Thursday, May 15-Tuesday, May 20, 2008
For almost two years, our lives as retirees have been an open book; but, this has changed for the days after Leah and Ryan were told their heartbreaking news. There is no way to document such a private time with the grief over the loss of Jameson Dudley McQuitty even now fresh in our hearts.
However, it always amazes me that even through the darkest of days, God sheds light if you’re willing to look for it. We had never met Ryan’s family until now and were pleased at how quickly we all bonded together, almost extensions of each other. The family, friends, and church friends of ours and Leah and Ryan’s rallied around with food, plants, visiting, calling, and offering comfort. Not one mile of this horrible journey did we have to walk alone. The prayers that others were saying for each of us reached us and were felt each step of the way.
Leah and Ryan were an inspiration to all who witnessed their struggle with such a tragedy. Yes, at first the bitterness and anger were there; but as prayers began to pour in, the transformation of this young couple, who had all the hopes and dreams in the world for little Jameson, became one that soothed and comforted those of us who were there to strengthen them.
Though Jameson was not alive when Leah delivered him with Ryan by her side, each of us got to hold him, examine him, and love him. He had Ryan’s button nose, to the delight of Leah who thinks her nose is just too big! However, as Jim pointed out, he had Leah’s thin lips and open mouth! We’re still not sure she agrees with that, but it did make Ryan snicker. And, oh, my! Jameson had such long legs, fingers and toes. It was obvious to all that he would have been quite a runner. (And, yes, those were characteristics of his Mommy.) We were all blessed that Leah and Ryan chose to share this moment with us after they had time alone with him.
It was difficult to handle the evening after we left him; but even then, God kept us all together and we marveled as Leah declared late that evening that she was at peace even though she felt so empty. What a blessing she shared with us as parents!
Now, you all know that the only way a family gets through a loss as horrific as this is to find laughter. Well, one day at meal time, after the graveside services had been planned, Ryan mentioned that Leah always sings her special version of Jesus Loves the Little Children to him when she’s mad at him. Then she proceeded to sing it to us….”Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world…red and yellow, black and blue, He loves everyone but you.” Now if that isn’t enough to shock a set of parents! Just means she was in Odyssey of the Mind much too long…her creativity obviously knows no bounds.
I only mentioned the above incident because it also became the source of relief at the end of Jameson’s service. Pastor David Bagwell opened the simple graveside service with a prayer and then Larry Moore sang a hauntingly beautiful rendition of Jesus Loves Me. After a moving and comforting message by David, the closing song by Larry was Jesus Loves the Little Children, and I know I wasn’t alone in thinking of Leah’s silliness as he sang…then just as Larry finished the second verse and was concluding with the usual line, Leah and Ryan looked at each other…I know…I was watching Leah…and they burst out laughing, along with the rest of the immediate family. Did we shock the 55-60 friends and relatives in attendance? No…I don’t think so…once they heard the story, they too joined in laughing…Oh, Jameson, you would have grown up with such a loving, laughing family…
To each of you, we say thank you for the prayers. They worked! Though the road will still be rough for each of us in our own way, we are better people for the time we shared these days, and with our eyes fixed on Jesus, we continue to run this race of life.
With love and appreciation to all…Barbara and Jim
