My memorial to my son for the graveside service 8-31-2011 in Lubumbashi , Congo
MARK JOSEPH WALEZA LAYTON
I didn’t realize how much I could love someone I’ve never seen in person or touched physically. But as Christians we understand our greatest love is for someone we’ve never seen or touched physically – the Lord – and His greater live is present here in great ways.
Each part of our son’s name speaks of God’s grace:
- he had our name on him since right after he was born
- he never had another family name
- he never lived in America but touched many lives in America
- he had the same last name as my great-grandfather Edwin Layton who was a missionary to the Congo
JOSEPH
- named after young boy in Congo who Edwin Layton knew and who God used in amazing ways in 1900s in the Congo
- that young Joseph died in 1907 but “his works live after him” (Edwin Layton’s memoirs), a short life with lasting impact
- the biblical Joseph in the Old Testament lived on the African continent and had 2 African-born sons that were adopted in Israel
- the biblical Joseph in the New Testament was the “adoptive” father of Jesus, his legal father, though not biologically (the legal ancestry of Messiah was very important)
MARK
- we didn’t know this when we chose this name but Mark was the name of another important young man in Congo
WALEZA
- Congolese name chosen by Didier, the same name of one of his sons I met today, meaning “of God”
- Waleza was certainly a gift “of God” (Psalm 127:3)
- Waleza was always in the special care “of God” (Psalm 139:12-15) and His days were ordained “of God” (Psalm 139:16)
- We share David’s hope that his son was elected to pass into the presence “of God” where we too will go to him someday though he can’t come to me (2 Samuel 12:22-24), basing our hope not in sentimental feelings but on the sovereign grace and goodness “of God” (Romans 5:6, 8:28-32) to helpless ones such as us
- We lean on the special care of our Savior to little ones, our Savior who said the kingdom “of God” belongs to “such as these” (Mark 10:13-16, which we must realize is a picture of how all of us are spiritually to enter heaven, helpless, hopeless, dependent, unable to do anything to save ourselves)
A BRIEF LIFE BUT A BLESSED LIFE
- Born into this world May 20, 2011 in Lubumbashi
- Brought into the care of Kitumaini Orphanage right away
- Legally adopted by Phil and Jaime Layton on 6/17/11
- He was never an orphan; he was always in a family
- he knew the loving arms of a mother his whole life (some children never have a loving parent, he had several)
- Annie Mukotshi told us she would care for him as her own son and she did
- he was loved and cared for by Didier and his wife and Annie, their family, Angelique and her daughter Gracia, and the Kitumaini kids and community
- he had parents in America
- his 2-year-old white brother Adam knew Mark’s name and picture and smiled when he saw it
- his 5-year-old sister Georgia called him “Marky” and one time when daddy came home from work asked “where’s Marky” (wondering why I hadn’t brought him home yet in the time I was at work ;)
- his 7-year-old sister Annalee would have been the best 7-year-old mommy ever
- his 8-year-old sister Ella loved Mark as much as humanly possible for an 8-year-old to love a brother she’d never met
- above all, he was loved by our Heavenly Father, who knows the pain of giving up His Beloved Son (John 3:16), so that all His adopted children (“whosoever believes”) in Christ shall not perish but rather will share God’s life and infinite love eternally
The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
We are so moved! This was such a loving tribute to Mark, but more so to our loving Father who is the sovereign conductor of all things! What a blessing to see His design in the way the gospel came to the Congo and and the way the important doctrine of Adoption has been reiterated through the life of sweet baby Mark Joseph Waleza Layton!
ReplyDeleteWe are confident that God's purpose for Mark's life, the loving care he received from his 'foster' parents, Didier and Annie, and the adoption and love he received across the miles from Phil, Jaime, and family, and the prayers on his behalf from his church family at GCBC will all bring glory to God now and be made known in eternity future. We trust Mark's short life and the evidence of love from his adoptive family in the U.S. will continue to bring blessings in two continents.
Our hope is that this sweet and God-honoring memorial brings comfort to you, Phil and Jaime and we will continue to pray for His loving care on your family. It has been a blessing for us to come to a deeper understanding of God's love for us in Adoption and we are very grateful for Phil's sermons and how youv'e shared your personal journey. Our hearts grieve with you and we want you to know how much we love your family. Thank you for sharing this sweet memorial with all of us.
May God continue to soothe your aching hearts.
In Him,
Phil & Trina Riepe, Brittany, Becky, and Ben
Thank you so much for sharing this God-honoring post! I love how your heart's desire is so consistent in the desire to glorify God ~ and this truly does that. I loved learning all that was behind each of his names.
ReplyDeleteContinuing to uphold all of you in prayer as you go through this time of profound adjustment.
May it be that his life will be as a little seed now planted that will bring forth much fruit to many and much glory to God.
Much comfort to you all and safe travels to our beloved pastor.