Gone too Soon

I found out this week that a former client of mine passed away suddenly in a car crash at only 21 years of age.  He was one of my first clients at the first job I had straight out of college.  I had the privilege of being his mentor and watching his growth during the time that I worked with him.

He became a believer during that time as well.  I would teach him biblical things and he would explain pop culture to me.  I was not a very good student!  He teased me when I wrote down M+M instead of Eminem! Oops.

He would always quote Tupac quotes to anyone who would listen, trying to brighten someone's day or just to help himself survive.  One of his favorites was, "For every dark night, there's a brighter day."  It is a reminder of a hope of better things to come.  I've been thinking a lot about that and his life this week. Although he had his struggles, I'm taking hope in that he knew the Lord and is now seeing a brighter day for all eternity.

 It got me thinking about my role as a social worker/missionary. Being a social worker can be a very discouraging job.  I never know if I've made an impact or if they are learning anything from me.  It is also hard to let them go once it's time for them to move on.  I want them to be successful and live up to their God-given potential.  And then I have to remember that they are in God's hands. There's only so much I can do.  I can't be responsible for what happens after.  I need to simply love well, help them in their struggles, and point them to God.  God is in control of their lives, not me.
I don't understand why the Lord took him at such a young age, but I know that he was in God's hands the entire time.
It is a difficult time for the family, but I'm praying they can see a brighter day through it all.  Please pray for the family as they grieve his loss.