All Heart

It was with very heavy, yet thankful, hearts that my daughter, Bethany, and I boarded a plane to Seattle, early last Friday morning.  Our life long friends' dear thirteen year old son had suddenly gone to be with the Lord.  Much too soon.  Much too young.  Jameson was born with severe heart issues, has had several surgeries since birth, and has been their little miracle boy all along.

But not many would know it.  He didn't let what he couldn't do slow him down.  He just found other ways to live and love life to the fullest.  At his memorial service on Saturday, I was overwhelmed by the stories from family and friends, his teachers, his principal, and many others who knew him so well, testifying to his kindness, his love for family and others, his funny antics, his devotion to scripture, and most importantly his love for his Lord.  One comment particularly struck a chord with me.  "He would rather be reconciled than be right."  And he was only thirteen!

This young man may have had a greater influence and testimony to others during his short life than most of us do during a full eighty plus!  God knew that day in May 2001 how many days Jameson would have, just as He knows ours.  Jameson had a vast appreciation for life, for family, for God, for baseball and fishing, and for his friends.  It showed in all he did.  It showed in his words, in his choices, in that quirky smile.

From the time Jameson fell to the last of our goodbyes, his family, though grieving, were firmly grounded by our Lord and in His Word.  Much comfort was shared through verses and passages that shined light back to the glory and majesty of God.  Even Jameson had highlighted Psalm 24 in his own Bible.

"The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof, the world, and they that dwell therein.  For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.  Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?  Or who shall stand in his holy place?  He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart, who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.  He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.  This is the generation of them that seek them, that seek thy face, O Jacob.  Selah.  Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in...."

The Clements and Martin families will forever miss their precious Jamers.  His siblings Isaiah, Shepard, Lincoln, and Avalee will forever miss their big brother.  But God gave the good gift of Jameson for a season, and for that we are all thankful.  As we pray for the hearts of this family, may we be challenged by the life of this sweet boy...to be kind, to love God and His Word, to love family, to be a good friend, to have fun, to live life to the fullest...to have a heart like Jameson.