Andrew Cole Strickland came into this world 18 years ago today. He left this world much too soon - he was laid to rest today, December 20th, and I can only imagine the birthday celebration he is having with his grandfather, who made his journey to heaven only 2 short months ago. Ive searched for the perfect words -a poem, song or verse - to adequately describe what he meant to me, but Im at a loss. There are no words. Andrew walked into my classroom for 3rd grade open house approximately 8 years ago wearing his trademark camouflage UGA hat, complete with a fishing hook clipped onto the bill. His southern drawl and ability to stretch a 1-syllable word into 4 syllables immediately captured my heart. Over the years, Andrews role in my life transitioned from student, to former student, and eventually to my 2nd son. He became family. He loved my family, especially my Nannie. Andrew, however, with no ordinary kid. He was born with a rare liver condition and endured 3 liver transplants with the most recent being December 5th. He also survived cancer twice and countless other health problems, many of them life threatening. Throughout it all, Andrew *never* stopped smiling, *never* lost his faith, and *never* missed an opportunity to witness about his faith and to lift others up when they needed it. He was an old soul who truly understood what the meaning of life was all about. He would often text me and ask if he could go fishing down at my Nannies. Eventually, it became his happy place just as it was my happy place. The morning of his last liver transplant, he called me. We talked for a while and cried together and prayed together. Instead of me reassuring him, he was reassuring me that he was going to be a brand-new man. And when Jesus called him home last Wednesday, I had to struggle through my own grief and realize that my selfish tears were just that – selfish. For he *had* become a brand-new man, walking the streets of gold. His work on earth was done. His endless journey has begun. The moon will rise and the sun will set.....but I wont forget. Ill carry your heart with me, sweet boy....Ill carry it in my heart. Forever.
Posted on: Sun, 21 Dec 2014 06:45:30 +0000
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