Do YOU Have This Moment?

Family Tradition.

Those two words have the power to resonate feelings, sounds, pictures, and warmth into your heart. (Maybe even a grumble or two for those that aren't quite old enough to appreciate a family tradition.....just yet.)

As I was reading about family traditions, one family expert said that traditions are the "we always" of families..... Try it: We always ______ for our ______ celebration. Can't you think of countless "we always" situations for your family?

To further the discussion from Wikipedia: "Active family traditions and meaningful participation in them help families to avoid what the social scientists call “entropy”. In physical science, the term entropy means the tendency of the physical system to lose energy and coherence over a period of time, like a gas dissipating until it is all but gone. An “entropic family” is one that loses its sense of emotional closeness because members neglect the family’s inner life and community ties."

There are many Harder family traditions that are hard to imagine now, without Chris. One of the Gerhard & Anna Harder (grandma & grandpa) family songs that they sing at almost every family gathering is "We Have This Moment." The most poignant part (all of the verses are great) being the Chorus:

We have this moment to hold in our hands and to touch
as it slips through our fingers like sand;
Yesterday's gone and tomorrow may never come,
But we have this moment today.


I have to tell you that they have many great traditions...and songs that they sing as a group. Sometimes I glance at Esther's husband, Jason, just to make sure he doesn't really know the song very well either.....haha. (We learn them a little better each time!) The verses of the song talk about enjoying every moment with your children, enjoying the seasons of nature and life, and taking time for your friends and family - because you always have THIS moment, but future one's are uncertain. I can only imagine the array of feelings when the family gathers next...and this family tradition is carried on. I think it's beautiful that the family has truly lived this song - and has enjoyed every moment together, and has had these traditions. Chris will be with us in spirit on those days, and smiling on us from Heaven.


We grieve for Chris every day. We pray for Jodi, Dakota, Mom & Dad - for their strength and peace every day. I think of another song that came out in the early 90's. It's called "If You Could See Me Now." It is about someone that has died and is now in heaven....walking streets of gold, standing tall and whole, he's seen the face of Jesus - and all of his pain has been erased. But, one of the final lines of the song is the best.... "If you could see me now, you wouldn't want me to ever leave this perfect place, if you could only see me now."


We all want Chris back, so bad..... but I have to believe, we have to believe, that it's true, if we could see him, we wouldn't want him to leave that perfect place..... What are some of your favorite, most memorable, or not so favorite family traditions?

Chris Harder ----- Dearly Loved, Dearly Missed

Some of you have heard that Dave's younger brother, Chris, died in a farming accident on Friday, April 4th. Chris always had the biggest, most welcoming smile on his face. When asked what people remember the most about Chris 9/10 would mention his infectious smile. He had a way of making you feel like you were such an important part of his day. We spent the last week in Kansas with family and friends.... it was so important to be together during this time. This surreal time. It just doesn't seem possible, even to this day. There were around 1000 people that attended Chris' memorial service on Tuesday morning. It was a beautiful service, and Chris would have enjoyed the words of salvation, and the songs chosen in his remembrance. When the entire room was singing, "Wonderful Grace of Jesus" it was a feeling of awe - as everyone sang the different parts..... I've never heard a hymn sound so beautiful. I'd like to post Chris' life story, so that you can all have a feeling of the kind of life he led:

Christopher Paul Harder was born August 15, 1983 to Richard and Glenda Harder. He was welcomed by brothers, David and Daniel, and sister, Esther.

Even as a child he loved farming and music. At eighteen months Chris was already humming “Jesus Loves Me,” while driving his tractors on the couch. As a baby Chris already exhibited his infectious laugh and grin. His siblings loved to make him smile and giggle which would always turn into the “belly laugh.”
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Chris always loved to farm. During his homeschooling years Chris spent every recess getting involved in the action out at the shop. Rich will never forget passing Chris in the field as they were both doing field work. Chris would give him a big smile, and a big thumbs up. His love of farming was never a job, but a joy in life. As thoughts on improving the farm came up, Chris would turn ideas into reality almost overnight.

Chris loved music. If there wasn’t a drum set nearby he would drum his fingers on the table top. He became a good pianist – winning a “I” rating at the state high school music contest. Chris directed the Junior High Boys Bell Choir. For the last fifteen months he has been the Song Leader at Emmaus. He would often play piano at home before church to calm his nerves, and prepare for the morning worship.

Chris loved people and people loved Chris. He connected with kids whether teaching Good News Club and Junior Highers, serving as a camp counselor, or mentoring foster kids in the family home. Chris’ friendships were long lasting. He maintained those relationships through every season of his life. He was a friend to young and old alike. Chris made everyday interactions with anyone seem like it was the most important thing on his agenda for that day.

Chris loved hunting and the outdoors. As a child the family went on many camping trips to Colorado. Chris loved hiking and exploring God’s beautiful creation. Chris loved to tell the story about the time he shot a coyote out of his bedroom window at 650 yards. Sometime ask Jodi about the snake under the house.

Jodi was the love of his life. From the time he sorted all of the blue m&m’s out of a two pound bag to play a joke on Jodi, we knew she was special to him. Chris and Jodi met through the Emmaus youth group, and grew closer during a youth work project in New Mexico. Chris asked Jodi to start praying about the possibility of dating each other and Jodi replied, “I’ve been praying about this for one year already, one more week won’t matter!” They were married on Friday, October 14, 2005 in a beautiful ceremony at Emmaus Mennonite Church. They began their married life in the “little house”, the same house where his parents and grandparents started their families as well. God blessed them with Dakota Ryan on August 5, 2007. He has the same contagious smile that we will always remember his father by.

Chris loved the Lord. One evening after family devotions, Chris put his trust in Jesus Christ for forgiveness of his sins. It is because of this we have confidence that he is with the Lord he loved today. Chris was also concerned that each of his friends would come to know Christ and have that same confidence of eternal life.

Here are some pictures, and I happen to have one really short video that I took at the Harder Family Reunion in Havelin, KS in Jan 2007.... Chris on the drums!!