Forever Safe

On Monday 21st May 2012, Daniel Joshua Scholes left the darkness and the imperfection of this earth and went into the glorious light of seeing God face to face. 

His was not an eighty year marathon, but a sprint that lasted eight years, eight months and five days. The prize is the same, but the earthly pain was much shorter.

His body went through more than most of us will endure in our lifetime, but he never knew the grief of losing a loved one, the pain of loneliness or the disappointment of being let down by those who loved him.

I cannot yet come to grips with the fact he is not here anymore, and never will be again, and that Richard and I cannot care for him any longer, because we had the privilege of doing that from the day he was born until the day he died. My head knows he is in a better place, but my heart still needs to catch up.

A friend sent me this conversation she had with her own kids last week and it has helped me to glimpse what forever might look like:

I was trying to explain the concept of eternity to my kids the other night (like I've got my head round it myself) and asked them to imagine that the 'Complete works of Shakespeare' was our whole time on earth, (no matter how old we are when we leave it) AND our whole time in heaven too. Asked Jackson to turn to the page he thinks he's at right now (as he and Scooby are the same age). He flicked for a bit then eventually chose pg 94 ('Measure for Measure', Act 1, scene 2).


Page 94 out of a 1433 page book.


I was like 'Nuh-ha... Our time here is like a book that goes on FOREVER and the ONLY bit we get to live on earth is this 'C' (In Complete' on the title page) even if we live to be 100!! And all this bit of our story (The comedy of errors) is with Jesus and here (Much ado about nothing) is with Jesus and these pages (The merchant of venice) are with him (As you like it) and we never cry (The taming of the shrew) even if we fall over (All's well that ends well) because he promises (Twelfth night) that we CAN'T be sad about anything anymore (King John) because we're with him (King Henry the 5th)... and there's still loads of the book left, see?'


Madi looked really puzzled then and cried 'We can't cry for Scooby then can we cause he'll be happy to see Jesus! It's just we'll have to be sad for his mum and dad and brothers and baby and all the other people what he knows!'

On Monday 28th May we will have a small private funeral for Daniel where we will lay his small and exhausted body to rest. Then in the afternoon, we will have a huge celebration. It will be the party he never had to celebrate his recovery - instead we will celebrate his life and the amazing eight years we got to spend with him here on earth. It will be at 4:30pm at Fulwood Free Methodist Church in Preston, and everyone is invited to come and join us.

If you have any pictures of Daniel, or have a specific memory of something he did or said, we would be really grateful if you could email them to scoobyscholes@gmail.com so that we can put them together to show many different aspects of his life, whether it's poignant or funny.

Daniel's life on this earth is over, but his story is not. We know that God has more to come.

Comments

  1. Amen. Continuing to hold you up in prayer x

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  2. AMEN!!!!! I truly thank God for your lives....reading what you write I'm like "this is it! a true example and the true meaning of 'oh death where is thy sting? grave where is your victory?'....you are staring death in the face and yet celebrating and having a party (cus that is what is happening in heaven and how happy will Scooby be knowing it's the same thing on both sides! please post pics afterwards)...you have WON! Scooby has WON! healed forever! free from all the pain...and CHRIST HAS WON once more!!! You remain in my hearts and prayers and your story will be a blessing to others worldwide..I'm taking this with me to France. God bless you and well done for being such wonderful parents, strong in the faith...The Father must be so proud of you and surely received him with a standing ovation. It is well. Shalom...His grace is present. God bless xx

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  3. Ive followed daniels illness on your blog for many months now and your strength and bravey are amazing. My best friends 3year old brother evan has the same horrid illness and is currently fighting for his recovery after a bone marrow transplant. Everyday ive prayed for evan and daniel and just wanted to tell you that
    Love and godbless x

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  4. Have you ever read 'The Shack'? I always think of a scene in the book when the Father of a lost child, observes her in Heaven, running into the arms of Jesus and dancing and playing with Him on the beach. How wonderful to know that Scooby can run again, and play with His best friend Jesus who knows exactly what makes him tick. I see that in my spirit. Our life here is just a breath, like the end of the Narnia books when we see that after all the adventures it's only just beginning. Thank you Esther for sharing this journey with us all and stirring us with your faith and hope. I have prayed and cried for you all and though we will probably never meet you have impacted my life. Life is not fair sometimes, but Jesus will never let you go and I am praying now that the joy of the Lord will be your strength and that Scooby's laugh will echo in your household forever xxxxx

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  5. My daughter sent me a link to your blog recently. I stand in awe of your faith and commitment. My heart is breaking for you all and although you know your precious little one is pain free and in total peace I pray the hole in your heart and spirit may just be flooded with the peace and love that can only come from God at a time like this. I will be lifting you all before the Father on the 28th and asking that you feel his love wrap around you. So so sorry xx

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  6. He 'dared to be a Daniel.' If you need to cry, laugh, scream, throw things at walls....I will always be here to listen. I hope my sons were waiting for Daniel, they are 'supposedly' grown up now and will look after him...maybe he can keep them 'in line' for me <> They will show him all the best places to play, Im sure Matt will teach him some 'naughty tricks.' You will forever and always be in my heart and thoughts my friend. xxxx Love shabbs xxx

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  7. I don't know you, or your family but I have been brought to read your sad news through various peoples facebook status' and links. I'm in Australia, and want you to know that while you rest your tired eyes at night, I often think of you during the day and send you best wishes to get through each day... One day at a time.

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  8. Dear Esther and Richard - Love you both and lifting you up daily. The above comments from Hannah Holland are amazing as I was picturing the exact same scenes from the Shack last night, and picturing Jesus playing with Scooby and them sharing such laughter together, just as described in this book. There is also the section in the book where the dad himself is lead on a jetty looking up at the stars and talking with Jesus 1-1. As you go through the painful times maybe this picture will help - the one to ones are simply the best times we can have. Thank you that you have shared so inspirationally on this blog and for allowing us the honour of being able to pray and share with you. May God richly bless you and put his loving arms around you both. Sean

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  9. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. With love from Sweden!

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  10. May our Heavenly Father hold you all in His tender comforting arms. May He continue to uphold you & strengthen you & give you a peace & assurance that will support your spirits in the days to come. Enjoy your celebration of Daniel's precious little life. Much love , Christine

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  11. I am a friend of Tracy's and I'd just like you to know that me and my family are so very sorry for the loss and the pain you're feeling now..there IS a Heaven because a very special person in my life nearly went there and she said it was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen.. May your lovely, sweet boy be in that place right now, safe, warm and happy under Jesus' care. We are thinking of you and sending kind wishes to you.xx

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  12. I'm sure there are many like me, who can't find the right words to comfort you, and yet still I want to send you love and light at such a difficult and painful time. Your beautiful boy was so loved - you gave him the greatest gift on earth. The love you share, and the deep connection you have with all of your children, is truly inspiring. I pray for you to find peace and strength in that love now. xx

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  13. Couldn't be with you today but was able to watch the service which was a way of joining in. Thank you for that. I have been thinking of you especially since last Monday before our Father who loves us more than we can know. Thank you for your honesty in sharing your hope and your heartbreak and for your faith that has shone through in the good times and the bad times. I pray that this faith in the One who never lets go will keep you going over the coming weeks and keep you close to each other and to Him.
    Judith x

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  14. To all the family,
    It was a great honour and privilege to have been Daniel's physio at home. He made me laugh, we enjoyed each other's company but even when he was tired he wanted to make the effort to carry on and achieve our targets for the day. I will never ever forget the lovely hug he gave me when we finally achieved our target of Daniel standing for a count of twenty seconds. That might not sound like much but from a few bed exercises it meant the world to both of us. It was just before Christmas and what a nice Christmas pressie it was to us both. The service for Daniel's life was lovely. Be happy "Mr Brave". Rachel

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  15. Thinking of you all. X

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