Good Night James
December 15, 2004 to November 23, 2007
Psalm 139: 1-18
O Lord, You have searched me and You know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue You know it completely, O LORD.
You hem me in - behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to You; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to You.
For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with You.
The day has come for James to finish his bath and to be tucked into his final bed. Our Almighty God has relieved James from his struggles and sickness, and called him to further Glory. And so in the next few days we will prepare to lay his body to rest, knowing that he already has eternal rest. Our comfort is knowing that "When I awake, I am still with You."
In a few days we will plant a seed...
43 comments:
I am sorry about your loss. He is with the Lord now. May the Lord continue to give you strength in this time.
Love from: Leanne V.M.
The battle is over. Our hearts and eyes are weeping for you, Rob and Steph. That the Lord has called you to lose a second son is unfathomable. We pray for much strength in the weeks and months to come as you cope with this tremendous loss. May you feel surrounded by God's love through all those who love and care for you.
Dear Rob & Stephanie, Marietta, Rebecca, and Matthew,
We are so sorry that the long journey with James' disease has ended thus, but are comforted in knowing that this was God's design even from the beginning. May He continue to grant you much grace and strength in the days and months ahead as you learn to live with James in your memories instead of in your arms.
Pete & Chandra Vanderboom and family
Dear Rob and Steph and family,
We are so sorry to hear of your loss. May the Lord of all Comfort strengthen and uphold you in the days, weeks and months ahead. Know that you are constantly in our thoughts and prayers....
Matt and Sarah Bartels
Dear Rob and Steph and children
What we here feel as a tremendous loss is so much more a gain for your precious little James.
He and you have been such a testimony of God's ever present help and strength in the days allotted James. We pray that the Almighty who now cares for James in His most wonderful way in heaven will also surround you all in His love, as you deal with this loss. We commend you all into God's loving hands.
Much love, Al and Diane
We are very sorry to hear about your loss. We have been praying regularly for you and will continue to do so. May the Lord give you all you need.
Henry and Annelies Homan
Rob and Steph! We extend to you our deepest sympathy!
What a journey you have traveled! And now Jesus holds James for you! We pray that your family will receive much comfort and strength in these coming days and as James birthday approaches...We ask God to wrap His arms around you and to never never let you go!
We will continue to pray for you!
Come Lord Jesus Maranatha!!
Much love from your family in Christ..
Richard and Tracey Stam
We are so sorry for your loss, Rob, Stephanie, Marietta, Rebecca and Matthew. He was such a sweet little boy and brother - He is with the Lord now and no longer suffers! Much strength.
Rob and Steph,
Our deepest sympathies go to you all. May you continue to feel the love of our Heavenly Father around you during the next days, weeks, and months. Our prayers remain with you all.
Henry and Julia Meerveld
Rob, Steph, Marietta, Rebecca and Matthew - we are so sorry for the loss of your son and brother! We know he suffered a lot, and we know that he is with the LORD, but we also know he was your child and brother, a little boy the LORD gave you to love and cherish for almost three years, and you will miss him dearly. May the LORD continue to give you much strength.
Brad, Deb, Lauren, Brie, Cole and Naomi Alkema
Our condolences go out to you and your family. What a beautiful and comforting post you have written. May the words of Psalm 139 bring you much comfort and know that now your son James is resting in his eternal home. May God surround you with His love and strengthen you with His promises.
Paul and Wilma VanderVeen & family
Rob and Steph, we praise and thank God for granting James the peace and rest he so desperately needed, and for the surety that James is with Him.
At the same time, we are heartbroken that you must now face life without your dear son, and that your other children will grow up missing their brother.
May the God of all comfort be your strength in the coming days.
The Noots
We are so sorry for your loss. May you be strengthened and comforted by our Heavenly Father. We hold you in our prayers, and may you feel the love of all of us who care for you.
Gerald and Sarah Hutten
Rob, Steph and family
We have been following your story through this blog. What a great deal you have been through. We have seen with you how our LORD has been with your family and given you what you needed through all your trials. We are so very sorry to hear of your loss, especially as our youngest is only a few days younger than James. We can only imagine how you are feeling right now. What a comfort to have faith in times like this, and to know that James' suffering is over, that he is in heaven with God and that you WILL meet again. We will continue to bring your family before our Father in prayer. May He give you comfort and healing.
Sorry, that last post should be signed:
Art and Lisa Pieterman
Tim, Deanna, Allison, Amanda and Natalie
We are saddened to hear about your loss, but we are comforted in knowing that he is with his Saviour. Our thoughts and prayers are with you Rob & Steph, Marietta, Rebecca and Matthew
Shauna & Paul Krikke
Spencer, Conner & Brittany
Dear Rob and Stephanie and children.
Words cannot express how we feel for you at this time. We have prayed for you and your family in family prayers and in His way the LORD has now answered prayer. We have seen and witnessed how the LORD has provided for you in these difficult weeks and we are comforted that He will also continue to do so in the days ahead. May the LORD use what He has given in James for the glory of His Name.
Fred and Grace VanderVelde and family
P.S. We were at Sick Kids today and tried to see you. When we were unable, we expected that James had been taken Home.
Rob, Steph and family,
Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with you now in your loss.
James fought a long battle and his victory is our comfort; that he is now eternally with his God and Father. We pray that you will find strength and comfort in this.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
John Kim Olivia and Aaron Harsevoort
Rob and Stephanie, Marietta, Rebecca and Matthew;
We are sending you our deepest and heart-felt sympathies with the loss of your son and brother, James. We pray that our Heavenly Father who knows all of our needs will be near to you and surround you with His love. We will continue to remember you in prayer in the days, weeks and months ahead as you deal with your great loss.
Andrew and Kerri Jans, Jake, Nate and Mika
Dear Rob, Steph and family.
We tooh ave been following your blog for the last while. We are very sorry for your loss and may God grant you the strength as you have to bury you little son.
Love Andrew and Michelle Vanderven
Dear Rob, Steph & children,
We are so saddened for you with the loss of James. He will be so surely missed by you as parents and his sisters and brother. But James has gained so much, life with his Loving Jesus who has His arms wrapped around him. What a comfort to know that. How we all long to be in that place. May God give each of you strength to deal with James' loss in the days, weeks, months ahead. May you also receive peace knowing that there is no more suffering for your gorgeous little boy.
Andrew & Helen
Dear Rob, Steph, Marietta, Rebecca, and Matthew,
We will continue to pray for you all. What a comfort to know that James is in heaven, where there will never be anymore pain, needles, surgery, tests necessary for his little body - he has a perfect body now. But we know you will all miss him tremendously, your good, sweet, courageous little son and brother. May God give you all you need over the next days, weeks, months, years.
Continuing in prayer for you all,
Allan, Alice, and kids.
Dear Rob, Steph, and family. We morn for you lose. We also pray that the Lord may comfort you and give you strength in this time of sorrow. Your family is constantly in our prayers. Jason, Carol and Keagan Versteeg.
Rob & Steph and family
Our condolences with James' passing away. We continue to pray for you and your family in the coming days as you "plant your seed" and then go on. Though we don't always know why, we do know that with God nothing happens by chance. May you continue to find comfort in the sure promises that God has given all of us.
John and Johanna Homan
You're in our thoughts and prayers.
Pete and Diana Scholtens
Rob and Stephanie and family.
Reading about James' progress and struggles every day has been a guide for our prayers every day. Now though with James safe in God's arms with Jesus at his side, We pray for you all. May His Spirit stay with you and give you the strength you need to say good-bye to your son. Words can not express how we feel for you in this time of deep loss. Our very best wishes are inadequate for you - but we will interceded on your behalf.
In Christ's name
the Vanderhouts
Rob and Stephanie, Marietta, Rebecca and Matthew
We are so sorry for your loss of your son and brother. We may be comforted that he is now with the Lord, pain free. He was such a brave boy and what we knew of him a happy boy. May the Lord be with you in the days ahead and give you much strength.
Shaun and Karen DeJonge and family
Rob, ,Steph, Marietta, Rebecca and wee Matthew,
We join the others in expressing our sincere sympathy in the passing of James. However, we also rejoice with you in the knowledge that he is safe in the arms of the Lord, free from suffering.
We pray that our covenant God will continue to strengthen you in the difficult days ahead.
You will remain in our thoughts and prayers.
Arend and Willa Dale
Dear Rob & Stephanie, Marietta, Rebecca & Matthew,
It is with tears in my eyes that I read that James has been called Home after such a lengthy battle. Words are inadequate, but please know that our prayers and thoughts will be with you. May the God of all comfort sustain you as only He can.
Len & Thelma Nienhuis
It is always so hard to know what to say! Though we pray that our Heavenly Father will be with you in this terrilby difficult time, we also praise him for giving us the knowledge that your little James is now safe in his arms tucked close to His chest!! We will pray that the Lord will be with you as a family as you prepare to bury your second child. May He grant you much comfort and peace.
Steve and Karen Mans
Our sincerest sympathies on the passing of James, yet we praise our Heavenly Father for relieving James of his suffering and bringing him to Him. He was so young yet he touched so many lives.
We pray that the Lord will strengthen, guide and comfort you during this difficult time.
Rob and Trish Smink
Suffer the little children to come on to me for such is the Kingdom of God.
Our thoughts and prayers will continue to be with all of you, as you continue your journey here on earth.
James is now a precious Jewel safe in the arms of his Lord.
neighbours of Ed & Henrietta
Dear Rob and Stephanie,
Our condolences with the loss of your son. May the Lord give you strength as you lay the little body of your son to rest to await the great day of the resurrection. May the covenant promises of God encourage you in this difficult time. We will be praying for you.
Rev. & Mrs. George & Dora van Popta
Dear Rob, Stephanie and family,
We have been following the blogs you have posted about your precious little son. He has been relieved of his suffering, and we thank the Lord for that! Our hearts go out to you all as you deal with this tremendous loss in your family. May our Heavenly Father carry you through this difficult time and may you feel lifted up by all the prayers for you and your family.
John and Diane Bosscher and family
Dear Rob, Steph, Marietta, Rebecca and Matthew,
Like so many others, it is with tears in my eyes that I write this. We wish you the Lord's strength and comfort as you face the coming days and months. James is home now, resting in the arms of Jesus. Thank you for keeping us all up to date. We continue to keep you all in our prayers.
Dan & Carrie Hartman
Rob and Steph
We grieve with you and wish you all strength and peace from God for now and the days to come.
Tim & Brenda Nijenhuis
Steph and Rob and kids,
May God give you all the strength that you need not only in the next few days but also in the weeks, months and years ahead as your life goes on. Cherish the memories that you have of your beautiful, strong little boy James.
Dear Rob & Stephanie, Marietta, Rebecca and Matthew,
Our sincere condolences on the passing of your dear son and brother James. We will continue to pray for you. It is our prayer that the Lord will give you the strength that you need during this difficult time.
Love from, Justin & Mary-Lynn, Kyle, Brayden & Natania Schutten
May you find comfort in these words.
"The dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no mre death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Rev. 21
Rob and Diane Bonefaas
Dear Rob, Steph and kids
Our family would like to send you our deepest sympathies with the loss of your son. We may not always understand the obstacles which God has set before our path, but let us be strengthened by the fact that all things work together for His glory. May the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort grant you all that you require in the time ahead.
Sincerely Bryan & Karen Jongbloed and family.
You are in our thoughts and in our prayers. We wish you much strength during this time of grieve and loss.
Hans and Coby Bartels
Stephanie,Rob and Family,
Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to you all. Although we do not always understand the Lord's plans for us here on earth, we do know that we are given the strength through HIm to endure all that comes our way. We pray for your family that the strength will come to you through our Lord to help you with your loss. Love Arnie, Cathy, Megan and Makenna Hofsink
Stephanie,Rob and Family,
Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to you all. Although we do not always understand the Lord's plans for us here on earth, we do know that we are given the strength through HIm to endure all that comes our way. We pray for your family that the strength will come to you through our Lord to help you with your loss. Love Arnie, Cathy, Megan and Makenna Hofsink
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