My first thought when my friend sent me the initial frantic text to pray for healing for Sawyer and wisdom for the doctors, was why would such a good God allow this sweet little five-year-old to endure so much pain and suffering? Not only do you say there will be suffering but you promise it. You promise that while we live here on Earth we will suffer, and not until we are reunited with our creator will we feel the peace that only you can create.
The first thing I think of is that often we try to shrink God down and make Him into a person. A person who owes us all of the answers. When this couldn't be farther from the truth we serve a God who is good all the time. It is impossible for us to see this now because our flawed human brains cannot begin to comprehend the meticulous, awe consuming, perfect way that God has created. It won't be until we are worshipping Jesus in Heaven where we will finally be able to understand why. For now, we can only ask who. For if God is who He claims to be a car crash is not the end. Little Sawyer is looking down from Heaven saying to wipe your tears. He is looking down saying if only you could see what it is like up here you would think I would be the one crying for you!
We hear so many times the phrase "He had so much more life to live". The most important thing to remember is that God has each of our days numbered. This was no surprise to God. Sawyer's death was not something that caught God off guard. He knew. There was nothing left for little Sawyer to do on this Earth so God called him home. How tragic would it be for Sawyer to stay in such a hurting and broken world when there is nothing left for him to do. How much sweeter would it be to worship at the feet of Jesus in a place where there is no darkness, tears or sadness? People will all say we miss out on sweet moments like his wedding or his future family, but if you think about it what could compare to the reunion with the Groom that Sawyer has in Heaven. And right now he is with all of the children of God, we are one family, and one day we will all be there worshipping as together.
This is not to say that this isn't hard. And to be honest, hard doesn't even begin to describe what his parents are going through. There are no words to describe the pain that a parent feels when their child passes away. He hears every prayer, even the ones composed of just tears. He is with you in your mourning. He will never leave you. He will wipe every tear from your eye. There is a God in the midst of the chaos and tragedy, not only is there a God but one that claims victory over death, chaos, and tragedy. This is not new to God, He too lost His one and only son. The amount of love and grace that Sawyers parents exude is remarkable. Their faith is something to be inspired by. The celebration of life Sawyer had led lost people to Christ. His life saved many lives. His death was not in vain. The fact that Sawyers parents can see light in so much darkness shows me how big their faith is, how much they trust that this isn't the end game, that one day they will see Sawyer again and when they do it will be for eternity.
This post is dedicated to the family and friends of Sawyer Gordon.