My name is Jennifer Davis and I am Sean’s Mom. My family and I appreciate the positive comments and thoughts that have been posted to Sean’s facebook page. They help us remember brighter days and the kind of son, husband, father, uncle, and brother that he was and the kind of man that he became.
But, I must say that I have been disappointed in some of the less than positive pictures that have been posted – the drinking, partying, fraternizing - because they are not the Sean we knew. I know that many of you are grieving for Sean and our loss, and maybe this is your way of honoring him. But, I find it difficult and I refuse to honor a memory that was not about the whole person.
If you were able to attend his celebration service, then you know that I shared part of the letter he left. In that letter he sent very personal and loving messages to his wife, children, Mom and Dad, his sister and a few close friends. He also shared the fact that for two years he had struggled with depression and what he wanted more than anything else at this point was “to be with the Lord.” Nobody had a clue about his struggle and certainly not to the extreme that it had taken its toll. But, if you knew Sean more than two years, you knew that he was a different person. His behaviors, conversations, and even his attitude had changed from the Sean we knew. If you knew him less than two years then, as far as I’m concerned, you not only didn’t know the real person and the whole person, but you probably unknowingly shared in his depression. It is obvious that even though he was attempting to conquer this disease, he was an intelligent, loving, caring, eternal optimist with great potential and a passion for life.
Sean would help anyone who asked, regardless of who they were. He was the kind of person who would give money to the man or woman standing on the side of the road; the kind of person who would stop and help a stranger change a flat tire on a dark road; who would share everything from his clothes to his car to his family. He was always bringing somebody for dinner or TV watching or a fun night of games. He never met a stranger and he had a sense of humor that would make you roll on the floor laughing. When he went into the ministry he became a powerful, passionate preacher and teacher bringing thousands to Christ in countries where he couldn’t even speak the language. That’s the Sean we remember.
Yes, we know that Sean drank, partied, danced and whatever else – real hard – over the past few months. But, he knew (and those of us who knew the “whole man” knew) that he was struggling with who he was within and who he was without. Like the Apostle Paul who said “For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.” Romans 7: 14-20.
But Romans 8:1 says: “There is therefore now no condemnation in those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
Trust me. Sean is at peace and at rest with Christ Jesus and no longer in war with his own flesh.
Again, we thank you for your kind thoughts, your prayers, your gifts, and support during this difficult time and ask that you honor his life and his family with respectful, uplifting pictures and postings.
Peace,
Jennifer
Fred, Liteca, Matthew, Dana, Monica (Dani)
But, I must say that I have been disappointed in some of the less than positive pictures that have been posted – the drinking, partying, fraternizing - because they are not the Sean we knew. I know that many of you are grieving for Sean and our loss, and maybe this is your way of honoring him. But, I find it difficult and I refuse to honor a memory that was not about the whole person.
If you were able to attend his celebration service, then you know that I shared part of the letter he left. In that letter he sent very personal and loving messages to his wife, children, Mom and Dad, his sister and a few close friends. He also shared the fact that for two years he had struggled with depression and what he wanted more than anything else at this point was “to be with the Lord.” Nobody had a clue about his struggle and certainly not to the extreme that it had taken its toll. But, if you knew Sean more than two years, you knew that he was a different person. His behaviors, conversations, and even his attitude had changed from the Sean we knew. If you knew him less than two years then, as far as I’m concerned, you not only didn’t know the real person and the whole person, but you probably unknowingly shared in his depression. It is obvious that even though he was attempting to conquer this disease, he was an intelligent, loving, caring, eternal optimist with great potential and a passion for life.
Sean would help anyone who asked, regardless of who they were. He was the kind of person who would give money to the man or woman standing on the side of the road; the kind of person who would stop and help a stranger change a flat tire on a dark road; who would share everything from his clothes to his car to his family. He was always bringing somebody for dinner or TV watching or a fun night of games. He never met a stranger and he had a sense of humor that would make you roll on the floor laughing. When he went into the ministry he became a powerful, passionate preacher and teacher bringing thousands to Christ in countries where he couldn’t even speak the language. That’s the Sean we remember.
Yes, we know that Sean drank, partied, danced and whatever else – real hard – over the past few months. But, he knew (and those of us who knew the “whole man” knew) that he was struggling with who he was within and who he was without. Like the Apostle Paul who said “For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.” Romans 7: 14-20.
But Romans 8:1 says: “There is therefore now no condemnation in those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
Trust me. Sean is at peace and at rest with Christ Jesus and no longer in war with his own flesh.
Again, we thank you for your kind thoughts, your prayers, your gifts, and support during this difficult time and ask that you honor his life and his family with respectful, uplifting pictures and postings.
Peace,
Jennifer
Fred, Liteca, Matthew, Dana, Monica (Dani)
