Celebrating Jack’s Life

Jack and the Keller family recently had a Celebration of Life night. Oh how we wished that we could be there. Two LONG trips in just a couple of weeks are more than we could handle, but I wanted to share with all of you and with Jack what we would have said if we were able to be there, and especially if we would have been given the opportunity to share how Jack and Sarah have blessed our lives with the group!


Jack, each time we look at our son we are reminded of your life and of God's work in your life! Many of you know that the Keller family was seeking to add to their family through the miracle of adoption and received a referral for a baby named “M.” You then might know that everything started to go wrong and they had to release M's referral, told he would never be able to be adopted. In time they received word that he could be adopted, but the timing of his homecoming would be the same as Sarah's due date with sweet Andrew. Once again they had to lay this little man down, trusting that God had a different plan for M. Jack wrote to the adoption agency asking if we could receive the referral for M. We were using the same agency and about number 29 on the waiting list. He was told that wasn't possible and M's referral was given to a specific family. Another family received and declined his referral and M was then listed as special needs due to some delays. This meant that our family, who was approved for special needs was more of a possibility. Our agency contacted the Keller's and asked about us and we were called the same day with the great news that we could receive M's referral. As I write this he has been home for 9 months today. He is a joy and a delight, and a testimony to the greatness of our God and to the faithfulness and prayer of Jack Keller.

You see, the reason that we are sharing the story above is because Jack and Sarah carried our son in their hearts for over half a year. Jack specifically would pray a blessing from afar over him each day. M should have died in Ethiopia. He was so very near death, but I fully believe that Jack and Sarah's faithfulness and obedience to pray and care for M sustained his life, protected his heart, nurtured his spirit, and prepared the soil within him for Jesus! M's paperwork coming through was another testimony to prayer as our agency just believed their was no way it would happen. Our God reminds us that nothing is impossible with Him in charge. He reminds us that He so perfectly cares for every image bearer on the planet. Our son, a once starving orphan in Africa was and is very important to our heavenly Father.

Jack your model of love for your sons is something that we have appreciated and hope that we can parent our children as you do. Even through pain your boys see you as their hero, their mighty daddy, their “mo-mo” companion. We pray that your boys hearts will be etched with this model and they will one day be dads just like their own. Your love for your bride is so sweet, tender, and beautiful. We pray that many marriages are currently enriched and will be for generations to come because of your model of self less love for your Sarah. Your love for your King is so Awesome! Before we knew you like we do now, we watched you cling to Jesus as you waited for lungs. Now, we watch you cling to Jesus as you wait to see Him face to face.

Jack, thank you for showing us each day how to really live!