Support for the Jones Family
Donation protected
Friends,
We want to come behind Eric and Emily as a community and love on them in a tangible way. Their sweet four-month-old boy passed away unexpectedly, and if we can relieve some of the burden as they grieve, I know they will be thankful. If you feel so led, help them with funeral expenses and their daily needs for a period of time.
Our Pastor said it best, and we share his wisdom here:
We are told in the Bible that our Father “neither sleeps nor slumbers.” This is a good thing because it enables mothers and fathers to peacefully sleep in the blessed assurance that Jesus, the God of all babies, is constantly awake, watching over our children and securing their wellbeing. It was especially important last night, for sometime in the wee hours of this morning, our vigilant Savior and best friend, Jesus, stood from his throne at the Father’s right side and beckoned for Osco-Bear Onesimus Jones to leave his four-month-old body for the “pleasures forevermore at God’s right hand.” As all obedient children do, Osco-Bear said ‘yes’ to Jesus and silently bid a fond yet temporary farewell to his mom, dad and beautiful older sisters; all of whom loved him dearly.
Of course, God’s choice to grant this sweet baby a release from all the pain of life also means that his parents and sisters will suffer pain. In the midst of this terrible tragedy, Eric and Emily have chosen to joyfully rest in Jesus; a God too good and wise to make any mistake. This does not mean they don’t grieve. But they grieve in hope. And we grieve in hope with them. Eric and I stood outside his home before daybreak this morning, the body of his beloved baby still inside and his wife quietly weeping as caring people attempted to make sense of the loss. “When you preach the funeral Pastor,” Eric said to me, “Don’t let us wallow in misery. Tell us about Jesus and help us look to him.” And later, “It’s alright dad,” he spoke to his father on the phone, "God is good and we are resting in that.” This kind of mountain-moving, tragedy-transforming, gospel sharing faith is not created in the moment of crisis. It springs from years of intentional, personal intimacy with the God of the Bible; readying, studying, meditating, praying, experiencing God daily to know God well on the most important days of life. Today is one of those days for the Jones family. And it is not the last one.
And yet, “this the day the Lord has made;” words spoken about the most horrific day in history - the day Jesus died. God made that day so that we could one day live with Jesus forever. He made this day so that Osco-Bear could live forever with him today.
And he made this day and the days that follow for us to share his immeasurable, unending love with the Jones family.
The old saying recites about Good Friday and Easter, "It’s Friday but Sunday’s coming!” How true. It seems that even heaven is weeping on this Friday. But we will sing through rain and tears on Sunday. After all, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Let us rejoice as Osco-Bear Onesimus Jones is rejoicing. Let us rejoice as Eric and Emily are rejoicing. Let us rejoice as only Christians can rejoice. Let us rejoice as our God "joys over us with love.”
Pastor Reggie
We want to come behind Eric and Emily as a community and love on them in a tangible way. Their sweet four-month-old boy passed away unexpectedly, and if we can relieve some of the burden as they grieve, I know they will be thankful. If you feel so led, help them with funeral expenses and their daily needs for a period of time.
Our Pastor said it best, and we share his wisdom here:
We are told in the Bible that our Father “neither sleeps nor slumbers.” This is a good thing because it enables mothers and fathers to peacefully sleep in the blessed assurance that Jesus, the God of all babies, is constantly awake, watching over our children and securing their wellbeing. It was especially important last night, for sometime in the wee hours of this morning, our vigilant Savior and best friend, Jesus, stood from his throne at the Father’s right side and beckoned for Osco-Bear Onesimus Jones to leave his four-month-old body for the “pleasures forevermore at God’s right hand.” As all obedient children do, Osco-Bear said ‘yes’ to Jesus and silently bid a fond yet temporary farewell to his mom, dad and beautiful older sisters; all of whom loved him dearly.
Of course, God’s choice to grant this sweet baby a release from all the pain of life also means that his parents and sisters will suffer pain. In the midst of this terrible tragedy, Eric and Emily have chosen to joyfully rest in Jesus; a God too good and wise to make any mistake. This does not mean they don’t grieve. But they grieve in hope. And we grieve in hope with them. Eric and I stood outside his home before daybreak this morning, the body of his beloved baby still inside and his wife quietly weeping as caring people attempted to make sense of the loss. “When you preach the funeral Pastor,” Eric said to me, “Don’t let us wallow in misery. Tell us about Jesus and help us look to him.” And later, “It’s alright dad,” he spoke to his father on the phone, "God is good and we are resting in that.” This kind of mountain-moving, tragedy-transforming, gospel sharing faith is not created in the moment of crisis. It springs from years of intentional, personal intimacy with the God of the Bible; readying, studying, meditating, praying, experiencing God daily to know God well on the most important days of life. Today is one of those days for the Jones family. And it is not the last one.
And yet, “this the day the Lord has made;” words spoken about the most horrific day in history - the day Jesus died. God made that day so that we could one day live with Jesus forever. He made this day so that Osco-Bear could live forever with him today.
And he made this day and the days that follow for us to share his immeasurable, unending love with the Jones family.
The old saying recites about Good Friday and Easter, "It’s Friday but Sunday’s coming!” How true. It seems that even heaven is weeping on this Friday. But we will sing through rain and tears on Sunday. After all, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Let us rejoice as Osco-Bear Onesimus Jones is rejoicing. Let us rejoice as Eric and Emily are rejoicing. Let us rejoice as only Christians can rejoice. Let us rejoice as our God "joys over us with love.”
Pastor Reggie
Organizer and beneficiary
Stephanie Waldrop
Organizer
Johnson City, TN
Eric Jones
Beneficiary
