Sullivan Family Update 3.17.09

Today marks two weeks since we buried Hannah’s earthly body…..I wonder at what point you cease to notice all of the anniversaries of everything. My guess is that you always notice, that it just becomes less and less painful over time.

We have had the wonderful pleasure of visiting with two different families over the last couple of weeks, both of whom have lost sons to cancer. (Bethany would get onto me for using the word “lost”…both of these families know exactly where their children are!) These families are much farther down the road than we are, and it is truly a blessing to see how they have not only survived their “losses”, but have thrived in the aftermath. It is helpful to us to see the continued faithfulness of God in these situations.

So many of you have commented on how “strong” our family is…how you could never have the strength to handle what we’ve experienced. I’m going to borrow a thought from our new friends that we met this past weekend to try to explain that “strength” a little bit better. What you perceive as strength is actually weakness…a complete and utter dependence on God. If we tried to do this in “our” strength, we’d never make it. Only by making ourselves completely helpless, and throwing ourselves on the strength of God alone, can we keep moving forward. Again, to borrow a statement from our new friends, in this time of what appears to be our greatest strength, we truly find ourselves in the season of our greatest weakness.

We have been so pleased to receive your many, many emails of encouragement…again, I apologize that we are unable to reply to as many as we would like. Your prayers and support have made such a difference in our lives. Thank you.

“…My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Cor. 12:9
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:29-31.

God is good, all the time!

Jill, Brad, and Bethany