Today I want to honor the Earl family. On Wednesday morning at 3am, their Esther took her finally bow as a citizen of Earth and slipped her lovely self into the Heavens. Esther was 16, the veteran of a four year battle with metastasized papillary thyroid cancer.
I could try to come up with words that would be worthy enough to carry their pain; to cradle the accumulation of their suffering and loss. But it would be a vain exercise and I would be foolish to try.
Let me say, instead, that the Earl family have shone to me these last years. Their faith has taught me new levels of grace while their grace has taught me new levels of faith. I am so much richer for knowing them.
Esther's daddy writes:
We awake to an empty bed... and empty hearts. There is awfulness all around. We are sad. The weather is sad. Esther's cats are sad. But Esther liked this kind of day. She liked most everything. Esther liked. We would stay doubled over but she would have us rise and receive the grace that is a new day. And Esther loved you all so much! She loved us, too. Esther loved. Thank you to everyone near and far, known or unknown to us. You helped to carry our light and life, gave her hours of joy and purpose. She will miss you and we will miss her banter with you. We're not so up for calls and visits but appreciate your condolences, emails, texts and tweets... Nerdfighteria: you are awesome! Remember: Awesomeness trumps awfulness every time. Death is not the final word but the "next great adventure" as Dumbledore said so well. Esther was never an unhappy lady. She was always happily up for adventure! In our hearts and exploring heaven; that's where we'll find her now.
Our Star was a welcomer. Didn't matter who you were or what badge you did or didn't wear, you were welcome to sit and visit in person or by computer with her. Esther welcomed. Whoever you are and wherever you may be, we welcome you, too, to join us as we remember and celebrate her brief, but glorious life. By tomorrow we will connect you to her official obituary and a means whereby you can give in her memory if you'd like.
You can read more of the story here .
Peace upon your family, dear Earls.
4 comments:
too sad and hard for sure! tears come and drip down thinking of anyone having to lose a child.
There is great joy in knowing your children, knowing your God, and trusting him to care for them in the toughest of tough things that no one can imagine.
Earls must have had an incredible glimpse of who God is by knowing Esther.
How blessed we are when God puts such people before us in our journey through life to love.. to learn from and best of all to increase our grace and faith.
I was touched and humbled as I read her fathers words , I have been recovering these last 3 weeks from total thyroidectomy surgery that was thankfully not cancer .
Peace is with Esther and her family as she knew that her Heavenly father was her beginning and her end
Janelle, thankful that your thyroid issue is not cancer. Sorry that you had to go through this but trusting God's care for you.
This was llovely to read
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