Eli’s Second Birthday

Eli’s Second Birthday

Today, our son would have turned two years old. Our souls ache as we wonder what it would be like if he were still here. At the same time, we remember the joy he brought us with his brief life. So every year on his birthday, we do something that allows us to both...
Family of Four

Family of Four

One of the things I love about my wife is her commitment and ability to remember our children in unique ways. These mountains are just one example. They represent our frail-yet-fierce family of four: We lost Eli in November 2018 because of a terminal condition. Rowe...
If Only

If Only

“My son, my son…If only I had died instead of you.” (2 Samuel 18:33) David’s agony captures the hearts of many dads today. It’s not only the grief of losing a child, it’s the pain of not being able to take their place. Sacrificial love is at the heart of fatherhood....
If One Member Suffers

If One Member Suffers

Read through the Psalms carefully and you will notice a distinct difference between Biblical and American worship: lament. It takes up over a third of the book, yet it rarely makes an appearance on Sundays. Our corporate songs and prayers typically lack the...
Parental Pride

Parental Pride

I used to recoil a little bit when my parents spoke about me with pride. Their delight in me seemed foolish and naive because so much of my youth was marked by stupidity and selfishness. I thought, “If they knew some of the things I’ve done, they would stop applauding...
Gifts in Grief

Gifts in Grief

Some gifts speak with a depth beyond the reach of words. Our son’s fatal diagnosis had thrust us into terrifying darkness. Each day was saturated in tears as we stumbled toward Eli’s birth and death. The Psalms that once seemed foreign or figurative had become our...