Comments on: The Three Trees: a Folktale for Good Friday

By: East Coast

East Coast — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:19:42 +0000

Since I mentioned Michael here, I will mention that he passed away peacefully yesterday. His parents were able to spend some very special final hours with him and were kind and generous in sharing the experience with us. I know they realize that they have a long difficult struggle ahead of them, but in their hour of deep crisis they have been able to feel a peaceful assurance that everything is all right and that their loss is in accordance to the Lord’s will.

By: Ray

Ray — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 20:28:35 +0000

Russell, I had forgotten this story. I am speaking Sunday under circumstances I can’t explain here. I have spoken on Easter more than once in the past, so I have plenty of “Easter talk material”, but the circumstances this year in this particular unit have made it very difficult for me to decide how to approach this talk. There simply are things I want to say and comfort I want to provide that don’t fit well into a “normal” Easter talk. As I was reading this story again, I realized that it gives me the framework within which I can say those things I have been struggling to find a way to say.

This post literally has been a godsend for me, and while I hesitate even to imply that you were inspired simply for me, I also want you to know that this was an answer to my prayers.

Thank you.

By: Adam Greenwood

Adam Greenwood — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 20:27:14 +0000

Father, God in Heaven, have mercy on helpless parents and their suffering son.

By: Ray

Ray — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 20:14:01 +0000

Thanks, East Coast. What a perfect comment.

By: Darrell

Darrell — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:29:57 +0000

East Coast, thanks for sharing your experience here. The Atonement is much, much more that just a way of shedding sin. It blesses us in all our struggles–physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual. My prayers go out to you and to Michael and his family.

Thank God for Christ.

By: East Coast

East Coast — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 17:04:01 +0000

This has been a particularly poignant Easter season.

After my fifth child was diagnosed and born with a complex heart defect last year (now partially treated with more surgery planned) I became active in a support group for families. I became good friends with another local mother awaiting the birth of her son also to be born with a broken heart.

Baby Michael was born several days ago and it looked like the surgery (Wednesday) was going to be a success but then he suffered some major complications. His parents are sitting at his bedside watching him suffer with his chest open and draining blood and other fluids as they wonder whether they will be able to take their baby home or if they are going to have to make the decision to discontinue his life support. The fact of it being Good Friday today is not lost on them as they ponder their situation.

Watching this mother suffer and crying together as we spoke yesterday and having seen my own son suffer in lesser degree has brought new meaning into the scriptural accounts for both of our families. I would like to make a more profound statement about the experience and go into more detail, but it is a very tender subject and I will leave my comment here.

By: Abraham

Abraham — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 17:00:33 +0000

Thank you Russell,

Happy (earliest since 1913) Easter to you and your family!!

By: Adam Greenwood

Adam Greenwood — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 15:07:50 +0000

Very fitting.

By: CS Eric

CS Eric — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 14:34:24 +0000

RAF,

I have heard this story many. many times. But today, for some reason, it touched me like never before. Thanks.

By: Yet Another John

Yet Another John — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 14:26:08 +0000

As a family, we have read this beautiful story every Christmas AND Easter.