Clifford

Clifford Jason Luebben was born at 2:20 early Friday morning on April 28, 1989. You were the first child I was able to witness being born.  This was such an amazing experience to behold; how can anyone ever doubt that there is a God who witnesses the wondrous miracle of birth?  I will never forget that amazing night; or rather, early morning.  You were such an observant, and calm little one; the Lord was gracious to allow my first baby experience to be a baby such as you.  You had a great big smile, and seemed to take-in everything going on around you from your earliest months.
 


You were an easy child to raise: didn’t fuss much; slept through the night early on; were not inclined to get into trouble; had a great imagination; loved learning; playing with your siblings; thoroughly enjoyed your family.  You were also such a great big brother to Josiah, Micah, and Elizabeth; and close friend to Josiah during your pre-teen years.


It seemed that it was in your sophomore year of high school that the Lord really grabbed ahold of your heart in a new and powerful way.  You had always seemed to love and follow Him; but sensed Him calling you to be a missionary, and after your first short term mission trip to Guatemala, began living such a sold-out life for our Lord.  And now, about seven years later, you have traveled and served our Lord in a handful of countries; quite an amazing experience for such a 23 year old.

College brought another person of interest into your life from your very first month; and now that person of interest, Jennifer, is not only your wife of one year, but is carrying your first child.  Clifford, my first son, you have been such a sold out servant of our Lord.  You were such a pleasure to raise; and now you and Jennifer will be raising your own child, WOW!  We know that you two will raise our newest granddaughter in the love and admonition of our Lord.  This gives your mom and me a joy that you cannot imagine – and yet, if the Lord tarries, we trust that this is a joy that you, too, will someday experience.