COMMENTS FROM OUR FAMILY...
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On behalf of the entire Prince family, I want to, from the bottom of my heart, thank each of you for your thoughts, prayers, words of encouragement, and for just letting us know you care during these past 16 months my nephew Matthew has valiantly battled brain cancer. Early this past Thursday morning, Matthew was fully healed as he went home to be with the Lord he loved so much and served so well. I have always known Matthew was a special young man. What I did not know until this week, was just how many lives he touched in deep and eternal ways during his short 20 years here on earth.
It doesn't seem right for parents to bury their children, does it? This is not usually the way of things. But today, my brother and his wife buried their son. We buried our nephew. Grandparents buried their grandchild. Today was a day full of emotion. My eyes ache from the tears. Though my sorrow is deep, it is not nearly as deep as that of my brother Ray and his wife Anita, my nephew Andrew and niece Ashley. Please pray for them in the days and weeks ahead as they grieve for their loss. God created us with emotion. I believe people should grieve and remember... it is part of how God made us and how we heal.
Matthew's funeral was an amazing time... "amazing" was one of Matthew's favorite words... I can hear him say it in my head so clearly even now as I type, and I hope I never forget that. The largest church in his home town of Dahlonega was gracious to make their church available for the service, but it was so full with hundreds of people who came to honor him that the aisles, vestibule and even some of the choir loft was used for seating. Though my brother Ray is a pastor of a church here, there is no way their church could have held the crowds. During the service, we shed tears, smiles, even laughter as those who spoke shared what Matthew meant to them, us, and so many. I would like to share with each of you one thing, and I know Matthew would say if he could today, the most important thing that was said during the day. It was a conversation relayed by Byron Yawn, Matthew's pastor from Nashville where he attended Community Bible Church. Byron is a great Bible teacher who loved Matthew dearly. He shared that Matthew had a profound impact on his life and ministry. Byron delivered the message at Matthew's funeral, and here is one thing he shared...
Byron shared how that in late June, he visited Matthew at his apartment on campus at Vanderbilt and only the two of them were there. He told how he and Matthew sat "nose to nose" and "eye to eye" as they both wept as they talked about death. He said he could literally see their tears dropping to the floor between them and splashing on the floor. Matthew's body was weakened so much by the cancer, but Matthew spoke slowly and clearly as he said to Byron... "Byron, I am dying. I am tired of fighting... my parents still don't want to accept it, but I accept it. I know my time is coming soon... and when it does, I want you to preach my funeral. I'm sorry and worried about mom and dad and Ashley and Andrew... but I'm not afraid." What Matthew told Byron to say is this... Matthew said... "Tell everyone that if I could come back and say only one thing... it would be this... tell them to put their faith and trust in God through His Son, Jesus Christ." You see, when Matthew's time was come, he was not afraid to die, because he was certain of his destiny. He knew where he would be when he passed from this life... and that was in the presence of the God he loved... that is where he is today... enjoying the reality of God's presence himself.
Yes, there were tears today, and my tears have fallen even as I write this email to you all and remember. But today was not only a day of sorrow, it was also a day of victory and rejoicing. Victory because death has no power over those who place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ, like my nephew Matthew did. Instead, we are promised eternal life in heaven with the Lord. Rejoicing because, though our tears spilled as Matthew's casket was closed the final time, it was most certainly not "good-bye," but rather, it was "see you later..." And I will see my nephew again. As sure as I know I'm typing this email to you at 12:31am Monday the 24th of July 2006. That sure. Because I too have placed my faith and trust in the only way to be reconciled to God... through His Son Jesus Christ and His death on the cross and resurrection as payment for my sins. Through Him, I have a hope of an eternity in heaven with my Lord and with loved ones who have gone before... including my nephew Matthew.
Whether you have worked with me or known me a short time or a long time, perhaps you've noticed that though I'm not ashamed of my faith, I don't and would never try to impose that faith on anyone. God has to draw people unto Himself. I've always tried to be a witness, though perhaps not as directly and straightforward as in this email. Today, I want to honor the memory of my nephew by being crystal clear about the most important decision any person can make in their life. That's what I've tried to do by sharing with you part of my experience today.
If you would like to talk further about Matthew, his life, his passing, or his Lord, and perhaps how you too might join me in knowing Jesus Christ personally, I encourage you... no, wrong word, I beg you, to please talk with me, my dad, Rob, or anyone else you know who professes faith in Jesus Christ. Nothing is more important. Not work, not anything, than your decision about this.
In Matthew's final days and weeks here on earth as he grew weaker and weaker, even when he could barely see, hear or speak... he would always tell anyone and everyone... "I love you..." and he would squeeze your hand gently. His was a life welllived. One week ago today... Matthew was in his home church in Nashville, for, as he whispered to Byron while his church family prayed for him, "one... final... time." His last Sunday on earth was spent in church. Today, this Sunday... Matthew is in the presence of the God he loved. His wish, and mine, is that if you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, that you would consider... and believe. It would be my joy to talk with you more about it. Please ask me...
Thank you for reading and for allowing me to share with you the most important thing to Matthew, to me, to anyone, in this life. If anyone is offended in any way by these words, I apologize. That is not my intent. I count all of you as friends... and these words are from my heart to yours, to act upon or not, as your heart leads you...
John P. (Matthew's Uncle, Ray's Brother)
Oh Ray,
Pray for me as you have never prayed before As I pray for you as I have never prayed before. This is a time as I have never experienced before - I guess I should of expected nothing less.
Every new day brings more tears of sadness. I don’t think it is getting easier but quite the opposite - I think it is getting harder. Every new day means one more day since I saw him last, or held his hand last, or kissed his cheek, or wiped his chin. I rue the new day. I long to hear his laugh, or smell his cologne, or answer my cell phone to hear "Hey Uncle Rob, How's it going? Love you bunches." I look out and start to see the faint glow of the sun as it brings a new day. I fight the new day as it now just means one more day since....
The absence grows one more day longer. The separation grows one more day wider. I still cant believe he is not with us anymore. Life is now changed. Joy is no longer as joyous as it once was. Happiness doesn’t mean the same anymore. Something is missing from the good times. Will good times even be possible?
Heaven truly is much, much more dear to me now. I have lost one of my anchors holding me over here. Joy starts to advance toward victory when I think of where he is now - but as joyous as I can get about that truth brings an equal part of sadness as to be present with Him means absent from us. That absence is just really huge. I wonder how many tears it will take to fill that absence? I'm afraid that is a task only God can accomplish.
Oh how I miss him.
Rob T. (Matthew’s Uncle)
When Matthew came to visit Paul and Drema (Granny and PawPa) for his spring break this year we had a nice visit with him. The kids were quickly drawn to him as he promptly whipped open his lap top and gave us a birds-eye view of his brain surgery. Thankfully, we had not yet embarked on our dessert! The kids have not forgotten it and bring it up on many occasion! At the end of our visit Matthew sealed the kids' "aweness" of him with a Vanderbilt tshirt , which they wear nightly.
While driving home Troy and I talked about how impressed we were with Matthew. I told Troy how blessed I would feel to have our children possess the quality of character Matthew displayed. He was such a great kid - loved the Lord, so smart, funny and kind. You couldn't help but love him! I always thought he would make a great politician - able to stand for what he believes while making others around him feel comfortable and confident in what he knows. Of course, he had the whole diversity thing wrapped up with speaking several languages!
And, oh how he loved Vanderbilt. He seemed to have found his niche with friends, his church and college life in general. He was all about staying up late, enjoying a good latte from the local coffeehouse and rubbing elbows with his profs.
The Lord has chosen to take him from his earthly home for reasons I will never understand. But, praise God that He is sovereign and His ways are not our ways and the reuniting with Matthew in the best of worlds lies before us for an eternity! The morning Matthew leaped into heaven I spent most of the day between tears and thoughts of what views he must be taking in upon entering heaven's gates - Jesus Himself in all His glory, Ma-maw Prince, his great grandparents, hosts of angels and the feeling of freedom from the restrictions his earthly body contained - oh, what a feeling!!
You should be so proud - Matthew was an excellent example of what he had been taught at home - keeping Christ at the center of all you do.
For His Glory, Troy and Cindy S. (and Jessica, Caleb and Luke) (Ray’s Cousin, her husband and kids)
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