Finishing Strong

   This week I have to say goodbye (for now) to a truly amazing family.  I first met Amy through a class at church where Jim and I were table leaders.   She explained that her husband (Tom) was in the military and was serving in Iraq. Her 5 boys were in various youth and children's ministries in the church. She had stepped up to be a youth leader in our church and to lead youth life groups.
    In the two years since then Tom  Amy and their children have served in so many ways.  They came like a whirlwind, serving and teaching everyone they met.  They ministered to military families and non-military families.  They gave of themselves to the point of stretching and they grew in those stretches.
    Jim and I had the privilege of getting to know them a bit better more recently.  We were struggling with a few things and felt we needed to be "poured into" by some other couples.  We asked Tom and Amy if we could join their group for a little while.   They gladly agreed.   We got to know them and their amazing heart for God's people.  We watched as they made it all look effortless.
     A few weeks into our joining them, they received word from the Army that Tom was getting transferred.  Tom and Amy immediately formulated their "exit strategy".  Jim and I were proud to be a small part of that.   I remember their concerns about "finishing strong".  They wanted to continue to serve and reach out right up until the day they had to pack up.  They prayed for their boys to adopt the same attitude.
     This past Sunday was their last in our church.  The childrens ministry honored their whole family with a tribute, one that I have not seen the likes of before in our church. Their little Zack led the worship with his favorite worship song and they had all the ministry leaders and youth and children that their family touched say a few words.  They were humbled.  Zack was baptized that day!  Their son Andy was serving.
      Tomorrow they will attend our lifegroup for the last time (which is also partly their old lifegroup).   They will move out on Saturday morning.   As they are packing, they are saying goodbye to friends and still ministering and serving those around them.  They are concerned for their friends they are leaving and even now are making arrangements to see that needs are met.
      I am honored to know such a family and inspired by their commitment to finishing strong!  May we all serve God so completely that we do our very best right up until we "move on".   Tom, Amy, Mitch, Andy, Tim, Zack and Josh, we will miss you and we hope to be able to see you again very soon!