Tom
Bever loved life,having a good time, his family and work. And Tom loved God.
God gave him a creative mind, quick wit and talented hands. Tom used those
talents to create more than 1500 beautiful landscape designs. His landscape
designs brought earthly joy, but soon his sketches turned to weightier
issues as he lived in the reality of imminent death.
Late in 1983, as Tom drove to work one morning, he felt weak, sluggish,
forcing himself to move. Acute Mylocitic Leukemia had begun attacking his
blood; it would soon take his life.
Tom had studied James 4:14-15 before, but it took on a profound new meaning:
“Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You
are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you
ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’
”
During his fight against leukemia, Tom sketched a different set of
illustrations that eased his way and brought comfort to those who loved him.
God had designed Tom’s eternal landscape and invited him in to forever enjoy
His gardens, meadows and pools.