In Remeberance

Cling to the hope you have in Jesus Christ, he will bring you through, cling to your family, cling to your friends, love all you can while you can and do everything for The Lord"  ~ Russell O'Neal

A year ago today, a friend, peer, fellow graduate, and overall amazing man lost his battle with cancer. Russell O'Neal was an amazing young man who was on fire for Christ. I am writing this to not only honor his memory, but also to bring awareness to the lives he impacted, and the lives he is still impacting.

I am posting a link to the foundation that was created in his memory: http://russelloneal.com/site/

Not a day goes by that I do not think, why? Why did he have to die? And then I realize the impact he made in both life with his testimony and the impact he is still making on so many peoples lives through the organization founded in his memory.

I remember sitting beside him in band freshman year, he was playing trumpet and I was playing sax. He was on the basketball team (one heck of a player). And then I remember finding out everything sophomore year, the school came together as a community to support and pray and donate for Russell. I remember when he came back to school, so happy and full of life. We spent many hours together working on projects for TSA especially the Architectural Model. I remember he wanted to be an architect and was planning to go to UNCC to study architecture. And then I remember a year ago today, sitting in church and hearing the news. The news, that he had went on to be with our father.

It wasn't until that moment that it hit me. The impact he had, and also what the world had lost. Then also, why? Why, out of everyone who has had cancer and survived, why did God call someone home who was doing so much work for his kingdom. I remember my own scare with cancer and think wow that could have been me. Why wasn't it me? This isn't fair. My heart broke in that moment, not only knowing my own pain, but the pain of his family and all of those who were closer to him than I was. All of these things went through my head that Sunday morning.

I remember one of my teachers telling me that when he was in his last days he made a remark along these lines: "I already had my second chance, now I am praying that God will give someone else theres." The selflessness of this statement broke my heart again. This young man, barely 18 years old selflessly asked God to save someone else, someone who needed saving. Not just from their cancer, but also so that they could come to know God.

Russell impacted so many people, and continues to do so. I know he is dearly missed by his family, friends, and the entire community; however, he is now in a better place smiling down on us all.

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