Meagan Hawley, our wonderful fellow missionary, just returned on Friday from the US. She had been there since January helping to care for her critically ill baby niece, Harper Hawley. Harper’s condition had not changed in quite some time, so Meagan made the difficult and heart-wrenching decision to come back to her work here in Zambia.
Louisa Duke was with us as we picked Meagan up from the airport on Friday afternoon and spent the night in Livingstone. Saturday afternoon we were driving back to Namwianga when this amazing rainbow appeared. At first the colors were horizontal bands, and then gradually an arc formed. We could distinguish every color, and all of us agreed it was the most vivid rainbow we had ever seen. We were on a deserted country road, so we stopped and let Meagan take pictures.
A few hours later Meagan received word that Harper had passed away Saturday morning. Meagan was devastated, not only at the terrible loss of Harper, but at the seemingly cruel timing. As we prayed together that night, Louisa thanked God for the rainbow and its reminder of His eternal promises. Then we realized that because of the time difference, Saturday morning in America was Saturday afternoon here. We were watching that beautiful rainbow just at the time Harper was finding her new home in the loving arms of the Lord.
Nothing can remove the terrible pain of this loss, but God once again reminds us that He keeps his promises, and the promise of a new home—a place without tears and suffering—is a promise to hold onto.
2 comments:
Thank you for the tribute to Harper. I am Meagan's uncle and Harper's great uncle. She was, in her brief life, an inspiration to many. The faithfulness of Zach and Haley touched countless lives as they struggled with Harper's illness and death. We miss Meagan but know she is in good hands and we know she will be a tremendous blessing to the work in Zambia. Thanks again and your work is in our prayers.
God bless,
Steve Hawley
Luke 18:1
I am sitting here in tears, both from sadness for the Hawley family and yet for little Harper to be out of pain and with our Lord. I was touched so much by your story of the rainbow and I think I will not only remember Gods promise of no more floods but I shall think of a tiny precious soul named Harper who is free at last from this earthly suffering. What a beautiful story. Our prayers go out to you all. love cj
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