Noah's Treasure Chest

"Lay not up for yourselves treasure upon earth,
where moth and rust doth corrupt,
and where thieves break through and steal.
But lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven,
where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt,
and where thieves do not break through nor steal.
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
MATTHEW 6:19-21

Dear Gary and Kathy, The announcement came that we knew would come, but did not want to hear. We know you are overwhelmed with sorrow because our hearts are filled with great pain. We wish that we could have done something to be of more help to lift some of the burden you have had to carry for so many months. We wish there was a message that we could give to explain such a tragedy. Sometimes in life there are senseless tragedies and Noah's long brave fight and death is such a tragedy. We have so many wonderful memories of such a gifted boy. Hopefully with time, the sadness will be crowded out by those beautiful memories. S&S.S

Dearest Kathy and Gary, I was so shocked and saddened to hear of Noah's death! I am not in the habit of questioning God's way's but I found myself asking , "Lord why would you take this little guy home at such a young age?" and His answer was; "If you truly believed in the perfection of heaven, the question would be , "why would I leave him on earth?" P.A.

Gary and Kathy, Upon hearing the news about Noah, our hearts were saddened and then filled with pity for the two of you. As we still pray for you all, we remember Noah as a strong, bright boy full of energy and imagination. I am certain that once again, he is full of greater energy and happiness in the presence of God. K&M.G

Dearest Kathy and Gary, I just wanted you to know that we are in prayer for you constantly. I cannot imagine the pain and sorrow you are feeling right now. Please know that so many of us are grieving with you over Noah's passing. It is so comforting to know though, that he, who went through so much suffering, is no longer in pain. Noah is now with our savior face to face, completely healed and very happy in his new home. It is comforting to read that the Lord has prepared a room for Noah with everything he would need and that he is there now in the presence of the Lord. It may be only a short time before the Lord comes down form heaven (1 Thes. 4:16-17) and we will be caught together in the clouds with Noah to meet the Lord in the air. What a joyous reunion it will be!!! Only He knows the day and time. Who knows it may be tomorrow!! What a wondrous promise to look forward to. C.P.

"When you pass through the waters
I will be with you and when you pass through the rivers,
They will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
You will not be burned,
The flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord, your God."
Isaiah 43:2-3

Dear Kathy and Gary, The enclosed picture of Noah was taken in October 1994. The originals were sent with the boxes of school supplies to Russia. I thought you might want these copies. Thank you for the privilege of teaching and working with Noah these past two years. I look forward to seeing him again one day. Glendon and I know this week must be unbearable for you, and we wish we could take away some of the pain. All we know to do is pray for God's peace that passes all understanding. We know that when God sent Noah to this world the plan was for him to stay only seven short years. I believe God picked the most loving and nurturing family He could find to share in this precious life. Not only did you stimulate Noah's vast spiritual and intellectual abilities, but your home permeated love and faith. Noah experienced more joy in his short life than most people experience in a lifetime. G&C.

Dear Kathy and Gary, Although we do know you personally, we share some of you sorrow as our twenty two year old, son died in a car wreck five months ago on the way home from Texas A&M. You are in our prayers. Your son was a witness to many people of God's grace and love. Even though he did not have many years yet those years were lived for God. We are praying your happy memories will comfort you, and God's overwhelming and unexplainable peace will surround you. K&W.Y

Dear Gary, Some of us will go through life and not understand the many, many tests that God has in store. I will remember Noah, you and your wife in my prayers and hope that God will give you the strength to cope. Even though, Noah's life on earth was a short one, he has left behind many memories that will live forever in your hearts. M.O.

Dear Gary and Kathy, This morning before your friend Andrea called, my wife drew my attention to the obituary in the paper. She knew Noah as well as I did, because I always had stories to tell when I came home from the hospital. She shared my sense of bereavement and loss, just as we share yours. We too lost a child, our 38 year old daughter, just a few years ago. The immediate impact wears off eventually, but the missing piece, lives in you, forever. There will be unexpected tears, but there will come a time when you remember something particularly outrageous that he said or did and then you will smile. I will carry so, many wonderful memories of him; how he very seriously (he always did things seriously!) explained the difference between pyrite and real gold; how he spoke of magic trolls and other creatures; how I tested him in the German language, and found him to be fluent. And, during one of my last visits, he wrapped himself in his blanket and climbed in my lap... My love for him will never die. M.B.

Dear Mr. And Mrs. Collins, I don't believe you know me, but I knew Noah and wanted to share with you a fond memory I have of him. My classroom was next to Miss Thomas, and I had the extreme pleasure of watching what I considered to be a very happy moment for your family. I believe it was at the end of the first day of school and Noah was surprised to find his Dad waiting with his Mom for him in the hall. I remember his spontaneous and exuberant response at seeing his Dad. With all the energy only a first grader can muster, Noah ran across the hall and jumped up into his Dad's arms. It had been some time since we had the younger ones at Bowie, and I had kind of forgotten quite what it was like. Noah's display was a nice reminder for me. When Noah's passing on was announced in our church, I was immediately reminded of the hallway scene. This time it was as though the whole scene replayed exactly like it had been that first day of school, but Noah was leaping into his Heavenly Fathers' arms. It was with the same joy and love as he had expressed to you that day. I was also reminded that the same scene will repeat again some day for the three of you. J.A.

Dear Gary and Kathy, Noah will be remembered by me as an especially intelligent young man who wanted to know everything. I won't forget him. D.

Dear Gary and Kathy, I'm an old friend of your sister. She recently wrote and told me that your son Noah had died. My husband and I want you to know how sorry we are for your tremendous loss. We share a terrible burden with you. Two of our three children, have died from a rare genetic disease. Mercifully, our youngest daughter is healthy. It is difficult for me to write this letter, it sharpens my own personal hurt, but I feel strongly the need to acknowledge Noah's death and send our sympathy. I don't hold any answers and nothing I can say will make you feel better. Certainly the way each of us deals with tragedy is individual and personal. But my husband and I independently of each other came to some similar conclusions about death and life. We find we no longer fear death. The worst scenario life can throw at you has happened to all four of us. We have endured it and still find pleasure in living. When it is our turn to die, we will go in eager anticipation of our reunions. Your son Noah died on my birthday, on that day I will think of a special little boy and remember his parents in prayer. K&A.D.

Dear Kathy and Gary, Words cannot express our sorrows over losing little Noah. Our thoughts and prayers have been with you since the terrible ordeal began. We kept hoping for a miracle. Noah was as special little fellow. My daughter always considered him a genius. I wish someone had captured him on film when he "MC'd" your sisters wedding. He stole the show. L.H.

Dear Gary and Kathy, I haven't been able to talk to you but I wanted you share some thoughts before time got too much further along. You had such a special relationship with Noah, before and during his illness and we admired the incredible love and courage you all showed. From what I remember at the time we lost our daughter, it did not mater what all the cards said, but it did mater that they were sent. And it did mater who was at the memorial service - many people who loved Noah were there. It was a beautiful tribute by his friends and teachers. You could really tell how much he meant to everyone he met. I know also you must be suffering. One statement I read gave me a lot of hope and I recite it almost daily still. "We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings having a human experience." This reminds me that no matter how long or short our lives are here, we are just passing through on a journey and this happens to be a stopping place where hopefully we can be fortunate enough to meet people like Noah. D.N.

Dear Kathy and Gary, My heart breaks for you both. My son was in Noah's class at the Masters School. I feel somewhat timid to share such intimate emotions of precious Noah when I know it seems I don't truly know him. However, at the service when his love for poetry and music was brought out I knew that God had led me to compose, the night before the service, this poem/song to express the deep extent that Noah touched this community. It was written to lift up Noah and therefore over time hopefully touch and lift your hearts as well. L.G.

Noah's eyes
To build a faith can sometimes take us years
To know the peace that can truly calm our fears
Yet we saw what lies beyond the heavenly skies
The moment that we looked in Noah's eyes.

To learn to love can a lifetime often take
To know the hope of sacrificing for our sake
Through a young boy who beyond his years was wise
He showed His love for us through Noah's eyes.

Through Noah's eyes.. we could see His promise clear
Through Noah's eyes.. we could see that Christ was near
Through his short years on earth cause us to ask why
We saw His love for us ...
Through Noah's eyes.

Dear Kathy and Gary, Words --- there aren't words enough to express how very, very sorry I am about your loosing Noah. My heart breaks for you - it's a parents worst nightmare. Noah will always be remembered. He touched many of us on the Green Unit. His sense of humor was unforgettable, his intelligence a delight (and at times caught us off guard). Kathy, Noah was so proud of you. You know he could always tell a story about your many talents. You were his #1. N.D.

Dear Kathy and Gary, Noah was a special blessing from God who touched many lives. At the beginning of this year he touched my heart when he stood up at chapel to say; "Thank You." to all. His poise and praise was wonderful. D.W.

Dear Kathy, We never met but I was a prayer warrior for Noah and continue to pray for you and your husband. I am sorry I never got to meet Noah, yet I felt a kinship with him that comes from praying earnestly for someone. When I experienced grief from the loss of a loved one, I learned three things. The first was that my grief was unique to me. Even though other family members grieved, my grief was my own. The only one who could truly understand the depth of my pain was God. I knew that as He searched my heart He saw and understood my pain. The second thing was that I realized grief to truly be a process, just as I'd always heard. It was like taking a daily walk dealing with life one day at a time without the presence of my loved one. The final and most startling truth was the peace I found in the midst of such raw pain, that I could hurt to the depths of my soul and, yet that hurt be parallel with such a great and comforting peace was truly a life changing experience. S.B.

" Remain faithful even when facing death
and I will give you the crown of life... an unending, glorious future."
REV 2:10