SEE YOU SOON STEVIE!

Have you ever known a person that touched your life immensely? Today we attended a Memorial Service for a dear man that passed away in April of this year, His name was Steven or as many called him, Fred. I had the privilege of meeting Steven at the church that I was attending when I first came to know the Lord as my Savior.

Steven attended the church with his father and mother Murray and Connie. Steven was born with Down Syndrome and his parents are two of the finest parents I've had the privilege of knowing. Steven was around 17 or 18 when I first met him but he always seemed like a child to me, even when he was in his 30s, he still seemed childlike. At the memorial service his brothers both stood up and commented on how loving and kind Steven was and how much of hole is in their lives now that he is not with them.He was such a gentle , kind soul. You would walk in their home and he would come towards you with the biggest smile you ever seen, with one tooth missing in the front,you would be looking into these beautiful smiling eyes and he would wrap his arms around you and tell you he loved you. He was never angry, always so happy to see anyone. At church he would stay in the Nursery and help out there, every church he attended the children loved him so and so did the congregation. At the memorial Service 8 children stood up front and sang Steven's Favorite song, " Jesus Loves Me This I know, for the Bible tells me so" I remember a few times that he came and spent the day with me while his dad and mom had things to do and it was easier for them to get it done on their own. I spend those times looking through His view Master at Scoobie Doo. He brought over his favorite VHS movies that we watched together. they are memories I will treasure forever.

At the service Stevens brother Dan shared a time that his dad told him about. One day there were kids playing outside their home and Stevie was out the front with them. A little girl that was with them fell down and hurt herself and all the other children just stood around and watched. Steven went over to the little girl and helped her up and asked her if she was ok. Tears came to my eyes hearing that because I could see Stevie doing just that. If you would have had the privilege of meeting this young man you would have loved him too.

We know God made Steven this way, for a purpose.You can not imagine the lives this young man has touched. Thank you Lord for bringing Stevie into my life, because I consider myself truly blessed by him. We can learn so much from folks like Stevie, they put us to shame sometimes.

Tonight as I type this out I am thinking Stevie is now whole, no more pain, no more ridicule from folks that are just plain ignorant. I am going to miss that beautiful smile on his face and in his eyes. Thank you Lord for Steven "Fred" Riordan! I Love you Steven! I will miss you but I know I will one day see you again, whole.

And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.(Matthew 18:2-6 ESV)

Cristina