A Story You Should Know

Michael knew his father was very ill and probably would not recover.  As he dealt with that reality, a greater reality began to dawn on Michael about his own eternity - he needed to accept Christ as his savior.  One Sunday morning, Michael and his father Kevin came down during the invitation time at the end of the service.  His father came to rededicate what time he had left to the Lord, Michael came to follow Christ for the first time.

Kevin soon took a turn for the worst.  I watched as Michael handled his father's death with a great deal of grace.  During the weeks that passed as the family dealt with a terminal illness, a death and a funeral, Michael spoke with his wife and step son, Terese and Gannon, about their relationship with the Lord.  They were all baptized as a family at Northside on January 17, 2010.

On April 1, 2011, Michael was working to put up the oil rig he worked on in its new location on a ranch in the Laredo area.  It was late in the day, there was a strange sound, a cry of warning and two men frozen by uncertainty in the path of falling piece of metal.  Michael heard the warning, knew the danger, saw his co-workers and acted.  He was able to clear them of the heavy metal "pin" that fell from the derrick but he was not able to clear himself.  It struck him on the back of the head and he died.  In a moment of unthinking selflessness he brought life at the cost of his own. 

Michael's family confirmed the story through several sources and though the grief is heavy, there is the uplifting thought that Michael's life had great purpose and though just 29 years long, it had great meaning.  This is a story I thought you should all know.

Michael N. Duckett

September 12, 1981 - April 1, 2011

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."  John 15:13

For the journey...