The grace of God

A few days ago, Bryan, Zach and I were watching a TV show about a divorced mother of triplets living in a small mid-western town.  The babies had been born prematurely, seemingly relatively healthy.  However, as they aged, symptoms of their premature births became obvious and eventually worsened.  Two of the three children - now school-aged - are confined to wheel chairs as a result of a muscular degeneration disorder.  A local man unsuccessfully tried to get them on Extreme Home Makeover.  Undeterred - and deep down very happy they were turned down by the TV show - the man took matters into his own hands and rallied their entire town around this family and completely updated and modified their home.  During very difficult economic times, thousands of volunteers - some laid-off and homeless themselves - gave their time to work on the home, and hundreds of thousands of dollars were raised locally and by surrounding communities.  It was a beautiful picture of a community coming together to help a family in need.

"You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.  For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"  Galations 5:13-14

And tonight, Zach and I watched a short piece on 20/20 about children with Williams' Syndrome.  It's a peculiar syndrome with significant health issues as well as learning and social difficulties.  A person living with Williams' Syndromes is socially uninhibited and deeply desires meaningful relationships; however, they lack the fundamental skills needed for meaningful relationships.  Often, this leaves someone with Williams' Syndrome vulnerable to heartbreak and misfortune.  However, one benefit of the syndrome is that they are generally quite happy and are naturally drawn to love on others.  Regardless of the many physical, social and emotional hurdles, I loved how one little girl summed up her life...  "God made every one of us just the way we are, and anything is possible with the grace of God."

She couldn't have been more than 10 years old, and she's already got the key to a full life.  As I walk through motherhood, I pray daily that my children will not only learn this lesson in their youth, but that they will cling to it firmly throughout their lives.

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:13-14

"Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'" Matthew 19:26