“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits:
Who pardons all your iniquities;
Who heals all your diseases;
Who redeems your life from the pit;
Who crowns you with loving kindness and compassion…” Psalm 103


     It is fitting that this day, March 5th, we bless the Lord publicly for all His benefits showered upon our family. Today is Luke’s 28th birthday; a good day for reflection and the giving of praise. Psalm 103 could be entitled “Luke’s story”. Let me take a moment to refresh your memory.

     On Thanksgiving of 1995 we received Luke’s biopsy report with the diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, fourth stage with multiple metastases. For the next three months Luke underwent chemo therapy and was pronounced in remission on his 16th birthday. The doctors were not very optimistic about his prognosis and recommended more chemo and a bone marrow transplant. As you may remember we decided to get a second opinion and returned to Nashville to Vanderbilt Medical Center. It was decided, after much prayer, to not go ahead with further treatment, but to “wait and watch”. Luke was tested as to his fertility and he showed a zero sperm count. After many months and more prayer he was tested again and was found to be fertile once again. The Lord had “healed all his diseases”. But the greatest disease was yet to be healed.

     For many years after his illness, in spite of his own experience of healing, Luke lived the life of the prodigal son. He did not walk in the ways of the Lord. In fact, his iniquities increased to the point that he descended ever more into the “pit”. But the Lord pursued him fearlessly until one day he “came to his senses” and repented and was saved. The Lord “pardoned his iniquities and redeemed his life from the pit”. Not only did the Lord heal, pardon and redeem Luke, but He did the same for Luke’s girlfriend Elly.  Today Luke and his wife Elly are expecting the birth of their first daughter in May. The Lord has indeed “crowned them with loving kindness and compassion”.

     Dear Friends, we want to thank each one of you from the very depths of our heart for the countless prayers you have poured out on our son’s behalf all these years. We will never forget your sacrifice of love for our family and we will never forget all His benefits! Bless the Lord, O my soul!!