God willing, Lucye will spend the rest of her life celebrating holidays such as the Fourth of July with all the traditional fanfare: cookouts, flag waving and fireworks. I will, most likely, be with her many of those years to come. My celebration will be outward and bittersweet, because inside, I’ll be remembering the life and death of Michael Merriman. And so will many, many others.
How did this happen? My lifelong friend discussed with her husband how their son of 22 years, with such a bright future ahead of him—where he could have touched so many lives, could have been called to God so early. They concluded that perhaps he was meant to touch even more lives with his death.
After personally witnessing Michael’s celebration of life and spending time with his family, his church, and his friends, I believe he is touching more than lives. He is touching souls.
His life by example leaves such a mark on the heart, he will never be forgotten. His past life alters future actions, and allows us to see again the power of the Almighty working—through a boy. A boy that loved little children so much, that his church home is dedicating a playground to him. Plainly put, he walked his faith. He knew what was important.
The very last earthly action he took was going to bed with the Bible beside him. In my mind, this one simple act, in a world so full of temptations to young people, speaks mountains of his character. Everyone has choices. His choice was to know and understand the love and the power of Christ. His life choices allow his parents, and everyone who knew him, the comfort of never doubting where he is now. Lucye didn’t have the honor of knowing Michael. But she knows his parents. They told us many times in the past that Michael would love Lucye. I know now they weren’t just being nice. He would have loved Lucye, because he clearly saw all children thorough the eyes of love, just as God intended.
How did this happen? My lifelong friend discussed with her husband how their son of 22 years, with such a bright future ahead of him—where he could have touched so many lives, could have been called to God so early. They concluded that perhaps he was meant to touch even more lives with his death.
After personally witnessing Michael’s celebration of life and spending time with his family, his church, and his friends, I believe he is touching more than lives. He is touching souls.
His life by example leaves such a mark on the heart, he will never be forgotten. His past life alters future actions, and allows us to see again the power of the Almighty working—through a boy. A boy that loved little children so much, that his church home is dedicating a playground to him. Plainly put, he walked his faith. He knew what was important.
The very last earthly action he took was going to bed with the Bible beside him. In my mind, this one simple act, in a world so full of temptations to young people, speaks mountains of his character. Everyone has choices. His choice was to know and understand the love and the power of Christ. His life choices allow his parents, and everyone who knew him, the comfort of never doubting where he is now. Lucye didn’t have the honor of knowing Michael. But she knows his parents. They told us many times in the past that Michael would love Lucye. I know now they weren’t just being nice. He would have loved Lucye, because he clearly saw all children thorough the eyes of love, just as God intended.
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