Fundraising in the UBS

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — A farmer and his wife living on a small island in Denmark had the following request printed in the newspaper announcing the death of their son Daniel: “Instead of flowers, we would be grateful for a contribution to the Danish Bible Society, which distributes Children’s Bibles in many countries.”

Daniel drowned in November 1997, one month before his sixth birthday. His parents Vivi and Henrik Nielsen described him as “a bright and happy child”. He was the youngest of their four children. “When such a terrible thing happens, there are many things you have to consider,” said the Nielsens.

“We already supported the work of the Bible Society, and we both thought that Daniel would have wanted to give other children the opportunity to read and hear about Jesus and Heaven, because that meant so much to him. This gave us the idea to ask people to give money for Children’s Bibles rather than flowers for Daniel’s funeral. Flowers have a short life, and Daniel would never see them. But Children’s Bibles have eternal value for the boys and girls who need them so desperately, and whom Daniel will meet in Heaven,” said his parents.

Comforting

“More than 5,500 Kroner (US$ 820) were given at the funeral, and a total of 8,000 DKK (US$ 1,194) was spent on Children’s Bibles. This means that 260 families in Russia can now read God’s Word and have the opportunity to know Jesus. This thought is very comforting to us.

No-one to blame

“Of course, it is still difficult and painful to think that our little boy’s life was cut so short. And although no-one is to blame and no-one did anything foolish or wrong, we cannot help asking ‘Why?’ But we believe that when our son fell into the water, Jesus was there to take him home to God. It helps us to know that Daniel is now in Heaven: we always wanted him to go there – we just think it happened too soon.

“But God’s Word brings us comfort and reassurance. Psalm 139:16 says, ‘The days allotted to me had all been recorded in your book before any of them ever began.’ Daniel was meant to live for just under six years. This had always been God’s plan.

“Another Bible passage which has helped us is Deuteronomy 33:25 where Moses says to the people of Israel before his death: ‘... as your days are, so shall your strength be.’ To us these words mean that we can be strong today, and we need not fear tomorrow, because God gives us the strength to cope with one day at a time.

“We hope that when people read our story they will understand and remember that God cares for his children, and always gives us the strength we need to carry the burdens imposed on us. God has kept this promise in our lives,” concluded Vivi and Henrik Nielsen. (WR 331/27 - 6.98)