Buck's Battle Was Over, But He Won The War

My husband, Buck, was a powerful man of God! Anyone who knew him for very long saw the tangible evidence that this man knew Jesus in a personal way. He didn't talk about his faith a lot; he just lived it out quietly, and his actions spoke loud and clear! His passion was to serve on short term mission trips and that is where his gift of servant-hood shone most brightly! He was known for taking vacation time without pay so that he could participate in these trips with our church family, most often to rebuild in disaster relief efforts after hurricanes. I'm certain that there was a powerful battle going on in the spiritual realm, trying to wipe out this godly dynamo. I have a dear friend who told me she had a vision of Buck in his hospital bed, with an angel defending him standing guard over him with a huge sword. I have no doubt that a battle raged in the heavens all during Buck's illness. I am so thankful that God blessed him and us with another four months, as that gave him the opportunity to show the world what he was made of. We will probably never know just how many lives were touched by our story.

When our journey began on New Year's Day, 2009, I took advantage of a website called Carepages, offered to my family through our hospital. Setting up our Carepage had an impact that I never anticipated. My goal was to use it to keep all my family and friends informed about how Buck was doing and I would share updates and specific prayer requests as the needs arose. I was amazed at the community that our Carepage created as there were over 230 people following our journey. Even Buck's caretaker's were checking in to see how their patient was doing when they weren't on duty. We acquired a whole new family because of his medical emergency. The memory of it still blows me away!

When we entered the hospital on the day Buck was called home, it was beautiful and sunny. Ironically, when we left, a storm had come up and there was rain, high winds and even lightning and thunder. I could imagine the powers of darkness celebrating the fact that there was one less Christ follower to get in the way of their agenda. Little did they know that Buck's impact would not die with him. I feel confident that more people will be in heaven because of Buck's example as he faced the valley of the shadow of death with such courage and enthusiasm.  His attitude of faith, acceptance, cooperation and sweetness, in spite of all he went through, made me so very proud to be his wife! I believe in my heart that God never wastes anything and that He would bring good out of this heart-breaking situation. And indeed, He has done just that! Buck was more than a conqueror and his legacy will not soon be forgotten!

Romans 8:37-39

Amplified Bible (AMP)

³⁷Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us.
    ³⁸For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers,
    ³⁹Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord