A Little Girl and a Town
“Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I
will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call
on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him
and honor him.” – Psalm 91:14-15
Yesterday our small town turned out in light blue.
Students and teachers, store clerks and office workers. It was all about a
seven-year-old girl and her fight to stay alive.
This sweet girl had a tumor removed, a “lesion”, from
her brain. How can a child, a second-grade beauty queen, be okay one minute and
then rushed to Children’s Hospital in another? What are parents to do when
faced with the very real possibility of burying their child? How do they
conquer their fear and remain strong for their little girl?
There are moments when you realize how fragile life
is. There are times when you realize that you really aren’t in control. There
are tears when you realize all those heartbreaking verses in the Bible were
intended to bring you comfort. Hope,
that fragile thing that rests on faith, comes on the bended knees of
desperation.
A community rallied to lift up one of its own. The
light blue symbolized those who prayed that God would heal, that God would gift
comfort and strength, for this uncertain journey. Because tomorrow really isn’t
promised no matter how determined we might be.
Many people hugged their babies a little closer these
last few days. Grandparents counted their blessings and savored moments with
their grandchildren. This little girl was a stark reminder that we never know
what the day will bring. Devastation is just a moment away.
We see the faith in God, the trust that He will turn
it all to good even as He heals. One photo stuck out in my mind: that of two
little girls deep in prayer. Best friends since they met at six-weeks-old. One
determined child praying for another, teaching us that in our most desperate
moments we cry out to the God who provides miracles and healing and comfort and
strength.
The surgery was a success. The doctors think they’ve
removed it all. It could take six days to get the test results back. But for
now all is well. She is alive and fighting back. A community breathed a sigh of
relief. God is good.
God is always good. Even if the surgery outcome had
been bad, God is still good. Even if God one day chooses to heal this little
girl by taking her home, He is still good. We miss that sometimes as we shout
out our halleluiahs. We forget about the times God said no.
My thoughts go to a young man who only lived to be 20.
He was diagnosed with cancer shortly after high school graduation. The fight
was long and hard. He almost made it. Almost. His absence created a hole in the
hearts of those who knew and loved him. Faith is a promise of seeing him again
but it doesn’t take away the heartbreak of burying a child who never really had
a chance to be a man.
We wrap our hearts around this little girl and her
family. We pray without ceasing. We are grateful for every small step toward recovery.
We rest in His grace and mercy. We are held by His strength, on the prayers of
all those who have united as one.
Prayer is a powerful thing. It’s really too bad that
it takes something so awful to bring us to our knees before the throne of God,
a place we should have been all along.
