Never Give Up

Every now and again, we need reminders.

Not the typical, to do list, sticky note kind of reminder but the kind of heart reminders that help us to keep the world in perspective...

the kind of heart reminders that help us to complain less and serve more.

Well, yesterday, the Lord placed His own sticky note on my heart.

It read...

Yesterday, the Lord used an ordinary field trip, an ordinary playground to remind my heart of the struggles that Lucy faces every single day.

The barriers to being a “normal” kid are very real for Lucy, a part of her day to day.

These everyday challenges are a part of her reality and while I share in that reality and as much as I try to help with the barriers and as many times as I have kissed the boo boos that result from the struggles... it is still her reality, not mine.

I don't have to think about putting my hands out to brace my fall. Heck, I don't even have to think about falling at all. It is not a part of my everyday!

I don't have to think about making my hands and fingers work the way I want them to just so I can put on my socks and shoes.

I don't have to think about every single step that I take or how my foot is positioned on the ground or whether I am picking up my knees or dragging my foot.

I just walk.

Lucy doesn't “just walk”...

Lucy has to think about every single step and every single step is an effort, a true step out in faith as she trusts that the Lord will strengthen her as she relies on His gift of determination and His protection, when, not if, she falls.

This is her reality and there are times, like this field trip, that her reality seems so very different from the reality that most of her peers share and that is hard on this Momma's heart y'all.

But God is good and He equipped our girl with a spirit of determination.

Lucy may have to work 10 times harder than her peers to do certain things but it just makes me 10 times prouder when I watch her rise to the challenge. Sometimes she overcomes and sometimes not but she “never gives up”!

So whether it's a field trip to a park or a soccer game everyday at recess...

with all the boys...

scoring goals...

Lucy's reality doesn't stand a chance!

Amen!

Happy Belated Birthday Sweet Em

I remember the day she was born...

that day 10 years ago when the nurse handed her to me and the first thing I did was to check for boy parts or lack thereof...

hey, after 3 boys...

well you understand!

*grin*

The path to Emmeline was really the prelude of the unfolding of the Lord's plan for our lives.

Jesus didn't just "take the wheel"...

He snatched it from our controlled induced grip and threatened to pull over if we did not stop acting like, well, misguided control freaks...

and while the process had begun...

we were slow to relinquish our presumed control.  

However, as we watched Him work to bring our Lizzie home and as we watched His shaping of Emmeline's heart during this process, we began to behave less and less like back seat drivers and more and more like passengers who trusted the severe right turn their driver had taken, even learning to enjoy the bumps in the road along the way.

Now, I tell everyone that our faith journey got kicked into high gear with the process to bring Lizzie home and while that is true...

sweet Emmeline's easy, spirit filled transition from little sis to big, from only girl to virtual twin, only helped to enhance what the Lord was doing in Hubby's heart and mine.

Em's 2 year old world was turned upside down when Lizzie came home and then again with the addition of Maggie and Lucy, but she (mostly) handled it all with such a grace filled heart that it was truly convicting at times.

truly...

My precious Em, you love sweetly...

laugh freely...

nurture tenderly...

and worship faithfully.

You are beautiful from the inside out and I just cannot believe that my baby girl who was such a sweet surprise after my 3 rambunctious boys...

is now 10 years old and wearing my shoes!

Sigh...

Happy double digits my dear and remember that if you can wear my shoes...

*grin*

We love you sweet one.

As His plan for your heart takes shape, I continue to be transformed into something better than before you.