Today is Monday, January 29th, 2007; Karen's Korner #986

Sharon Frank and I were roommates for a few years before both of us were married. Her husband's cousin's son, Steven Frank from Farmington Hills, Michigan was killed while serving in Iraq in April 2005. When Sharon and Roger would talk about Steven, I knew that I wanted to let them tell more about him and his shortened life.
 
"I think about how his parents raised him and his sisters," said Sharon. "While visiting their house after his death, I was really touched by the Family Mission Statement in their office. Apparently they had done this when the children were young."
 
Here is the family mission statement and some of their goals:
 
* to develop relationships with God and each other in an atmosphere of love, encouragement, cooperation and security;
* to develop responsible individuals, proactive not reactive, with healthy images, faith in God, and strong Judeo-Christian values;
* to develop well-balanced healthy individuals, able to fully function spiritually, physically, mentally socially and emotionally;
* to help each person find their destiny and develop their unique talents and abilities through on-going education and training.
 
Sharon said, "He was a remarkably strong Christian man who knew the Lord. He was a wonderful husband, father, brother and son.  At times it seems that God takes the best. At his funeral his Mother said that Steven's words were, 'Everybody wants to be that soldier that saves somebody else's life.  I want to be the soldier that saves another person's soul.'  Steven Frank served God and Country. He loved the Army. He loved his soldiers---every one of them. But, he loved God first. He understood the higher call, the eternal purpose of The Almighty.  I believe that many young people find their way to Christ when in war and he was there to give them the 'message'." 
 
Sharon continued, "Steven was training to become the leader of his group.  He and his trainer opened the trunk of a car and was struck by a bomb killing them both.   When Steven died, he perhaps took the place of one who had not yet become a believer in Christ.  He left a wife and two-year--old boy who looks just like his Dad when he was just a child."  
 
From Sharon, the following is a true story of a woman whose two children died of cholera when their father was away. She laid then gently on a bed until the father returned that evening. This woman met her husband at the door with a question.  "Someone has lent me their jewels and now they want them back. What should I do?"  The husband replied, "Well, return them, of course."  She then led him to the bedroom where his daughters lay and explained that they were the jewels and the owner, God, had asked for them back.
 
"Steven Frank was a jewel, on loan to us for a short time," Sharon said. "Death is not victorious - God simply took back his jewel. We thank God for our servicemen and women who have given their lives so we can live in a free country."
 
It is important that we don't forget young people like Steven Frank. His story is one that needed to be shared.

Back