As I sit here, I wonder why I'm doing this. Part of me wants to tell the story of my wonderful son, Jared. Another part of me wonders if I'm about to venture where I'm most vulnerable. It can be most uncomfortable to write about yourself. It can be most painful to visit the hurts of yesterday.
In the book, "Epic", John Eldredge describes our lives as a story. We each have a story. We each communicate our story to others. We tell the stories of others. We live the story that God has given us each and every day. My son Jared's story on this earth was short. He lived his story here for almost fourteen years. This blog will be my attempt to share parts of his story and how it impacted me and those that knew him. Feel free to share this blog and Jared's story with others.
Jared Michael Sangster... born May 1988 on Mother's Day. Jared Michael Sangster... died April 2002, a Wednesday afternoon.
Jared was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in May of 2001. After surgeries, chemo and radiation, the tumor was still there. The doctors decided the next step would be a stem cell transplant. Starting tomorrow I'm going to post excerpts from the journal I kept ten years ago during the last days of Jared's story on earth. My plan is to post my journal entry for each day. I started the journal on February 24, 2002 so will double up a few days until I catch up. As we start this journey, know that my heart still aches for my son. I still have sad times but I can rejoice because Jared is in heaven. He continued in what he learned and became convinced of from infancy. He chose God's plan (story) for his life and he already knows what we will someday... THE BEST IS YET TO COME.
"You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings - what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and imposters will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:10-17
