I am a doer. I like to organize. Fix. I call these my "talents" that are God given and I like to use them for His work. I don't look for these opportunities, rather He sends them to me, if that makes any sense.
Months back I became Facebook friends with a gal, Joni, who had a little boy 4 months younger than my Ameliya. We actually only met once in person, but when her little boy, her little James Stryker, started having health issues God began pulling at my heartstrings. I would look at my Ameliya, change her diaper, nurse her to sleep, stroke her baby face...and I would think of Stryker. Stryker's one rare illness became two and he beat phenomenon after phenomenon. I got the Wednesday night church kids involved in praying for him and raising money for his family. Together with my pastor, we got the church involved. Stryker became a part of our lives, and we because a part of his. When Stryker turned one, we rejoiced.
When he had set-backs, we wept. We prayed. We got creative and we got silly. When God showed us another miracle, we laughed and shook our heads.
Stryker became a household name in homes across Northeast Missouri, and then across America. I can't thank Joni, and her husband Jesse, enough for allowing us to take Stryker's journey with them.
When I got word Monday that Stryker had left his world of pain to walk with Jesus I retreated into a place of surrealness. God had provided miracle after miracle for this child, and then gone ahead and taken him Home anyways? And then I remembered...Stryker's life was not in vain. His time spent here was not wasted. Here are {some} of the things that Stryker did for us and people around us...
-he taught us how to pray
-he taught us how to believe in the power of prayer
-he taught us to slow down
-he taught us to enjoy the little things
-he taught us that there is joy to be found in all situations
-he brought people to know Jesus, to deepen their relationships with Him, to trust Him
-he showed us what a miracle looks like
Stryker is a testament to the goodness of Jesus. On Facebook he was referred to as ambassador, a diplomat, a missionary... (Steve Anderson). Stryker lived with a purpose - his parents helped him carry that out.
{ James Stryker Anderson, 19 month old son of Jesse and
Joni (Parish) Anderson of Lucerne, Missouri, left the suffering of this
world to enjoy the eternal riches of our heavenly Father at 6:05 a.m.
Monday, February 8, 2016 after a year long battle against two rare and
baffling diseases living in a hospital for a chance at hope for a
healthy life.
Stryker fought bravely and joyfully as the 1st infant reported with
his condition, with the help of an amazing medical team at Kansas City
Children's Mercy Hospital. He was supported by a dedicated team of
Facebook followers, called Team Stryker and an army of prayer warriors.
His short life was no measure of the immense impact he had on the world.
He was an inspiration to thousands and led a multitude to a restored or
deeper faith and deeper purpose.
Stryker loved music and dancing, interacting, sharing adorable smiles
and "Stryker kisses". His love for his family was evident in every
smile. Everything about Stryker was rare, Stryker himself a rare gift.
He is survived by his parents, Joni and Jesse Anderson of Lucerne,
MO, a brother, Leighton Kempf, a sister, Alyssa Anderson, grandparents,
Jeff and Joy Anderson of Hartford, MO, Pat Anderson of Kirksville, MO,
Jim and Joy Parrish of Hurdland, MO, great-grandparents, Alvie and Donna
Parrish of Novelty, MO, Lola and Howard Anderson of Lancaster, MO and
Nancy West of Blue Springs, MO, as well as numerous aunts, uncles and
cousins.
Public visitation will be held Friday, February 12, 2016 from 3:00 to
6:00 p.m. in the chapel of Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville,
Missouri.
Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 13, 2016
at Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville, with interment following at
Arni Memorial Cemetery in Lancaster, Missouri. }
Today I wore flannel for a hero and stood at a tiny graveside thinking
tiny caskets shouldn't really even exist. I hugged a mom who walked
through terrible times with more grace than I'll ever find in all my
life.
I am a doer. If there would have been an event I could have organized to have taken this all away for Stryker and his family, it would have been done in a heartbeat...we all would have. I keep thinking that if earthly love could have saved Stryker he would have been saved a million times over...but then, in the end, love did save Stryker. The most perfect kind of love to be found - the love of Jesus. It is a blessed thing to know that this little boy runs the hills of heaven and, finally, as it should be, plays tractors in mounds of dirt and piles of sand. As for us left behind - Team Stryker remains strong. We'll take what we learned from the life a little boy lived and we'll use our lessons in the days, months, and years to come. We'll teach them to our children, and they to their children...how to believe in prayer, to enjoy the little things, to cherish the moments...and, in this, Stryker's legacy will live on.
Stryker's life was too short but it was so full of purpose. We are honored, truly humbled, to be part of #teamstryker, and we are forever changed.
1 comment:
Beautifully said. His family, his life, taught me so much.
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