Sadly, for us, Jessica chose Life - Life with Jesus. Ecstatically, for her, Jessica chose Life.
We had two funerals this week. The one for Jessica was held at the high school auditorium. Over 300 people came, many were in Salvation Army uniform, and it was a somber affair. We watched a video montage of her life - and what an incredible story her life was.
She was in foster care and when she got to the Campbell home with her two younger brothers, she told her foster mom that she had an older brother and two sisters. Her mom found the other siblings and offered them the chance to come live with them. The older brother joined them and soon the four children were adopted into the family. They all suffered from RAD - attachment disorder - and yet the family became one.
I remember Jessica telling me about her journey out of RAD - she said she used to be really angry all the time - and one day she was sitting on her bed, and she realized that this was her life and it was a good one. She had parents who loved her, a mom who cared about her, a home, a big yard, food, and whatever she needed in life. She decided then and there to stop being angry - and she did. I always saw her with a smile. for the first two years we were here, it was smiles through her braces - but the last year was a gorgeous smile with beautiful white teeth.
funerals are thought-provoking - what do you talk about, especially in the cases of death too soon . . .when you are a dying man, talking to dying people, there is only one thing to talk about - and that is faith, faith in Christ Jesus. So the gospel was clearly and tactfully presented - and it was a bittersweet day. Several people expressed appreciation at the clarity of God's word going forth - in such a public place. I know this - Jessica had talked to me several times about her Christianity - there is no doubt in my mind who she is with right now. And it is heart-wrenching to think that others won't be there when they die.
Afterwards, at the reception at the corps, there were several opportunities to pray with seekers, use the prayer center, and be encouragement to those who were in need.
It's been a long two weeks - but for Jessica's momma, it's only beginning.
Jessica JoBeth Campbell - Promoted to Glory February 21, 2008
John 7:38
Jesus said, "Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Choose Life
Posted by Majors Don and Martha Sheppard at 11:20 PM
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1 comments:
This is very heartwarming and brought me to tears to think of the little girl that came to the Campbell family so many years ago. She was angry and didnt want to give up parenting her little brothers. It was a road that was paved for her by drug addicted parents and that was all she knew. In the 8 yrs that she had lived there was enough pain that not even an adult would never want to endure and left her very scared. I saw a incredible diffrence in Jessica the last 3 years of her life that she had accepted Jesus into her heart and was slowly working out the pain that had controlled her life. I was her CRAZY Aunt Marie and took pride in drilling the young boys that came to the door. Just like any other teen she made choices that werent always right but she always was remorseful and was her New Years resolution to spend more time in church this year. I remember her coming in with a Mocha Late and a bounce in her step to a sunday metting and was not afraid to give a hug to a stranger to make them feel welcome. There was never a stranger in her eyes only a challenge to get to know someone new. She accepted me as I was just like our Heavenly Father accepted her and seen the pain that she had endured and opened His arms and said come on in! I will miss Jessica greatly and realize how much more each and every passing day. You GO Girl walk the streets of Gold and I will meet you there one day!
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