John Jeffords, dear friend, went home today - A remembrance

Site Admin/Owner Joined: Aug 27, 2002 Posts: 17088

John Jeffords, a very dear friend and brother in Christ, went home to be with our Lord and Savior early this morning. He had suffered for the last several years as cancer ravaged his body. His father, Bob, went home to be with our Lord last year after many years of declining health. He, his wife Barb, his dad Bob, and his mom Sue, were our first family and mentors in our Lord and the Scriptures. He is survived by his wife, his mom, 3 Godly sons and their families. Even though we are saddened we also rejoice because we know To be "absent from the body" is to be "present with the Lord" - 2 Cor.5:8. What joy John must be feeling/experiencing right now! Reunited with his father and seeing his Savior! Walking those streets of gold; seeing the walls of Jasper! All the truths in the many songs that he (John), Barb, Margie, and I sang through all those earlier years; now seeing the Truths that kept his/our Faith strong. We can rest easier knowing that he is free of the pain/suffering of these many years. And his family can most assuredly be comforted in their loss knowing these things. May Christ's Love and Mercies be with the family now and in the days ahead!

Please remember this family in your thoughts and prayers as you have your devotions and/or prayer time.

When my dad went home to be with our Lord and Savior (2004-08-15), I happened upon this writing. In rememberance of John, I repeat it here for our comfort.

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

Then someone at my side says, "There, she is gone!"

"Gone where?"

Gone from my site. That is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.

Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says: "There, she is gone!" there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout: "Here she comes!"

And - that is dying.

Henry Van Dyke

Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 6:11 pm

Oh the experience he must be having at this time......brothers like this are greatly missed by the ones they touch here, but one day you will see him again and he will guide you through the most amazing time you will ever experience when it is your time. May your sadness and the families be little during this time and the pain softened knowing that he aches no more.

Site Admin Joined: Jun 04, 2004 Posts: 6432

Our thoughts and prayers are with you, your family and John's family.

Worker Joined: Oct 18, 2005 Posts: 127 Location: NYC

We can never be separated from those we love..... because God leaves us with memories to hold and love that doesn't pass away.

May God ease the sorrow and replace it with sweet memories

Thoughts and prayers

JoAnne

Worker Joined: Oct 26, 2004 Posts: 134 Location: Boston

Our thoughts and prayers are with you

Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 6:04 pm

My prayers are also with you and the family.