Remembering Z.

Today is the birthday of Z. He was a youth at our church. In the summer of 2007, Z. drowned in the river. He was 16. His life was so impacting on others that friends still remember with deepest sorrow, deepest joy, and perhaps deepest loneliness, his birthday and the day of his death. Every year on the anniversary of his death, the family and friends gather by the banks of the river and have a barbecue and just remember.


Our son is named after him. Intentionally. We gave him Z.’s name as his first name. Although our son goes by his middle name, we thought it important to name him after Z. to remember. To remember as a sort of testimony of Z.’s life and character. We will be able to tell the story of Z. and of Z.’s relationship with Jesus when we, or our son, are asked about his name.

My son never met Z. My son was born almost a year after Z. died. But Z. had a way of being a friend to all. Not perfect was he, but he did ,in his character, reflect the God who saved him. And it is in that reflection of Him that we so fondly remember Z. It is our hope that our son will, as he grows, reflect the life of the God who will save him.

So, today, I remember Z. And so do a lot of people. In fact, Z. name means “God remembers”. So on this day we remember that God remembers us as well. God has not forgotten us. God has not forgotten you. God remembers you. Remember Him?

"Life is good; Eternal life is better." Stellar Kart