Saying Goodbye To Titus

Yesterday was a very bitter-sweet day in the life of my Church. My Pastor, Nate Graham, and his wife Kim buried their 4 & 1/2 year old son. I watched them cling to one another as Nate's mother described the unique and wonderful things about Titus. Titus was blind in one eye-and he never walked or talked- but he could communicate in his own way-and grandma was able to make us see just what a treasure Titus was to her and the entire family. Titus loved to laugh-he laughed loud and long-and the rougher his daddy played with him -the harder he laughed. You see-Titus was severely disabled with a rare and deadly disease called Joubert's syndrome. Actually Nate and Kim were advised to kill little Titus in the womb. But Christian's don't do that-because every human is made in the image of God-and God does not make junk-regardless of what unregenerate Doctors may think.

I am not going to go into any more detail about what the last 4+ years have been like for this Christian couple. Just to say that their lives have been consumed with caring for Titus and their second son Noah-who also was born with Joubert's syndrome.Yes that's right-despite the fact that it is all but unheard of that both parents would carry the gene-Nate and Kim both do. I want you to know that in the midst of all the trials and deep suffering that they have endured-Nate has continued to faithfully shepherd God's flock at Berean-and to week after week-preach the word of God and feed the lambs.

Nate is a graduate of The Master's Seminary-and they did an excellent job of teaching him to be an expository preacher of God's Word. I am thankful for all that they imparted to him. I am doubly grateful for what God has imparted to Nate and Kim-so much grace-so much mercy-and so much of His glory upon them. They have loved and served and sacrificed and given so much to their Titus. He was not expected to live from the day he was born-but because of their faith and the strength God gave to them-and the persistence that Kim has had to research and read and find other parents dealing with this-little Titus had 4 & 1/2 years on this earth.

The bitter:Titus is not here on this earth-his parents won't hear his laugh again. Holding him-kissing him-staying up all night to be sure he did not stop breathing if his night nurse could not get there for some reason. The daily care-the routine-it just suddenly ended early Wednesday morning.
Then there is the fact that Noah also has this disease-even though he is not as severe as Titus-the life expectancy of these children is not long. Although with Nate and Kim as parents-and the support of their family and Church-and the power of prayer-it would not surprise me to see Noah have many years.

The sweet: Yesterday at the Titus celebration-Nate's father who is also a Pastor-preached the glorious Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Many unsaved were present-including some family members and people that Nate and Kim had been able to witness to in the hospital.
Then there is the fact of Heaven-of reunion because of what God has done for us through Jesus. Oh what hope-what glory-what joy!

As for Titus: Good night sweet little prince-we will see you in the morning.