Life in Death...When I think of the corss I know that Christ's death has brought me life. I know that because Christ died, I can now live, but I have never considered that someone else and their death might bring life. Of course, not the life that Jesus brings, but a renewed hope in God's overwhleming mercy and his love for us, especially in the midst of pain.
Death can bring life in the sense that the one who dies has such an impact on those that are alive that their lives will never be the same. Can I tell you a strory?About a week and a half ago some friends of ours had their firstborn twins, son and daughter, Graden and Gianna. Born at almost 27 weeks, both Graden and Gianna were in critical condition. Five days into their new lives baby Graden, or Grady as his proud daddy calls him, took a turn for the worst and went home to be with Jesus.Tragedy. Brokeness. Death. I can only imagine how Grady and Gianna's parents hearts ache, but something incredible is beginning to take shape, and today, I began to see how our God can create life in death.
Grady's dad, Ryan, loves baseball. He does some baeball work where he speaks to parents and college-bound kids. During his speeches, he shares about the privilege to play the sport. He is passionate that these kids understand their time as ball players has an end and because of that, they need to enjoy every minute they have on the field. I know Ryan cherishes every minute he has had as a baseball player and now that he is a dad, I know he cherishes moments as a daddy too, but most of all, Ryan cherishes his time as a Christian. His deep seeded passion to see others know Christ is his focus during this tragedy. In fact, Ryan is using his life circumstances to point others in the direction of the cross. He believes God will use this tragedy to bring others to Him and new, changed life.
Wait, the story gets better...Ryan ans his wife, Katrina, have had an outpouring of love from people all around them. These people have asked if they could make donations in honor of Grady. Well, this is where Matthew and I come in...We have a stadium here at AIA (for those of you who don't know what AIA does, visit AIA.com and know that Ryan life embodies why AIA exists)that has been put on hold for quite some time. There have been numerous reasons, including funding, why building the stadium has been delayed. Along with the building delays has been the issue of what the stadium will be called. This stadium needs a name with a legacy behind it. It can't be named after something insignificant. So, why not call it, Grady Smith Stadium. Talk about a legacy, a story to tell al those who come to watch countless ours of baseball. Ryan, Katrina, Gianna and Grady's story will be told for years to come. People lives will be changed as a result of how God uses the ministry of AIA and this stadium, and incredible would it be that Ryan, Katrina, Gianna, and Grady will be a part of it all.
As this story continues to unfold and donations are sent in on behalf of Grady, we pray that God will finish the work of this stadium and be glorified in it. God's goodness prevails. It prevails over our mistakes, it prevails over our hurts, it prevails over weak and feeble bodies, and His goodness prevails over death. God is so merciful and I am thankful for guys like Ryan who remain faithful in the midst of unbelievable pain and sadness. I am thankful that little lives like Grady's are never insignificant or by chance. Grady's short life be in the hearts and minds of others for a very, very, long time.
