A Tale of Two Seans

The last week has given me a couple of highlights of love.  They have come by way of 2 young men named Sean.

Known for his smile.

Sean #1 is a college freshman.  Driving home from Mississippi to Kentucky after completing finals, he was involved in a terrible car accident.  Today he remains in a medically induced coma, fighting for his life, upheld by the power of God and the prayers of His people.  Both of his legs are broken, his face is lacerated, his lungs are bruised, and he has swelling on his brain.  His parents, siblings, family, and friends are heartbroken.  They want so badly to bring light and joy to the one God has used to bring them so much light and joy.  You can track his progress and be better informed how to pray here.
I've seen love in Sean #1's story from his sweet family. I've seen it in the way God's people have rallied around them and provided for them in remarkable ways.  I've seen it in Sean's facebook page exploding with assurances of prayer, love, sadness.  I've seen it in the III on people's arms (matching Sean's III for himself and his 2 other brothers).  I've seen it in a restaurant - Salsaritas - where Sean worked, holding a fundraising day where they gave a percent of their sales to the family.  How was business that day?  The biggest day in their history.  What a joy to see love emerging from the ashes of tragedy.  Please pray for Sean and his family.

---

Sean and his new brother.

Until yesterday, Sean #2 was a Chinese orphan.  But a friend of mine and his family, who had already adopted 2 children from China, decided to do more.  Here's the story.  This young man was on the verge of being too old to be adopted.  Jeremy and Amanda kicked things into high gear to pull off an adoption in extremely short order to beat the deadline.  They're in China now and have their new son.  What kind of love must it take to not just adopt a baby, but a teenager?  Love beyond telling.

---

These remarkable demonstrations of love, however, are a shadow and reflection of the love of God for his people.  He loved us when we were unlovely.  He loves us extravagantly.  He shows us that love most clearly through Christ who came into the world to save sinners like us.  "...but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)  Love beyond telling or comprehending.  I hope the Seans will teach us something about God's love for us and challenge us to go and show that kind of love to others.