June 30, 2009 - July 9, 2009
Our sweet Samuel went home to our Lord at 2:59 p.m. Bryan and I were at home holding him and praying together.
We loved each day with him.
"'I asked the Lord to give me this child, and he has given me my request. Now I am giving him to the Lord, and he will belong to the Lord his whole life.' And they worshiped the Lord there."
- I Samuel 1:27-28
"In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever."
- Psalm 16:11
"Your sun will no longer set, Nor will your moon wane; For you will have the Lord for an everlasting light, and the days of your mourning will be over."
- Isaiah 60:20.
34 comments:
E - you are so loved. My tears for your loss are constant, but your gentle strength has moved me more than you will ever know.
Much Love, Paige
I cried when Gigi told me the news today ... tears of sadness for your loss as well as tears of joy in the Lord allowing Sam to be home with y'all, for his suffering to end, and for him to be, as you put it well, REALLY HOME. I knew Gigi had the "Welcome Home" cookie cake and I cried as we talked about HOME being the right word in every way. I have marveled at your confidence in our God amidst the pain and will continue to lift you up to the God who sweetly orchestrated and ordained the life (and homecoming!) of this precious boy. May you find strength as you rest in the Shelter of the Almighty. I'll be praying accordingly. Much love and many prayers! Jennifer Lewis
Sweet Eraina- I'm glad you've had this time with Samuel. I'm glad your faith will get you through this. I'm glad you have Bryan. I'm glad that you and Bryan have such amazing families to stand next to you. I'm glad that you have a deep, personal relationship with Christ. I'm glad that Lucy got to meet her little brother. I'm glad that sweet Samuel is with our Lord. But most of all, I'm glad that Samuel got you and Bryan for parents- what a lucky lil guy!!
Prayers to the Larsons and Sloans. Love you, Cousin Juli
Eraina and Bryan--We're praying for you two. What a blessed baby Samuel was to have been born into your family.
Our prayers are with you. You're strength and patient faith in God has inspired so many who have been on this journey with you through our prayers and thoughts.
God loved Samuel enough to take him home.
Cyndi & Gil
Eraina, I just started reading your blog a few days ago and your confidence in the Lord is just amazing.
I am so sorry for your loss. I do pray that with God's strength he will grant you a "peace that passes all understanding".
We are saddened to hear your news and encouraged by your strength and faith.
We pray for peace and comfort for you guys.
-Philip and Teresa
Eraina & Bryan - We are so sorry for your loss. The pictures and posts about little Samuel have been so sweet and inspiring. You are in our prayers.
Horace & Christy
Eraina,
Your loss is beyond comprehension. My heart aches for you and your family. Sending you prayers, love, and courage to face each new day.
Hilary
Dear Eraina and Bryan, We are praying for the peace that passes all understanding. What a beautiful baby boy Samuel was. My heart is heavy tonight. We send our love and prayers to you. Love and prayers, Gina and Dewey Jackson <><
Oh Eraina- I don't have any words for the unimaginable circumstance and pain you are living through right now. Your Samuel is beautiful, as is your Lucy and your amazing strength.
We are praying for your sweet family. I am so sorry. Much love- Sydney Tune Chambers
Please know that the entire Chalker family has your family in our prayers. I am heartbroken for your loss, but have been so encouraged by your faith and strength. What a VERY precious child Samuel is. I love you very much Eraina and Bryan.... Love- Chalker
Dear Bryan and Eraina... I don't think anything has touched me as much as Samuel's journey has in these past days. We are so sorry for the pain you are going through. Your strength, courage and faith are such an inspiration to us. We will continue to pray for you in the weeks and months ahead, as you miss your sweet son, even while knowing that he is with Jesus and you will all be together again.
With heavy hearts, Ardys - for Doug and me
My heart is heavy for you as you deal with your loss. I am so thankful that you were able to bring Samuel home and that Lucy was able to spend some time with her baby brother. I am thankful that Ellis was waiting to play with her little cousin and that they both are in the loving arms of our Lord. May you be comforted in knowing he'll only ever know joy, peace and love. Many hugs and prayers.
Dear, Dear Bryan & Eraina,
I have wept for you all evening. The Lord has chosen you to be a mighty testimony for His name's sake. Oh, how we long for the day when we shall see all things clearly; when we shall know fully; when we shall see face to face, 1 Corinthians 13:12.
Much love and prayers, Liana
Our family will continue to pray for comfort and peace for your entire family. Your grace and faith have been abundantly clear thus far as you have shared your indescribable loss with all of us. I'm so sorry.
Love,
Jill Sargent Sapp and family
Sweet Eraina ~
I am so very saddened to hear of the loss of your beautiful boy. It is obvious in your blog, words, and photographs that you made the most of each day you had with him. My prayers go out to each of you right now as you grieve. May you feel the Lord's presence as you take each step in the coming days. I will always love you, precious friend.
Love, Lauren Sargent Cooley
Bryan & Eraina,
This is a great big squeezy hug to you both!!
Thank you that you have allowed all of us to be in this journey with you.
Thank you for being such amazing witnesses for our Lord and for giving him glory 'through it all'.
Your faith has been tested and found strong.
The verses you have chosen are AMAZING!
Love & Prayers,
Bonnie & Terry
Dear Eraina,
I was directed to your blog the other day, and have been praying for you and your sweet family ever since. My prayer is for God's comfort and strength to be so very evident to you in these days of sadness and loss. What a precious baby boy Samuel was. I, too, am touched and encouraged by your faith and willingness to trust the Lord even in the shadow of death. My love and prayers go out to you.
Holly Hill Steffensrud
Far from these narrow scenes of night
Unbounded glories rise,
And realms of infinite delight,
Unknown to mortal eyes.
Fair distant land; could mortal eyes
But half its joys explore,
How would our spirits long to rise,
And dwell on earth no more.
There pain and sickness never come,
And grief no more complains:
Health triumphs in immortal bloom,
And endless pleasure reigns.
No cloud those blissful regions know,
Forever bright and fair;
For sin, the source of mortal woe,
Can never enter there.
There no alternate night is known,
Nor sun’s fain, sickly ray;
But glory from the sacred Throne
Spreads everlasting day.
The glorious monarch there displays
His beams of wondrous grace;
His happy subjects sing His praise,
And bow before His face.
O may the heavenly prospect fire
Our hearts with ardent love,
Till wings of faith and strong desire
Bear every thought above!
Prepare us, Lord, by grace divine,
For Thy bright courts on high;
Then bid our spirits rise, and join
The chorus of the sky.
-Anne Steele
Dear Larsons,
Should God ever call me to endure a similar loss, I pray I can do it with the grace and strength that you have displayed to all of us. This can only be from Christ in you. He is our hope. Praying for you.
Patrick and I have been and will continue to pray for yall. Your faith is inspiring to many. You are a BEAUTIFUL family.
Larsons - Yesterday was horrible and incredible. I marvel at your faith, your courage, your selflessness. How you embrace the pain right along with the joy. I love you guys and am blessed to call you friends. oh how this makes me the more anticipate our own homecomings. what a day that will be.
Eraina,
My heart is breaking for you right now. Please know that we are praying for you and your family.
Love, Summer & family
Eraina, We have been thinking about you and praying for you. You are such an example of strength and God's love to us. Much love, John-Michael and Emily Kretz
Brian and Eraina,
Jason and I send our love and prayers to your family. May the Grace of God and the blood of Christ cover you as you endure this deep sorrow. My heart aches for the pain you are facing.
I am deeply, deeply sorry for your loss. I imagine our little Summar and your sweet Samuel are big buddies in the presence of Glory. I look forward to the day we will be welcomed HOME by our little ones.
In His Grip. Jason and Lindsay Swain
Wow... Your strength in the Lord is so amazing. I only pray that I am at least half the person that you and Bryan are. I am so sorry to hear of your loss but so thankful that precious Samuel was the son of two very strong faithful parents. This sad story to many is actually very inspiring to me because of your faith in the Lord. I have been praying for your family and precious Samuel several times a day this last couple of weeks and will continue to do so.
I can think of no better parents than you and Bryan to bring Samuell into this world and love him as God intended him to be loved. May God's peace and grace sustain you each day. My prayers are with you both!
Jeremy Copeland
Bryan and Eraina-I am sending you a big hug each from both of us. We are so sorry for the grief you are experiencing, but rejoice that our faith carries us through the darkest moments and brings hope to them. You will see your son again someday. Much love, Chris and Val
Dear Ones,
My heart aches with yours. And words are not enough to soothe your pain. But I will faithfully hold you up before the Lord asking Him to make something beautiful from your heartbreak & the loss of precious Samuel. God will do this in time. He is faithful. And I know, as all believers in Christ know, that when we really reach Home, there will be a whole lot of jubilation as we reunite with our precious loved ones. As you embrace sweet Samuel again!
Father, wrap Your arms tightly around Eraina, Bryan and their families. Whisper love, comfort & peace into their hearts as only You can. Be their strength, strong tower, very present help & refuge as You heal their broken hearts. Remind us as a Christian community of friends to support, pray, love, encourage & care for them in the days ahead.
(Eraina...you're one very special gal to me & my daughter!)
Love,
Sandy Taylor
Psalm 147:3 "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."
Eraina and Brian,
I am heartbroken to hear about Samuel. Please know that you and your family are in our prayers. Your strength and faith have truly moved and inspired us.
Love, Rachael and Gabe Walters
I can't stop thinking about your sweet family, Eraina. My heart aches for you and many tears have been shed. I will continue to lift your family up in prayer. Know that y'all are loved and prayed for by many.
- Jenna Dunham
Eraina- you, Bryan, and most certainly lil Lucy are in my thoughts and prayers.
- Heaven
Eraina and Bryan - I am so saddened for your family that little Samuel was not able to stay longer here with you. My heart breaks for your pain, but even through this great trial you are an inspiration and a testimony to the healing faith of God. You have touched so many with your love and trust in the Lord and I pray that he will bring you His strength, peace and understanding and even joy before long. My prayers are with you. Katie Williams
Post a Comment