David "Cooper" Moore

His name was David "Cooper" Moore. He was, and he remains...my son. He was my second son, and my third child. Five years ago today, we said hello and we said goodbye, to David "Cooper" Moore. He was named David after me, and also after my dad. We planned to call him "Cooper." It was a tip of the proverbial cap to my love of baseball. After all, Cooperstown, NY is the home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Five years. That's how long he's been gone. That's how long it's taken me to be able to say his name to others without raw emotions following my words. David "Cooper" Moore, my son. Needless to say, it was a heartbreaking loss. Cooper was a son I wanted. A son that was ripped from my grip before his life could even begin.

You've no doubt suffered a terrible loss in your lifetime. Maybe for you, it wasn't a child. Maybe it was a job you truly loved. A home taken away due to fire, flood, or an inability to pay the mortgage. Maybe it was a marriage you desperately wanted to work, but didn't.

Losing something you love and something you want, is difficult to say the least. Time and faith have dulled my heartache. Trust in God has extinguished the flames of anger. I'm in a better place, because I know my son is in a better place.

Recently, Amber and I have felt led to do something to memorialize our son. To give his life significance. To cause our loss to mean something for someone else. We've been working with our church to establish a memorial on our church property, to not only remember our son and to see his name often, but to demonstrate to other parents who have lost a child...you are not alone, and there is hope.

As great as the memorial will no doubt be, my mind has continued to search for other ways to share our experience with the world. Then I stumbled across an absolutely awesome story a long time friend shared on her social media page. My friend shared the story of how she met a lady in line at Starbucks recently, who handed her an envelope and left her with a hug.

They were strangers when they first stood together in line, but their interaction affected my friend's life, it has affected my life, and I hope it affects your life as well. You can see the contents of the envelope in the photo my friend posted below. The handwriting on the note, was written by a mom who lost her son a year ago. Read the transparency, the honesty, and the love in her words...

"Today is my son Michael's heavenly birthday. He would be 14 years old. He passed away after battling AML Leukemia for 5 months. He was the most kind person I have ever known. In his honor, I want to show some extra love today. I want you to know that you are loved, you are beautiful, you are kind, and you make this world a better place." -Michael's Mom

Wow. Talk about selflessness. Talk about love. On a day when her heart was no doubt breaking, this mom wanted to bring encouragement and joy to others. Friends, this is EXACTLY what Jesus calls us to do.

You likely know about the disciple, Peter, from the Bible. Peter was one of the first disciples of Jesus. Peter was not an extraordinary man when Jesus found him. Peter was a fisherman, and as he fished in the Sea of Galilee, Jesus approached him, and told him to "drop your nets and follow Me." Jesus promised to make Peter a "fisher of men."

Peter wasn't a perfect man. When Jesus walked on water, Peter left the boat to go to Him, but sank in the water, due to his fear and lack of faith. Just before Jesus was crucified, Peter tells Jesus that he would "lay down his life for Him." However, Peter later denies even knowing Jesus three separate times, just as Jesus predicted he would. After Jesus is killed, Peter goes back to his former life. He returns to what he knows...fishing.

Later Jesus is resurrected, and He has breakfast with his disciples by the sea, and He asked Peter the same question three times. (John 21:15-17). Jesus asked, "Do you love me?" When Peter answered affirmatively, Jesus commanded Peter to "feed my lambs." Again Jesus asked, "Do you love me?" Peter again says, yes. To which Jesus says, "Tend my sheep." A third time, Jesus asked Peter, "Do you love me?" Peter again, confessed that he did. Jesus told Peter to, "Feed my sheep."

What's so compelling about the relationship of Peter and Jesus, is that its not so different than the relationship of Jesus and all of us. Alone we aren't extraordinary, we aren't perfect, but He chooses us still. Despite our errors and shortcomings, Jesus loves us still. Even though we have sinned against Him, even though we've denied Him many times, He loves us still. He has work for us to do. He wants us to care for and love each other.

In asking Peter the same question three times,  Christ shows us that He loved Peter, He forgave Peter, and He restored Peter. In the same way, you need to know that Christ loves, forgives, and restores you as well. Right now, Jesus is asking, "Do you love me?" "Will you feed my lambs?" "Will you tend my sheep?" "Will you feed my sheep?"

We've got to drop our nets and follow Him. We've got to drop our hurt, our anger, our hopelessness. As we leave the boat of comfort, selfishness, and complacency, and we step onto the surface of the stormy waters of life, we need to keep our eyes focused on Him, or else we will sink.

I sincerly hope in some small way, the words that I share in this space week over week "feed" you. They encourage you. They comfort you. I hope that they fill you with the love, hope, peace, and joy of Christ.

Whether it's in a church, at work, or even in the line at Starbucks, you show Jesus how much you love Him by loving others.

"Today is my son Cooper's heavenly birthday. He would be 5 years old. In his honor, I want to show some extra love today. I want you to know that you are loved, you are beautiful, you are kind, and you make this world a better place." -Cooper's Dad

Much Love, Adam