Lauren

Joyful eyes, a sweet smile, a contagious laugh.
Broken body, a thriving spirit, a beautiful mind.
How could You?  We all tremblingly wonder.  How??
She was too young.  We all angrily cry.  Too young!
Trust.
He, who knows far better than we,
With plans to prosper and not to harm.
For a hope.
And a future.
For our good.
For His glory.
Let it be so.

Lauren Buck knew, with full conviction, that "To live is Christ, and to die is gain."  Lauren may have been unable to speak those words in a way that others could understand; Lauren may have been unable to read those words from the Bible; Lauren may have looked different and sounded different than all the other Christ followers around her, but Lauren lived in such a way that boldly proclaimed the power and joy of Christ to all she encountered.
Lauren was born, like my brother Jesse and dear friend Rebekah, with complications, leaving her brain severely damaged. With a condition doctors like to call cerebral palsy, Lauren's body was unsubmissive and weak: speaking was arduous, moving was laborious, walking...impossible.  Her spirit, however, was unfettered.  Though Lauren was confined to a wheelchair, she was the definition of an overcomer.  Like many with CP, Lauren and her parents were not told that which she would be able to accomplish in her lifetime, but rather all she would be incapable of doing.  That, of course, did not stop her for a moment.  Lauren seized every second in joy and tore down, with her sweet CP hands, the barriers the doctors and therapists placed around her.  She was truly an inspiration.
Lauren Buck was delivered from her weak flesh November 25, 2011.  Her death was sudden, untimely.  She was twelve years old.  However, she left the world, I am told, in the same wonderfully jubilant way she lived every single day, never thinking for a moment that life was too difficult or unfair or pointless.
No longer is she subject to the weakness of her flesh.  No longer is she suffering under the reign of the Fall.  Lauren is free.  And one day, when Christ comes again, she will be resurrected.  Her body will be perfect.  She will spend eternity praising the glorious King of Kings.
There is no need for mourning over this sweet girl's death.  Her life was never characterized by sadness.  She knew, somehow, in her wonderful mind, that to know Christ is to know joy.  Exceeding, unending joy.
How many times have I felt sorry for myself because I feel "underprivileged"?  How often have I thought about how "unfair" it is that I am not skinnier or prettier or smarter or whatever else I am convinced will finally satisfy me?
Lauren, of all people, had a right to think such things, yet I do not think she did for a moment.  I think she was far more concerned with loving and being loved by people.  Oh, and laughing!

Gracious Father,
Thank you for the gift that Lauren was.  Thank you for using her short, sweet life to remind me that my time and the time of those I love is limited, and that joy can be found at all times in all situations because of You.  Thank you for the knowledge that death is conquered in Christ.  Thank you for the Shalom that is to come, the restoration of all things to You.  Come, Lord Jesus, come.  Resurrect us.
Let Your Kingdom come.