally under a rock, we cannot avoid the reality that life in this world is sad and broken.


So we hear this bad news here and bad news there.  And we think in our hearts and minds: oh my, that's awful;  I will pray for them.  Some news stories touch us more than others, even if it's "just a stranger."



However, when the worst happens to someone within our scope of influence (family, friends, neighbors, etc.), it takes the breath out of you.  Literally.  



I'd graciously like to ask for prayer for the Neal Family.  They are friends of ours from the first time we were stationed in Texas.  In fact, they were our awesome neighbors that taught me a lot of stuff about raising kids that I was absolutely clueless about (because I had only Ethan at the time and they had 3)!



But back to the prayer request...their 15 year old daughter, Sarah, has terminal cancer.  She was diagnosed September of 2010 with Ewing's Sarcoma.  At the time, her prognosis was good.  However, the cancer returned the next year, and it's been a battle ever since.  An absolute gut-wrenching battle in which I cannot even begin to imagine.  



About two weeks ago, the doctors told our friends there was nothing more that could be done, and that the cancer was spreading.  Sarah is now resting at a nearby Army hospital, waiting for the good Lord to carry her Home.  


Pray for peace and comfort for Sarah.  

Pray for her pain to go away.

Pray for peace and comfort for her parents and her two brothers, and her multitudes of family and friends.

Pray that the Lord will be glorified in all of the pain and suffering.  

Pray that the lost may be saved, and find Jesus because of Sarah's strength and courageousness.  

Thank you.



The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble:  and He knoweth them that trust in Him.  Nahum 1:7

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Oh so sad!! Saying a prayer now for them!

gregswife said...

Can't even begin to comprehend their pain, but God can and does. Only He can heal their broken hearts and provide them comfort....

MarshaMarshaMarsha said...

Praying for her and her family. It's hard, this world... I'm ready for Jesus to return and for our real lives and real rest to begin. (((hugs)))