The Sculpture

Years ago, my brother Dan brought a very special gift to us from Washington, where he and his wife Nancy have lived for over two decades. Dan and Nancy try to visit their Minnesota home from time-to-time but distance and sheer cost prohibit any level of frequency. We love it when they come to the Twin Cities.

Nearly a decade ago, Dan and his daughter Jamie trekked across country in the car to pay us all a visit. On that trip Dan had something quite heavy and significant in the back of the car. That item would safely make its way from Washington state to Minnesota to our home in White Bear. It was a very special metal sculpture of a trumpet player, made completely out of discarded metal parts.

The artist that created the piece was Mr. Tim Crane of Shelton, Washington. Mr. Crane evidently scrounges up old metal parts and assembles them into meaningful art. In this particular case a Trumpet Player. Dan & Nancy wanted to present this magnificant piece of artwork to us as a reminder of our son Adam, also an accomplished trumpet player.

I noticed it the other day as I walked through the dining room, where it sits prominently on display. Something grabbed me about a deeper significance in it, as I thought of the precious gift from Dan and Nancy, about the fact that Dan and Jamie lugged the thing over 1700 miles in the car, about the 'Love' that went into the making of it and the purchase and presentation.

Love.

It truly never fails us. It comes in a variety of sizes, shapes and quantity. It sometimes comes in the form of a sculpture of one who represents the beauty of a soul departed.

Love.

It finds its way to us, no matter how long it takes us to notice its arrival.

I'm sure that the fact that the scuplture is a trumpet player, and Adam was a trumpet player prompted Dan and Nancy to say, "... let's get it for Mark & Linda", or something like that. But, at the heart of it all, their intent was to show us they Love us, that they 'remember' Adam, that they cared for our hearts. Our wounded hearts.

We were elated when it was presented to us that day, long ago. I still find myself glancing down at it and creeping a smile of confirmation that we are loved.

Cold, hard steel. That's what the sculpture is made of. But it brings us warmth and a softening in our hearts when we think of it and what it means to us.

* Adam

* Dan, Nancy and Jamie

* God's love through a gift.

Even after a decade it still evokes a tear of gratitude and a sigh of restful confidence that behind it all was Love... never failing, always present, quietly waiting to surprise us again and again with it's sweet presence.

Thanks Dan, Nancy and Jamie for your love.

Love Never Fails

http://www.lnf.org/

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"Happy Anniversary"

Linda and I recently celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary this past June, and Linda celebrates her 4th anniversary of smoking cessation on August 10th. These are times of joy and triumph.

When we think of “Happy Anniversary” we often think of those times of joy and celebration, but not the death of a loved one.

As Christians, however, we can try to cut through our loss and sorrow that death brings to our hearts, and find cause for celebration.

Adam is now with the very Christ we all hope to see one day. He is at eternal rest in Jesus' ‘Everlasting Arms’.

August 4th marks a sad but triumphant day for us. We agonize at the loss of Adam’s presence with us, his life with us.

But we celebrate his entrance into the eternal glories of God and the peaceful rest Heaven has rewarded him with.

And so, this August 4th it is with tear-filled hearts we say…

“Happy Anniversary Adam. We miss you and we hope to see you again, soon.”

* * *

Above are photos of Adam and the day he was baptised in Christ.


NO SPAM OR VULGAR POSTS - EVER! Please be brief and keep your comments on the positive side. We only accept comments that are in good taste. We have a saying at our home..."Welcome to all who bring peace, goodbye to those who don't." The same holds true in this blog.

In Memory Of...

This blog is dedicated to our loving son, Adam M. Triplett, who died in 1997. His story can be read on our official webs site at http://www.lnf.org/.

LNF Ministries was started shortly after the death of Adam, primarily as a Memorial Scholarship Fund to send young Christians to college. Adam had attended Moody Bible Institute shortly after graduating High School and it was his belief that all kids should attend at least one year of a Bible college before going on with their schooling.

LNF Ministies also exists today to serve families suffering the loss of their own child. We developed what we call "Love Baskets" and send them to families within a month of the death of their child.

Love Baskets are filled with a collection of items that bring comfort, the hope of healing enveloped in our 'Love', and the awareness and understanding of the process of 'grief'.

We send about 300 baskets per year to families that have lost a son or daughter. Most are sent to families in or near the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. We have sent baskets to other parts of the USA and countries like Mexico and Austrailia.

Future posts to this blog will provide our readers with updates to our progress in sending our "Love Baskets" to families, and perhaps some details of the lives of those we touch with this ministry outreach.

It is our hope in Jesus Christ that above everything we do or say, that LOVE is predominant and in the forefront.

Love truly Never Fails.