Grief . . .
All of this is such new territory for me. It is not like disappointment at all. It goes to your core, leaving an indescribable ache.
I appreciate greatly the several women who have written me, women who have experienced similar losses offering to be a comforting shoulder. Once the business slows down, you may actually receive a phone call or email from me.
Right now, I remain tired—it is like a heavy weight is on my back. The burden of conflicting emotions and providing normalcy for my family makes me weary at times. I am thankful for my amazing family, for they understand the Gospel. I found there words encouraging: Let me assure you that in our helplessness and weakness the saints out in the ether pain for you and grieve this loss about 1/100th of your grief, but are sincere nonetheless. The Holy Spirit urges us to write and reach out to you from the unknown and to pray for you in the dark. But it is Christ that comforts us all; it is Aslan that guides the boat.” I do read and am thankful for every letter, email, and Internet post.
The Funeral . . .
Dustin’s funeral was an amazing time of worship and remembrance. A group of about 650-700 people gathered to say goodbye to our dear friend. If you weren’t able to attend the service or just want to know Dustin better, audio from Dustin’s sermons and the service/remembrances can be found on Fort Worth PCA’s front page at http://fortworthpca.org. I know that sometime soon, materials will also be available on Redeemer’s website.
This month’s issue of Table Talk is on grief. I am thankful for my closest friends who have sheltered me during this storm. I am thankful for all of you fellow mourners and the word of God—help my unbelief.
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on Wednesday, April 18th, 2007 at 11:28 am and is filed under Uncategorized.
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Grief . . .
All of this is such new territory for me. It is not like disappointment at all. It goes to your core, leaving an indescribable ache.
I appreciate greatly the several women who have written me, women who have experienced similar losses offering to be a comforting shoulder. Once the business slows down, you may actually receive a phone call or email from me.
Right now, I remain tired—it is like a heavy weight is on my back. The burden of conflicting emotions and providing normalcy for my family makes me weary at times. I am thankful for my amazing family, for they understand the Gospel. I found there words encouraging: Let me assure you that in our helplessness and weakness the saints out in the ether pain for you and grieve this loss about 1/100th of your grief, but are sincere nonetheless. The Holy Spirit urges us to write and reach out to you from the unknown and to pray for you in the dark. But it is Christ that comforts us all; it is Aslan that guides the boat.” I do read and am thankful for every letter, email, and Internet post.
The Funeral . . .
Dustin’s funeral was an amazing time of worship and remembrance. A group of about 650-700 people gathered to say goodbye to our dear friend. If you weren’t able to attend the service or just want to know Dustin better, audio from Dustin’s sermons and the service/remembrances can be found on Fort Worth PCA’s front page at http://fortworthpca.org. I know that sometime soon, materials will also be available on Redeemer’s website.
This month’s issue of Table Talk is on grief. I am thankful for my closest friends who have sheltered me during this storm. I am thankful for all of you fellow mourners and the word of God—help my unbelief.
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, April 18th, 2007 at 11:28 am and is filed under Uncategorized.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
April 18th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
Dear Leigh Anne,
We join you in grief at our friend Brian’s passing. Two young men with families taken so closely by brain injuries. I like to think that they are hanging out in heaven. And I know they are having a good time and comparing stories.
I have a little motto that I keep saying in my head: It will never get easier, but at some point it won’t be so hard. I really believe that.
I continue to pray for you and your beautiful children. You will get through this because you have God. And He will give you strength.
I am so proud to “know” you even though we have never met. And I hope that one day I will get to meet you. Because throughout this process you have been the face of love, strength and grace. And when I was discouraged and angry throughout my journey with Brian, I felt a peace when I thought about you.
I’m so sorry for your loss and I know that nothing I say will take that pain from you. But please know that I am here. If you need anything or if you just happen to be in the Atlanta area one day. I’d love to give you a hug.
Peace to you and your family.
Jamie Corona
Marietta, GA
April 19th, 2007 at 10:23 am
Thank you so much Leigh Anne for taking time to share with us. So many have said how they’ve never met you, but feel a connectedness with you as we’ve bowed before the throne of grace with you and on your behalf, and I do pray that God uses that to comfort you. It’s such a strange blessing to suffer and struggle with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank you for living out your life in front of us to spur us on to trust and obedience in Christ and encourage us to go before the Lord, acknowledging His unchanging character and love for us. We continue to lift you, your children and the rest of your family up to our faithful God. Jennifer, Redeemer Pres, Athens, GA
April 19th, 2007 at 11:58 am
Dear Leigh Anne,
As I said before, the end wasn’t what we hoped and prayed for, but there WAS an end. And Dustin isn’t suffering any more. I didn’t know of the death of Jamie’s friend Brian, but I’m glad that he, too, is healed permanantly and both are hanging out in a better place than this one.
I Googled info on Dustin, tho not lately and thereby didn’t know that the Ft.Worth PCA had coverage of his funeral on its website. What a remarkable man he was for one so relatively young! And what a hole he’ll leave in so many lives! I mean, anyone who loved coffee shops and nightly movies was definitely my kind of guy! I would’ve had so much fun comparing movies with him over coffee and, perhaps a good steak. I like to think this is what Jesus was like–someone who enjoyed movies and hanging out at coffeshops or delis.
I wrote you, too, Leigh Anne, while you were still in South Carolina. But I didn’t send the letter and other info until a couple of weeks before you moved back to Ft. Worth. I sent my phone # as well. I hope and pray that my correspondence catches up with you. Hope even more that you and I, at least, can enjoy a good chat time permits.
Always remember that, as heavy a load as widowhood it, there are lots of folks out there helping you carry it.
Love, Fran
April 19th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
I’ve been checking every day to “hear” news of you and your children and how you are. Thank you so much for taking the time to write for us. I have no words and can’t do a thing - but I do think of you often and pray for you and your kids. I am continuing to pray as you adjust to you “new normal.”
I’m glad to hear that you are surviving, that the funeral was a beautiful time of worship, and that you have been surrounded by love. Please, please keep telling us of your needs when you feel up to it, so that we may join you in prayer.
April 20th, 2007 at 1:27 pm
Dear Leigh Anne,
We continue to miss Dustin with you. You and the kids are in our prayers.
love,
Stacie Dietsch & Family
April 20th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
I can’t tell you how often I have prayed for you and wondered how you and your family are. Thank you for the update. You are an incredible witness to so many. The one thing someone told me after I had my miscarraige was that the feelings of grief are not linear and they were right. It is such an up and down process. I will pray that our prayers will carry you through all of the downs and that our Lord will give you peace and joy.
Love
Amy Maves
April 22nd, 2007 at 10:38 am
Hi Leigh Anne,
We’re continuing to pray with you and for you. We love you and the kids. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us!
Love,
Eric and Jen Levenhagen
April 22nd, 2007 at 8:36 pm
Still praying in Va. We love you here and grieve as best we can. And we join you in yearning for the resurrection. It will come. Your King loves you. GT
April 23rd, 2007 at 5:23 am
Dear Leigh Anne-
You are and will remain in my thoughts and prayers- you and your precious children as well as other family members. It’s still hard to grasp- the enormity of what has taken place - but in my heart, I am certain Dustin is well - at peace. Please know though time has passed and will pass, you are not alone. We love you , we lift you and support you. God’s strength and blessings to you and your family.
Carol Schaum
Christopher and Kevin’s Mom
Hanover, PA
April 23rd, 2007 at 2:46 pm
Leigh Anne,
Thank you so much for the update. With many of our brothers and sisters and in the name of our great savior, I continue to regularly lift up your family to the Lord in prayer. This update will help me to offer more specific points of praise and supplication to God. Nevertheless, I thank God that He understands and fulfills your needs more fully than we can possibly imagine.
Peace in Christ,
Jonathan Carter
Greenville, SC
April 26th, 2007 at 5:37 am
Dear Leigh Anne,
I join the others in thanking you so much for writing to us and letting us know how you are doing. I have never experienced the death of a husband, but I have been through the death of both my brother and sister, and so I believe I can empathize with your grief, though mine was not to the degree that yours is. I remember so distinctly that every morning when I woke up back then, in those seconds between asleep and awake, it seemed as if I put on a lead jacket, which covered my chest and just pulled me down. That went on for months, and then, one day, for a few minutes after I woke up, it was gone. I remember that somehow, that lead strait jacket (for so it felt) was an attachment to my sister, and I realized that, bittersweetly, God was healing me and this phase of my short sojourn on earth with my sister was indeed over. I wept bitterly at this–and yet God has healed me and even given me the honor of sharing this with you.
I pray for you daily, and will now also pray that God will open your eyes to the great love and care He has for you, and the amazing number of people He has raised up to bear your burdens and carry your grief. I have never seen such an outpouring of love for someone that people have never even met. I myself am a really busy homeschooling mom of five. I never get on blog sites, or anything like that. When my daughter (at OU) told me of Dustin’s accident and his fine message on Providence, I knew that I was being called to pray for him and for you every day. One day, a friend here in Nashville with whom I speak infrequently called and was talking about some of her struggles with providence, and I mentioned Dustin’s piece as one of the finest and clearest expositions on the topic that I had ever seen. Immediately, she knew exactly about whom I was talking, and told me that God had already impressed on her the need to pray for you all. She and a friend were praying daily for Dustin, you and the children. It seems God has raised many to help you bear this very hard providence–I pray He just overwhelms you with the sense of how many of us are fervently praying. He has obviously deemed you worthy of incredible service to Him.
Please, please, if you ever need to lament or wail, feel free to share it with me. Know that many many are praying and will pray. Also, please let us know of what tangible things you might need so that we can share those burdens with you as well.
Love in Christ, Berta Myers
April 26th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
Dear Leigh Anne and Berta,
Berta, that was so beautifully said. Yes, people from all over the world continue to help you bear your burden by prayer. And, yes, we would love to share your tangible burdens as well.
Love, Cheryl Babington
April 27th, 2007 at 4:21 pm
Dear Leigh Anne,
Berta said all that I am feeling so well. She obviously is an incredible lady on which God has poured out His grace and mercy just as I am praying for Him to do for you and your family. I have every confidence that one day you will be ministering to those in loss just like Berta is today. Just know, that there is no time line on grief- give yourself plenty of time and grace with what you feel. I know that pressure of trying to keep up “normalcy” in your home- don’t have a good answer to that…I ‘ll just keep praying that God gives you peace and strength. Tell your sweet kids hello from Americus!
Amy Maves
April 30th, 2007 at 4:51 am
Hi Leigh Anne, Nathan, Jacob and Meredith,
Just a note to say hello and that we continue to pray for your family. Truly your family of believers must be such comfort to you at this time.
Things may not go back to what they were, but we know that God will grant you the grace and strength to endure, and we are praying that He will restore a deep sense of joy that one day you will see Dustin again, in perfection. May the peace of God guard your heart and mind in Christ.
In His Love and mine,
Lyndis
May 3rd, 2007 at 3:11 pm
I don’t have much to say, but that we love you, miss you, and pray for you every morning for “daily bread” for your family.
We’ll talk soon,
Katie
May 10th, 2007 at 10:57 am
Leigh Anne and kids,
I don’t know if you are still reading this or not but I wanted to let you know I have not forgotten you. I still pray for you often and the girls do as well. Let us know if we can do anything or pray for anything specifically for you.
Amy Maves
May 13th, 2007 at 9:11 pm
Happy Mother’s Day to a wonderful mommy. Your children are blessed to have you.
Without ceasing,
Cheryl Babington
May 18th, 2007 at 3:51 am
Yes, we’d love to hear from you. Take care, and chin up sweetie!
lyndis
singapore
May 26th, 2007 at 8:54 pm
Memorial Weekend is here and we remember.
Without Ceasing,
Cheryl Babington
June 16th, 2007 at 10:42 pm
Praying for you and your children this Father’s Day weekend. May God meet you in your grief with His perfect peace.
June 20th, 2007 at 4:31 am
Remembering your family on Father’s Day. Take care and hope to hear from you soon.
July 11th, 2007 at 10:05 am
I feel like I’m coming upon this news so late, and am so saddened that I was far enough out of touch I never heard about any of this. However, I just saw the news in TCU magazine.
For what it’s worth, I came to know Dustin in 1999 when I was a freshman at TCU. RUF was small, but it was a really caring community and it really made me feel accepted that year, when I knew so few people. Dustin was so important to me that year, and even though I transferred out of TCU, and then came back, I always had a great respect for him. I know you’ve gotten so many of these stories, and I can’t offer much, but for what it’s worth, I feel like I’m one more life that Dustin touched during his time at TCU, and for that time, I am so grateful.
August 27th, 2007 at 12:30 am
Hi Leigh Anne,
Hope your family is doing well. His Grace is sufficient for you.
October 26th, 2007 at 9:15 am
Leigh Anne-
Still loving and praying for and missing you all.
–Christina (Thompson) Szrama
November 7th, 2007 at 10:45 am
One year ago, this story began to unfold in your life. We continue to pray for you and the children daily. We will never forget.
Without ceasing,
Cheryl Babington
December 3rd, 2007 at 4:09 am
Merry Christmas, Leigh Anne and family!
March 5th, 2008 at 10:53 am
The LORD has brought you to mind the past couple of days. Just wanted to let you know that you are still being prayed for. May the light of Jesus fill your heart today with inexpressible joy and peace.
Much love,
holly
March 19th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
You said it so well……NOW you know what it is to long for Heaven. You continue to be in our thoughts and prayers, Leigh Anne. Your faithfulness ministers to our hearts.
One day at a time, sweet Jesus.
Without Ceasing,
Cheryl Babington