Mercer Gist

Mercer Michael Gist, infant son of Jacqueline (Steinmetz) and Cutler Gist, of Midland, Texas, entered the Kingdom of Christ, in the arms of his loving mother and father, on Tuesday, October 9, 2012 at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, Texas.

Mercer was born on October 2, 2012 in Houston, Texas.

In Mercer's short time, he had a profound effect on his family and the medical staff at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital. "Mighty Mercer's" extraordinary strength, heart and love are his legacy.

Mercer is survived by his parents, Jacqueline (Steinmetz) and Cutler Gist; a brother, Thatcher Gist, of Midland, TX; maternal grandparents, Mary (Mackey) Steinmetz of Minneapolis, MN and Wayne (Lou Ann Vogler) Steinmetz of Chippewa Falls; paternal grandparents, Janice and Rhett Gist of Midland, TX; great grandparents, Marie and Allen Mercer of Midland, TX, and Shirley and Monty Gist of Midland, TX.

A family graveside service will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, October 13 at Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery, Midland, TX.

Mercer's family would like to extend their love and appreciation to the staff at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital for their care, kindness, love and support.

The Adventures of Mercer Michael

There once was a boy named Mercer Michael,

Who, with his steady guardian angel

Was asked by God to do great deeds.

These are his stories, or the ones that we know.

____

The Beginning

It all began when Mercer was quite small,

So very small, we did not know him at all.

But God knew him, through and through,

And knew of the great things He would ask Mercer to do.

"Mercer," God said, "Will you follow me?"

And Mercer, so small, so warm in his nest

Said, "Why, hi, there, God! I will go with thee!"

"Mercer," God said, "This will be quite a test,

Not only for you, but the ones who love you best,

But I will take care of you, I want you to know."

Mercer smiled, and said, "Well, then, let's go."

But Mercer paused, "Can I first meet Mom and Dad?"

And God said, "Why, of course, my son. They will be oh so glad

To see that you're here and to know you by name."

So out in the world, little Mercer, he came.

To meet the ones who loved him so.

And God, who could see all the hearts, soften and glow,

At the sight of this babe and his miraculous life.

After only a bit, oh so short of a time,

God said, "Mercer, son of mine,

Take hold of my hand,

Come, you must say good bye,

We have great things to do,

Things to be done only by you."

"God, do you think they will understand?"

"My son, they will try, and soon they will see

That it is not always with eyes that one may best see.

Worry not, little one, we will not be so far,

But while you're away from these whom you love,

I will give them my Spirit, in shape of a dove."

With a squeeze of a hand and the faintest of smile,

Mercer Michael said his farewell

And he went with God, to a place not so far,

Where he met his angel, who had wings and a great shield of light.

Mercer and his angel, named Michael, of course

They knew they would be

Warriors together against things a bit scary.

But together, these two, with their God by their side,

Would have so many adventures.

Mercer's smile of excitement, he couldn't quite hide.

The Dragon

Mercer and Michael took off in a flight,

To a cave of great darkness, amid the deep night.

They knew of a dragon, tall, big, and quite scary,

Who was also scaly, and just a little bit hairy.

This dragon had been threatening

With a roar, oh so deafening,

To use his firey breath

To bring ashes and death.

But Mercer and his angel

Would have none of that.

The angel's sword of white light

Showed Mercer the way that deep, dark night.

The dragon, he snored, with little puffs

Of smoke from the tufts

In his nostrils,

And his tendrils of hair

Gave a stench to the lair.

But Mercer did not quake,

Nor quaver, nor shake.

He went right to the beast,

Without fear in the least,

Said, "Wake up, you old crocodile.

It's time that you went, and not in a while."

The dragon opened his sleepy-filled eyes,

Green with the sins of greed and big lies.

He saw little Mercer before him,

And felt not a whit of mis-apprehension.

The dragon, his head, did raise in confrontation,

And Mercer widened his stance to meet the provocation.

The wings did unfurl,

And the hairs did uncurl

From under the dragon's big toes.

Mercer's eyes, he did close.

He did not need them to bring

God's light to this place where evil did sting.

Mercer raised his right hand,

And from his small palm,

Shot a beam of God's vanquishing power.

The beam went through the beast's scaly skin.

Straight into his heart,

And there it did start

To bring a great change,

To the beast, oh so strange,

It felt to be warmed from the inside and out,

The dragon, he smiled, and gave a great shout.

And then, he shrank to a size, so very small,

A cute little lizard, who could fit in a ball,

And surprise, not smelly at all!

Mercer picked up the dragon,

Gave him a pat on the head,

And said, come with me,

Michael, don't you agree?

We need a mascot, and he is so cute.

I think we should name him Marmaduke.

Marmaduke laughed at his new given name,

But, really, he was glad all the same,

To be with Michael and Mercer,

As they set off together,

To fight evil and conquer with God's awesome power.

Written by: Mercer's Aunt, Morgan McDonald