A word from Nana

Good morning friends - here is an expanded version of the incredible parallel my mom (Zo's Nana) shared at the memorial service last week.

As Christians, we know in our heads and our hearts the sacrifice that God made of his son Jesus Christ; an offering free of sin and blemish, because God loved the world and the people in it and paid the price so that we could one day see Him face to face.  I can guarantee one of the first verses Christians memorize is John 3:16, "For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son, that whomsoever shall believe in him will not perish but have everlasting life."

Late in the afternoon on October 8th, 2010, I saw something in the PICU unit of Mary Bridge Children's Hospital that brought the enormity of that verse to life, an insight into the very character of God, what His love for us means in very real terms.

It was time to remove our baby Enzo from the tubes that were keeping his body alive.  It was gutwrenching for Papa and me, but the picture of Enzo's daddy, reaching out for his son and holding his failing body close, hunched over, heaving sobs coming from his soul caused me to pause in my own grief, and I realized that our Heavenly Father was allowing me to see something very, very special.  I suddenly did not see Todd and baby Zozo, finishing out his very brief time here on earth.  I saw God the Father, holding Jesus Christ after the price had been paid for us.  I suddenly felt just a small portion of the Father's anguish and pain as he willingly gave up part of himself to mark mankind's sin paid in full.  It was stunning.  

Enzo Steven Williams' life was so brief here on earth, but his soul is eternal.  And I am thankful for the gift of Jesus, because I know that one day I will be reunited with my Zozo.  He'll probably look at me with those big brown eyes and say, "Nana, what took you so long?"