Ella Andrea Garrison
We’ve been learning as a community that discipleship to Jesus is essentially a lifelong commitment to being with Him, becoming like Him, and doing what He did. In Hebrews 4, the author describes Jesus as our High Priest (that is, one who is an intermediary between God and His people). And not only is He our High Priest, He is our High Priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses. That word in Greek for ‘sympathize’ literally translates that He is our ‘co-sufferer.’ Christ suffers with us… alongside us… together. This makes perfect sense because, in the book of Matthew, Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Christ calls all who suffer, all who are beaten do, all who are grieved… to come to Him and take His yoke upon them. So when Paul exhorts us to ‘weep with those who weep,’ he’s merely exhorting us to be disciples of Jesus. To be with Him, become like Him, and do what He did.
As our dear friends, Bobby and Lauren, suffer the loss of their beautiful daughter, Ella, they do so with a Savior who suffers and grieves alongside them. Likewise, His community reflects that love and commitment and does the same thing. And that’s exactly what those of us who are called to life together with them will do.
I’m encouraged by Lauren’s words the day after Ella passed away:
Our beautiful Ella girl went to be with Jesus at 4:15 today. The two realities that I spoke of in my first post about our journey are still at play. We feel so much pain but so much joy. God allowed time to slow with Ella. The 42 hours we were given to spend loving her felt like a week. We were able to take Ella home and I think she just knew it was safe and the timing was perfect. She was in her daddy’s arms in her last moments. I think it was really special for her to take her first breath in my arms, and her last in Bobby’s. Ella was so intentional with every moment she had with us here on Earth. We brought her home around 1:45 today, and she got to meet her grandparents where she gazed into their eyes. Bobby and I knew time with Ella was coming to an end so when we held her together, she just melted into us. The level of peace and relaxation she had in our arms was surreal. We spoke to her, kissed her, sang to her, and played her special songs. Her eyes were relaxed and then she opened her eyes... looked into Bobby’s eyes for a moment, then turned her head and looked me in the eyes... and took her last breath. She came into this world wide-eyed staring right at me and did the same as she left it. I believe it was her saying, thank you and I love you. I never thought that when my baby girl passed away, I would see it as something truly holy and special... but it was. God was present in a way I can never fully explain.
As Bobby and I go to sleep tonight, there is no doubt in our hearts that we did the right thing. Ella was fully loved and felt no pain. She was held almost every moment of her life and I wouldn’t trade the time we had with her for anything. She was our miracle with a heartbeat and is now fully healed with a full heart. We are so so sad, but she changed us. She has made such an impact and her little life matters. Sadness and joy can truly coexist. We will be okay because of how beautiful Ella’s life was. We will never be the same.
In light of all of this, Bobby and Lauren are inviting us to join them in both grieving and celebrating the life of their little girl. We will gather together at Bond Park (details at the RSVP link) at 12 PM this Saturday (10/10) to celebrate who she was and that she is now in the presence of our great God. Please take a quick moment to RSVP and let us know that you’re coming.