Prayer Warrior In Eli's Army

Today I experienced that glorious emotion of laughing through tears.  The tears were for a sweet boy named Eli who left our world to go and be home with Jesus.  His family attended our church before they had to relocate in order to receive the treatment he needed for cancer.  His almost-8-year-old body had endured so much since his diagnosis in 2007.  That kid was a fighter through and through.  And his spirit!  Boy, oh boy, did he love life!

There had been ups and downs throughout his whole journey but his quiet death early this morning was unexpected.  He gently slipped into Heaven.  I've been following the updates that Eli's dad would post over the past 3 years and through that, I think I developed such hope that he would beat cancer.  But God had ordained Eli's days before one of them came to be.  He knew that January 18th, 2012 would be the day Eli would get to meet him face to face.  So even though my heart breaks for his family, I rejoice in knowing that he is pain-free and living it up with our Savior in Paradise.

My laughter today came from hearing Eli's favorite song, Tunnel by Third Day.  I think of him whenever I hear it and it's almost like the lyrics were penned just for him.  It's a fun sight to envision him rocking out to it.  And then some other news from Justin that one of his friends welcomed a new son into their family today, and what did they name him?  You guessed it.....ELI.  Within a couple hours of each other, one Eli left this world and another entered.  God is so good and beautiful in how he orchestrates creation. 

Eli is an inspiration to me, as he touched the lives of so many people in such a short amount of time. As my brother in Christ, I look forward to the day when those of us sporting his 'Prayer Warrior in Eli's Army' bracelets will see his sweet face again.  Until then, we'll keep praying for peace to surround his family as they learn to live life in a new way.  Fly high, Eli!