The following is a special prayer letter from Ed and Debby Read who are serving as the Richmond, Va., area representatives for the Christian Medical and Dental Society. Ed is a family practice and emergency services physicians and his wife, Debby is a nurse. My wife and I first met them in an Officers Christian Fellowship Bible Study while we were both on active duty in the Navy in the early 80’s, assigned to the Naval Hospital in Newport. After the Navy, Ed served as an elder in the Evangelical Free Church in State College, Penn., for almost 20 years.

Just to let you know how a Christian doctor can bring comfort to a patient’s family, Ed admitted me to the ICU at the hospital late one evening with a diagnosis of ‘rule out CVA’ (which means I had a suspected stroke). He was confident it was simply a TIA (transient ischemic attack) – and it turned out to be so. But he was so able to assure Esther that she was not to worry about me that she just went back to sleep and didn’t get to see me until the next morning. (You’re right, you know, I do reminder her of that once in a while).

I am sharing this prayer letter with you in order to ask you to join me in prayers for the entire Read family and to thank God that their son, Jon, was placed by Him into such a wonderful, caring family. Esther and I only knew him for his first 3 years but followed his life through our correspondence with the family over the past 29 years.

Don Clements
Narrows, VA

LETTER FROM ED AND DEBBY READ:

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23

We would like to dedicate this newsletter to our beloved son, Jonathan, who left this world on Tuesday, June 23, for his eternal home.

Though the loss of our precious son has caused great sorrow beyond words, God has given us much to be thankful for in the midst of this pain. Knowing Jon is with Jesus, whom he loved and trusted in, has given us much comfort. Jon is at peace and free from the suffering of the mental, physical, spiritual and emotional effects of Lyme disease that tormented him more than we knew. We know we can go on because this same Lord loves us and will carry us through our grief. We know we will be with Jon again in heaven when God calls us home.

The honor of being chosen by God to be Jon’s parents…to have the privilege of raising him, loving him and spending time with him…was a gift from the Lord. We have loved him dearly and been extremely proud of him. Jon had such a special way about him. He loved people and truly cared about them and desired to get to know them in an authentic way. He was a deep thinker who often had profound things to say.

He had a great love for God’s creation and enjoyed so many things outdoors. He was an avid mountain climber who was also captivated by reading a classic novel. He loved his family and friends. He cherished time with them. He openly expressed his love through wonderful hugs and sincere words. He was intelligent, thoughtful, compassionate…we could go on for hours with all the traits that made him so special. [In the picture below he is holding an orphan child during a mission trip to El Salvador that we did as a family.]

We treasure the gift of time with him over the years that has filled our lives with sweet memories. God gave us the opportunity to have him live with us this summer before he was to start grad school at ColoradoState in August. He gave us many precious moments with Jon such as him playing his guitar for us and singing songs he had written, having deep spiritual discussions and enjoying fun at the lake together.

We are overwhelmed and greatly encouraged by the outpouring of love from you and so many others. We are deeply touched by the countless ways you have ministered to us and to our family at this tragic time. God has shown us His great love through you. Your kind words, your hugs, your prayers on our behalf (now and in the future) are helping us to walk through this time. We are not alone as God, our dear family, and dear friends are beside us as we face the difficult days ahead.

Jon has taught us much about life and love. He packed more into his 27 years than most people do into a long lifetime. Jon impacted many lives in a profound way…especially his adopted brothers and the troubled youth he worked with in Wilderness Therapy. Jon lived life well and loved well. Jon lived his life in a way that helped teach us that the most important thing in life was relationships…with God, and with the family and friends that he deeply loved. One of his favorite books of the Bible was Hosea where Jon was deeply touched by God’s intimate love for him. This was reflected in a journal entry where Jon spoke of how awed he was that God didn’t need him, but God wanted an intimate relationship with him.

This reminder helps us to go forward with what God has called us to do with renewed commitment and sense of purpose. Our desire is to be involved in leading others to know love and serve Christ and to encourage those that know Him already to live wholeheartedly for Him. We want to build new relationships while making stronger relationships with those we already know and love. We want to serve God for His glory and to know Him more intimately.

Thank you for your continued prayers. Please pray for us as we ask God to bring much good from this tragedy that we may use in the lives he will allow us to impact. New residents and students arrive these next two months. Current residents, students and practicing doctors are in need of encouragement and focus on God. We covet your prayers as we partner with you in being involved in relationships in a way that truly matters.

Assured of His everlasting love that will heal our broken hearts,
Ed and Debby Read