Three Years!!

“Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. 
Then it was said among the nations, ‘The LORD has done great things for them.’ 
The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.”

-Psalm 126:2-3

That's right!  This week we have been celebrating 3 YEARS of SEIZURE-FREEDOM for John!!  We can hardly believe it!  God is so good.  We went from counting minutes between seizures to now counting and celebrating YEARS: 3 seizure-less years.  Amazing.  Truly amazing. 

It is good and right to celebrate milestones such as these and rejoice in this HUGE miracle while we continue to hold onto hope for the additional miracles God has in store.  Reflecting on His faithfulness and professing what He has done build faith for the future while fighting fear of the unknown. 

We have had some truly special moments this week.  Monday, John basically laughed all day.  All through horseback riding.  All throughout swim therapy too.  And even while eating his dinner, to the point we were afraid he was going to choke on his food!  This child’s joy is simply contagious, and we are grateful for the reminder that the joy of the Lord is our strength and it is not dictated by circumstances.  It seems Daniel has the “happy gene” too! 

To go along with his laughter, John has just started to clap!  I think he picked this up from his little brother… we’re so grateful they have each other.  John cannot put his palms together yet so that they are flat against each other, but he is purposefully clapping in his own way!  A definite gift and sign of improving brain pathways.

Lastly, my childhood pastor was in town this past Sunday; it was a joy to hear Pastor Wood preach and see him and his wife.  He is one of the few people who met Warren this side of heaven, something I will always cherish.  The Woods also have a son with medical needs who I grew up with, my dear friend Paul. He is now 34 and continuing to beat all the odds and bless all who know him.  Pastor Wood commented that if our sons had been born in the 1950’s, they wouldn’t have made it.  And with that in mind, it is easy to thank the Lord, remembering how each and every day with our precious children is a GIFT.  Praise God! 

Pastor Wood also reminded me of the beautiful poem found in Corrie Ten Boom’s inspiring book, The Hiding Place.  I couldn’t agree with Pastor Wood more: If anyone has credibility and the authority to speak perspective into hardship, it is this woman who suffered through Nazi Germany by both protecting many the Nazis targeted and also enduring a concentration camp herself.  What a testimony!  I hope this poem challenges and blesses you, as it once again did for us (And note the images at the bottom):

My Life is but a weaving

between my Lord and me;

I cannot choose the colors

He worketh steadily.

Oft times He weaveth sorrow

And I, in foolish pride,

Forget He sees the upper,

And I the under side.

Not til the loom is silent

And the shuttles cease to fly,

Shall God unroll the canvas

And explain the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful

In the Weaver's skillful hand,

As the threads of gold and silver

In the pattern He has planned.

He knows, He loves, He cares,

Nothing this truth can dim.

He gives His very best to those

Who leave the choice with Him.