Life vs Life

His hope-filled words in response to the unpredictability of his rare type of cancer will forever be etched into my mind: "It's not a life or death situation, but it's a life OR life." 

Before our senior year at Auburn his cancer came back. It was so shocking because I had never known him while he had it.

I think that statement says so much more than I could ever type about Ben. He lived in such freedom because he knew who his Father is. Knowing Ben meant knowing Jesus.

Thankfulness is an understatement for how I feel towards him. God used Ben more in my life than I can even comprehend on this side of heaven. He taught me so much about the heart of God in the short 6 years of knowing him. He challenged me to go deeper with Jesus, to believe God will do huge things, to dream big, to laugh, to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit, and to simply live the full life with Jesus. 

He is my hero. His heart is pure gold. His joy is real. He always sought to get to know other people and looked at every person with such value. He was the life of the party and his rap game was amazing yet he could get you in a heart-to-heart in one second. He even got me flowers and cookies on Valentine's day one year because I didn't have a boyfriend! He experienced the love and goodness of God and he lived so radically and it was contagious! He was always giving Jesus credit, speaking of His love, possessing joy, living with such childlike faith, and disagreeing with any lie or anything from the enemy. Just a guy that everyone wants to be around. 

His soul truly blesses the Lord. 

As I feel in shock that He is now with the Father and as I also feel so far away from home, I am reminded that this is earth is not our home but Ben IS home. He is healed and he is with Jesus forevermore! He is completely free! While I am heartbroken at the the loss of him, I will praise the Lord always for the beautiful life of my dear friend.

"I shall not die but live, and declare the works of the Lord." Psalm 118:17