My Heart Aches for the Goodwin Family today :(

The poem I wrote to honor Lane Goodwin on October 17, 2012, the night he was called Home.


Lane, sweet boy, your weary soul has softly taken flight.
You are safely wrapped and loved in God's strong arms tonight.

We've all been touched so deeply now, hearts broken at your leaving.
But pain and strife will be no more, so why can't I stop grieving?

You fought the fight so strong and true, until the very end.
A mighty hero you sweet thing, the world you did befriend!

We were praying for a miracle, from all corners of the globe.
But now you don a brilliant white, and perfect gleaming robe.

So now the world will mourn the loss of a miraculous young man.
When all along God must have known that this would be the plan.

Your life has had great purpose, and you bore the burden well.
The Childhood cancer story was the one you were to tell.

Sweet dreams dear one, you will be missed, but surely not forgotten.
You have your wings, your life complete, and no longer downtrodden.

Unless you have been living under a rock for the last month or so, it is safe to say you have heard of the 13 yr old Lane Goodwin who was in the fight of his life against cancer.  In an effort to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer and assistance with his rising medical bills, his family launched a campaign to have people send thumbs up to Lane as encouragement to him; but also and to get the word out about cancer among children, thus creating awareness for the need of a CURE!!!  He received an astounding number of thumbs up pictures from some very high profile and famous people all around the world.

And so began a world coming together via Facebook to pray over this boy asking God for a miracle.  Updates were given by his family, along with photos of Lane as well as all of the famous people sending prayers and thumbs up.  I watched as this Facebook page grew with an astounding rate of speed.  I hardly think Facebook could keep up with the number of likes and comments on his page.  The world was waiting for a miracle, hoping for one, praying for one...that did not come.  God in all of His wisdom and sovereignty chose to take Lane home to heaven with Him, and leaving a world in sadness and sorrow.  I do not question God's decision, as He knows and understands is ways we simply can't comprehend with a human mind.  However, I am broken for a family who has lost a loved one; a son, brother, grandchild, friend...

And as I have watched, followed, and prayed; I can't help but feel grief for the loss of a very brave boy who was willing to sacrifice his privacy and pain for the raised awareness of a Cure for Cancer.  So today, let us all pray for the Goodwin family as they struggle through having to say goodbye...and if you are like me, then take a little extra time out of your busy day and love deeper, snuggle longer, and really take in those precious moments that just don't last forever.  I have placed above a beautiful and fitting hymn, so listen if you will.  It's just not a smile and move on kind of day today... it's just a move on day, what else can we do?