Prayer in Memory Carl Gordon Lansford.
Lord, please read these words to Gordon from me.
GORDON AND DOROTHY 2013
Dear Gordon,
My brother-in-law,
My brother in Christ,
I give thanks to God for you.
I am so proud of you.
At age 18 you fought so bravely in the Vietnam War.
America did not win that war.
But, you won three Purple Hearts.
Those symbols of courage were not enough
For the VFW Chapter in your town
To let you in when you came home.
Yet, thanks be to God,
There was always room in the inn of His heart for you.
As a decorated soldier, you fought your greatest battle
After you set foot again on American soil.
You courageously and optimistically faced, one by one,
The ravages of Agent Orange.
The amputation of your legs.
The loss of feeling in your hands and arms.
Kidney failure.
Scarred lungs.
Dialysis.
Doggedly fighting for the healthcare and governmental benefits
Every uniformed American soldier should be awarded
As a tribute for service to our Country.
As with my own bride, Dorothy,
God sent you an angelic wife, Barbara.
He made sure that when there was less and less of you in the physical,
There was more of more of God’s Grace and love in the spiritual
In Barbara’s inexhaustible devotion and care for you.
Today,
Gordon, you lost the final battle
Which you and none of us can ever win.
Yet, you received victory of eternal life over death
Because the God you served
Made the ultimate and greatest sacrifice for you.
God’s purpose for your creation has been fulfilled.
I pray that you enjoy the Heavenly peace,
The freedom of pain,
The joy,
You have so long deserved.
Peace. Love. The Light of Christ to you.
Amen.
Dearest Gordon, thank you so
very much for your service and your sacrifice on your country’s behalf and on behalf of its grateful citizens. Our love and sympathy to you, Barbara, Dorothy, Jack and the rest of your family. We are grateful for your life and pray for your eternal life.
Thank you for your thoughtful and kind words. Our family appreciates you. Take care and God bless you. Barb Lansford
Jack, Thank you for this beautiful prayer. Gordon was such an extraordinary man, stong, courageous, sensitive, loving, fiercely loyal to his family and friends. He loved us all with a deep and abiding passion. Gordon loved God and served him devotedly. Gordon also loved his soldiers and fought to protect them all, as well as fellow veterans. His personal ministry was to his fellow Vietnam veterans who were also suffering the devastating effects of Agent Orange exposure. He was a brilliant, caring, unselfish man who gave his all for all of us. He was the most wonderful man in the entire world and we lost a treasure yesterday morning. But Gordon is now in the arms of Jesus and is delighting in reuniting with his dear mother Ellen. I can just imagine the joyful conversations they are now sharing!!! I am blessed to have shared life with Gordon and I am blessed to be a part of the Emmott family. Jack, I want yoy to know what a blessing your book was to us in this last week. I read chapters of your book to Gordon, and it was a source of both comfort and inspiration to us both. I was able to read all except the last chapter to him before he passed. And it was such a blessing that Dorothy was able to come out to be with her brother and me before he passed. Gordon said he wanted to see his sister one more time, and you and Dorothy made it happen. You and Dorothy are truly bending angels to me! Love always, Barb Lansford
Barb-You have earned your wings by your extraordinary care and love of Gordon in good times and difficult passages. The peace to know he was always in the shadow of your devoted spirit gave us such comfort. I am so touched that you read and Gordon listened to Bending Angels. You may not have read the last chapter to him about my angelic mother. No worry. He is now at the Lord’s Table with my mother, Lucile, and with his mom, Ellen and his sister, Dianne. They are sharing their stories and the love of God forever.
Peace. Love. Light of Christ to You. Jack
Jack, Thank you for your kind and loving words. Gordon is at peace now and his spirit is now free. He is with our Lord and his mother Ellen, whom he loved dearly. Gordon missed our weekly conversations with his Mom, and I know they are sharing stories and getting caught up! Love, Joy, Peace and the Love of Christ to you and Dorothy. Barb
Amen! Amen!! Amen!!!
Jack, I am so sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you and your family during your time of grieving. Your brother-in-law was truly an outstanding American. Thanks for sharing his history. Your friend, Ruth Cooke
Beautifully written.
God bless.
You have fought the good fight, and have seen the race to the end…. thank you for your service to God and Country, Sir…. I salute you and may God Bless you.
Thank you for this beautiful tribute to my husband, Gordon Lansford. He did fight the good fight and kept fighting long after many others would likely have given up. Gordon was truly an extraordinary man and those who had the privilege to share life with jim were truly blessed. Barb Lansford
It’s hard to understand why this man suffered so much during his lifetime just as it was for Jesus. Now, they can talk about it. God bless you for your beautiful prayer and tribute.
Gordon Carl Lansford was a family member I never had the honor to meet. I send my heartfelt love and admiration to his memory and to his loving wife. May this true hero rest in peace.
Thank you Deanne for this loving tribute. I wish you could have met Gordon. He was an extraordinary man! Take care. Barb Lansford
Amen.