Mighty Mason

I have a friend from high school in Colorado whom I have not seen in 15 years. We’ve kept in touch intermittently through the years with occasional emails, Christmas cards and things like that. Catherine has a beautiful family; Glen, her husband whom I’ve never met but like simply because of what I know of his character, Cooper, their youngest not quite a year old, Sydnie, their middle child, who looks so much like her mom, and Mason, their oldest son.

Mason was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in 2005. He was able to fight through this coming out the other side in remission. What a little warrior. On December 26, 2007 the Bernard’s received news of some leukemia cells in Mason’s spinal fluid. He was diagnosed with “an isolated CNS relapse.” I have been reading updates posted on the blogs that his parents have set up.

What do you say to a parent that must go through something like that? I imagine it would be somehow different to stand by an adult battling an illness. But to stand by a child, especially your child must be difficult beyond words.

When our youngest daughter was born, her first weeks were full of uncertainty, fear, and lots of prayer. Her story if for another entry, but the shortest version is simply that there was something wrong, nobody fully understood what was wrong, and she spent 10 days in the Neo-Natal ICU. What Lynn and I went through in those two weeks was taxing beyond words emotionally and physically. In our case, it was only 10 days. Then we had answers, we had seen strong improvement and we knew exactly what was next. The experience was horrible, but it did grow us as a couple and it grew us spiritually. The major milestone we have from this experience, aside from a healthy 8 month old today, is that this was the first major event in our marriage that we walked through truly together, supporting each other, praying for and with each other, and really there for each other. I guess that should be considered a great blessing.

I think about this as I read Mighty Mason’s blog. I see the Lord working in the lives of this family through this experience. It fills my heart with hope and joy to see the mentions of prayer, the thankfulness to the Father for their sustenance, and the encouragement from like-minded people offering their prayers as well. I know the Lord will use even this to draw each of them close to Him in a deeply personal way. I know He will be glorified. There is hope and strength in this knowledge. But what do you say to a parent who must find the strength day by day to walk this out and put everything in His hands. Do you say anything at all? And if so, how can someone who has never been through what they are going through speak into their lives with any authority?
Mason has a smile that melts you. There is a deep innocence in his eyes that says “life could not be any better at this very moment.” Maybe all that can be said, is said when he smiles. I am at a loss for words.

There is tremendous hope and a positive prognosis for Mason. He will pull through this too. Eventually, this will be a spiritual milestone for this family, and serve as a mighty testimony of how the Lord provided. I truly believe this. But for today, lift this precious family up in prayer. Today, they can use it.


Father, Great Physician, mighty healer; We lift the Bernard’s to you. Place your healing hand on Mason. We stand in the faith and knowledge that if you desire, you can heal him completely. Father, you created this body. You know best how to fix it. We lift him to you father. We ask for peace and confidence in you for Mason. We pray for comfort, Father. I ask you to guide the doctor’s hand perfectly.
We lift Glenn and Catherine to you. Draw them close to you as a couple, Father. Grant them strength and unity in each other, and in you. Grant them the peace of knowing and believing you ARE in control, you have a perfect plan, and you are capable to complete this plan. We pray a hedge of protection around their marriage from any strife, stress or conflict. Be glorified through the way you love these fine people as only a perfect Father can. Give them the encouragement of knowing that people across the nation are joining together to stand in the gap alongside them, and interceding for them; people they have never met, and more than they can count.

Father we cry out to you, Jehovah Raphi. For you are mighty to save!