The new 31 Days of December Peace eBook is available for only $4.99. Download at stantonlanier.com or the Amazon Kindle Store.
His Peace ~ by Alan Thomson, www.terrafirmafinancial.com (Copyright 2012, Alan Thomson, not to be re-published without permission)
Peace took on new meaning for my family in 2004. That December found us holding our first and then only daughter, Hayley, close in our arms, day after day, as we awaited her final breath. Years of faith, prayers of loved ones, and Scripture-inspired music surrounded us daily and reminded us of the eternity we one day would share together; the knowledge of Hayley’s imminent death, though, remained wrenching. I remember constantly kissing her forehead, as I had a lifetime of love to fit into an unknown, but certainly short, number of days. I wanted the warmth of her cheek on mine and the memory of holding this cherished gift from God to be etched on my heart forever.
Hayley would pass away from an aggressive form of leukemia on December 19, 2004, having been home under hospice care for several weeks. A year filled with hospital rooms, intense chemotherapy, more than 60 blood and platelet transfusions, full-body irradiation, and a cord blood transplant would come to an end that evening with our daughter taking her last breath…six weeks before her second birthday.
December Peace is His Peace. His Peace brought tears of joy to my eyes and compelled my heart to sing praise as my precious daughter smiled, took her last breath, and left this world forever. His Peace was joy amidst anguish.
His Peace continues to turn my fear, anger and confusion into faith, love and compassion, and helps me look forward for comfort rather than backward for explanations. And it is His Peace that now fills my Decembers with visions of my baby girl running into His arms.
This life is full of difficult, sometimes nearly impossible-to-bear circumstances. His Peace reminds me that there is an eternity beyond what we can imagine. His Peace reminds me that all that is ahead is so much greater than anything we will leave behind. His Peace reminds me that He is in control AND that I am loved.
His Peace frees me. His Peace brings me to contentment, even when my heart aches… especially in December.
Hello Alan, I know your contribution to “31 Days…” was posted 10 days ago but I am now just getting the chance to catch up on reading Stanton’s wonderful blog. Your story about sweet Hayley is an incredible testimony– a testimony whose impact will be more far-reaching than I believe any of us realize. As for myself, your words about how fear, anger, and confusion are being replaced with faith, love, and compassion helps me understand the sinfulness of my own heart. See, fear, anger, and confusion have been my response to circumstances which have dragged on for years. And “looking forward for comfort rather than backward for explanations”? That has certainly not been the case! I belong to Jesus and His Holy Spirit is my sweet and constant Companion, but I have let doubt, confusion, and Satan’s lies crowd out His still, small voice. Oh, how God is glorified in your story! He, through you, has given me opportunity to repent of my sorry attitude and a way to pray for Him to be glorified in my present situation. Thank you so much for sharing your life with a bunch of “strangers” that we may be edified and God glorified. By the way, you probably already know this but you and your wife would be amazing counselors to the Newtown, CT parents. You could provide truth and comfort and perhaps rescue those who are in danger of renouncing God because of the tragedy. God bless you.
Dear Melissa, thank you so much for your comments. It is very special that Alan Thomson’s story meant so much to you. As you may have seen from the next day’s post, December 20th, this family had a huge impact in my life and the ministry of my music. I will pass this along to Alan along with your email, so he can say “hello” to you as well. Blessings to you in the New Year! – Stanton
Dear Stanton,
Let me just say that I thank you for your reply and I look forward to hearing from Alan. But I also want to let you know that i absolutely love your music. I have to listen to it on youtube right now because I have been severely underemployed for over a year. However, I just got hired at a restaurant and as soon as i get caught up on things, I plan to make at least one of your CD’s (probably two!) a major purchase priority in February. I find such peace and stress relief in the music which God has given you! Thank you for leaving the carpet factory :0) God bless you, brother!