There is a little boy, not quite 2 years old, here in Nashville. His name is Patrick and he has been at Vandy Children's for 8 weeks. I learned of him through the open Facebook group "Prayers for young Patrick F" and was instantly captivated.
Apparently, I am not the only one as they have over 5,000 followers now from all over the country/world and most of them are just like me - heard of him through a friend (or often a friend of a friend) and could not look away.
God is working miracles through this young life and as I read all the posts of prayer, scripture, and declaration I realize how small I am and how great our God is. I am also learning how small my faith is, how I doubt, worry, and fear. Patrick and his incredible mom and dad are teaching me about what it truly means to give ALL our thoughts and concerns to HIM.
The Facebook page is amazing - God's spirit is there...on the internet...on Facebook!!! Join the group and read the posts every day - you will be encouraged, broken, lifted up, and if you are like me - you will find yourself talking more closely with God (and listening).
At 2pm (Central) today, they began the process of removing little Patick from the ventilator and the rest is up to God. He has been breathing fine on his own for some time and the vent remained in place in case he need immediate critical actions. The doctors and family feel all has been done for him that is humanly/medically possible. God's healing miracle is the request at this time - to stop the internal bleeding and heal what man cannnot.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Custodians
I received a text last night from a friend whose 2 year old daughter was being taken by ambulance to Vandy children's. The situation is pretty serious (insert plea for ongoing prayers here). I immediately took to praying, had Layla pray with me, and reached out to other friends to also pray for this sweet little girl and the family, of course.
When Layla and I were ready to say bedtime prayers, we did our usual I pray a line and she repeats, etc. After the "Amen" Layla wanted to say her own and have me repeat. I was so proud of my little girl's heart and love and it was a beautiful prayer - one so innocent and utterly trusting that I could never have said it on my own. Then, she wanted to KEEP praying...for a LONG time. And it was serious prayer, not just I'm praying right now because it's stalling me from sleep.
I spent much of the night up and down checking text messages, updates, etc. and continuing to pray. Fast forward to this morning...
I'm tired and still very much occupied with worrying about our friends and their little girl and still praying. I said to Layla, "We need to pray for them again." Layla said something to the effect of, "Ok, Momma, but I'm going to pray and you repeat." SHE WAS ADAMANT that SHE pray...NOT ME.
And pray she did!!
Her prayer brought me to tears - it was so genuine, sincere and just exactly what needed to be prayed. I love her.
Fast forward again....I'm at work sharing with my boss about what had transpired overnight and this morning and she reminded me that worry comes from a place of doubt and that I needed to TRULY give the ENTIRE situation to HIM. As I've thought more about it over the morning, God has revealed an amazing truth to me about our children......wait for it.....They aren't mine. I am a "mere" custodian. God was in Layla's heart and spirit this morning. She had to pray, because I could not. My prayers were tainted with worry...doubt. I wasn't in the right place- I was in a place of saying I'm giving control to God, but still holding on to control, of wanting to help, of worrying. None of that is my place. My place is to pray and only pray. Vigilantly.
My three year old taught me a lesson in faith this morning and I am humbled and thankful that God was in her, when I was weak.
When Layla and I were ready to say bedtime prayers, we did our usual I pray a line and she repeats, etc. After the "Amen" Layla wanted to say her own and have me repeat. I was so proud of my little girl's heart and love and it was a beautiful prayer - one so innocent and utterly trusting that I could never have said it on my own. Then, she wanted to KEEP praying...for a LONG time. And it was serious prayer, not just I'm praying right now because it's stalling me from sleep.
I spent much of the night up and down checking text messages, updates, etc. and continuing to pray. Fast forward to this morning...
I'm tired and still very much occupied with worrying about our friends and their little girl and still praying. I said to Layla, "We need to pray for them again." Layla said something to the effect of, "Ok, Momma, but I'm going to pray and you repeat." SHE WAS ADAMANT that SHE pray...NOT ME.
And pray she did!!
Her prayer brought me to tears - it was so genuine, sincere and just exactly what needed to be prayed. I love her.
Fast forward again....I'm at work sharing with my boss about what had transpired overnight and this morning and she reminded me that worry comes from a place of doubt and that I needed to TRULY give the ENTIRE situation to HIM. As I've thought more about it over the morning, God has revealed an amazing truth to me about our children......wait for it.....They aren't mine. I am a "mere" custodian. God was in Layla's heart and spirit this morning. She had to pray, because I could not. My prayers were tainted with worry...doubt. I wasn't in the right place- I was in a place of saying I'm giving control to God, but still holding on to control, of wanting to help, of worrying. None of that is my place. My place is to pray and only pray. Vigilantly.
My three year old taught me a lesson in faith this morning and I am humbled and thankful that God was in her, when I was weak.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
The Sudden Goliath
The last half of 2011 was difficult - in many ways. Some of the challenges were fantastic, like both of us starting new jobs on the same day. Other things were just difficult. Obviously, Piper's illness overshadowed much of the latter part of the year and we still aren't recovered from that, I don't think. Eric's Mamaw (That's Kentucky for "grandma") has been ill and frail for some time and he's made a couple trips to see her in the hospital, fearing it would be his last visit. My own grandmother lost her (second) husband and my dad ended up in the hospital just before Christmas and was diagnosed with diabetes. Piper has been quite a difficult child and both of us aren't sure what to do with her most of the time.
Leading up to Christmas we'd had a very VERY difficult weekend with the girls. We weren't looking forward to the long Christmas weekend and were certain we'd end up losing our minds. HOWEVER - our Christmas this year was the best either of us could remember. We had so much fun watching the excitement in Layla and, for me, getting to share the wonder of the birth of Jesus was absolutely priceless. She asked so many question about Jesus and also learned a couple wonderful songs at church that she'd sing repeatedly.
Fast forward to New Year's eve. Pretty uneventful. We'd had a movie date the night before and stayed home to casually watch Times Square gear up for the ball drop; but we went to bed quite early and enjoyed a nice night of sleep. New Year's day - wake up. We loved the calm of the weekend so far and we woke up happy -- feeling really good and peaceful about our lives and the day ahead Go to church.
The message was based on David and Goliath and the heart of it was that we would all face "Goliaths" in the new year. The optimisim and excitement for the new year would be interrupted at some point with a Goliath. Those Goliath moments should be seen as opportunities - as moments to get in God's word, pray, and let HIM do what He does. Use the skills, abilities, tools that we know how to weild (slingshot, anyone?) and, did I mention pray?
Near the end of the message, Eric gets a text message from his sister - "Call me ASAP." His sister and family went to Kentucky mid-week and upon seeing the text, we both thought something had happened with Mamaw- something bad, obviously. Eric went to the lobby to call his sister, while I stayed for the rest of the message, music, prayer, gifts/offerings, etc. I'm singing something about "God is Good...all the time" while I'm certain my husband is receiving word that he's lost one of the most important people in his life. The irony wasn't lost on me; but God's point was made. Eric didn't come back into the service and as I left church with everyone else, I saw him, pale-faced, standing in the lobby. It wasn't Mamaw.
Eric's dad has a number of siblings and of those, both he and Eric are closest with Jack (Jackie- pic below). Jackie had died that morning - on new year's day. Not yet 60 years old and truly a person everyone loved. Our first Goliath of the year came suddenly, at exactly 10 and a half hours into the new year.
We are in Kentucky now - packed up after church and immediately hit the road. It's a difficult trip to make and the days are hard here. Trying to get Layla to bed tonight, she picks out her stories from Mimi and Papa's bookshelves - she chooses, of all things - "David and the giant, Goliath." Really, Layla? She's never before seen the book, was in Sunday school learning something different entirely on Sunday, and I didn't know this book existed in this house, and yet, there it is.
God wants me to take notice of something. I feel like it should be obvious - I just heard a great message on the passages from 1 Samuel 17, in fact, but I don't think I'm getting it. Is God preparing me for my own sudden Goliath? Is He calling on me to pray more, spend more time in His Word? Duh - that's what He always wants from us. But, why is He being so obvious about it this time? Have I missed other subtle nudges? Yeah - probably.
I don't make resolutions for each new year - I don't see the point; but, God is telling me to stop and make Him a priority. Stop. There are big things coming - both good and Goliath. I need to prepare. I need to be armed with God's word. I don't know what Goliaths are in my future; but, I clearly need to get in God's word, make prayer a priority - be prepared and NOT AFRAID.
New Year's resolution? Sure, why not. I resolve to be unafraid of the Goliath - sudden or otherwise.
Leading up to Christmas we'd had a very VERY difficult weekend with the girls. We weren't looking forward to the long Christmas weekend and were certain we'd end up losing our minds. HOWEVER - our Christmas this year was the best either of us could remember. We had so much fun watching the excitement in Layla and, for me, getting to share the wonder of the birth of Jesus was absolutely priceless. She asked so many question about Jesus and also learned a couple wonderful songs at church that she'd sing repeatedly.
Fast forward to New Year's eve. Pretty uneventful. We'd had a movie date the night before and stayed home to casually watch Times Square gear up for the ball drop; but we went to bed quite early and enjoyed a nice night of sleep. New Year's day - wake up. We loved the calm of the weekend so far and we woke up happy -- feeling really good and peaceful about our lives and the day ahead Go to church.
The message was based on David and Goliath and the heart of it was that we would all face "Goliaths" in the new year. The optimisim and excitement for the new year would be interrupted at some point with a Goliath. Those Goliath moments should be seen as opportunities - as moments to get in God's word, pray, and let HIM do what He does. Use the skills, abilities, tools that we know how to weild (slingshot, anyone?) and, did I mention pray?
Near the end of the message, Eric gets a text message from his sister - "Call me ASAP." His sister and family went to Kentucky mid-week and upon seeing the text, we both thought something had happened with Mamaw- something bad, obviously. Eric went to the lobby to call his sister, while I stayed for the rest of the message, music, prayer, gifts/offerings, etc. I'm singing something about "God is Good...all the time" while I'm certain my husband is receiving word that he's lost one of the most important people in his life. The irony wasn't lost on me; but God's point was made. Eric didn't come back into the service and as I left church with everyone else, I saw him, pale-faced, standing in the lobby. It wasn't Mamaw.
Eric's dad has a number of siblings and of those, both he and Eric are closest with Jack (Jackie- pic below). Jackie had died that morning - on new year's day. Not yet 60 years old and truly a person everyone loved. Our first Goliath of the year came suddenly, at exactly 10 and a half hours into the new year.
We are in Kentucky now - packed up after church and immediately hit the road. It's a difficult trip to make and the days are hard here. Trying to get Layla to bed tonight, she picks out her stories from Mimi and Papa's bookshelves - she chooses, of all things - "David and the giant, Goliath." Really, Layla? She's never before seen the book, was in Sunday school learning something different entirely on Sunday, and I didn't know this book existed in this house, and yet, there it is.
God wants me to take notice of something. I feel like it should be obvious - I just heard a great message on the passages from 1 Samuel 17, in fact, but I don't think I'm getting it. Is God preparing me for my own sudden Goliath? Is He calling on me to pray more, spend more time in His Word? Duh - that's what He always wants from us. But, why is He being so obvious about it this time? Have I missed other subtle nudges? Yeah - probably.
I don't make resolutions for each new year - I don't see the point; but, God is telling me to stop and make Him a priority. Stop. There are big things coming - both good and Goliath. I need to prepare. I need to be armed with God's word. I don't know what Goliaths are in my future; but, I clearly need to get in God's word, make prayer a priority - be prepared and NOT AFRAID.
New Year's resolution? Sure, why not. I resolve to be unafraid of the Goliath - sudden or otherwise.
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