Why?

Why? It's a question we all ask when something terrible happens. Especially when it involves children. A friend of mine told me about Ethan Powell, a little boy in Louisiana who was fighting Leukemia. She gave me his website, and I checked it almost daily so I could get updates on him. He was diagnosed at 2 months old, and he was such a little fighter. His last bone marrow test came back negative and said there was NO LEUKEMIA! What a blessing that was! But then he started to develop an infection and he started retaining fluid around his heart and lungs. My heart would break every time I logged in and read those updates. It just kept getting worse and worse, and finally his little lungs couldn't take anymore, and they shut down. Little Ethan died in his parents arms on Saturday morning. His short life touched so many people, and he touched mine more than I could ever tell you. Even though I prayed so hard for him all the time, I can't help but think I let him down. Maybe I didn't pray enough or maybe I prayed the wrong prayer. Why did God take this little boy? Why do his parents have to live without him? Why did he survive leukemia, but then ultimately die from an infection? Why did God put Ethan in my heart? I spent the majority of the morning yesterday crying over this little boy. There's a reason God burdened my heart with Ethan. It may never be clear to me why or it may hit me like a ton of bricks. But whatever the reason, I have to trust God's purpose in it.

I also want to mention Neil Elkins. His cousin-in-law just told me that he was diagnosed with Leukemia yesterday, and he will be spending a month in the hospital. I don't know where or why or any details. But please remember him and his family in your prayers. He has a wife Tisha and a 3 yr old daughter Saige.