“For you know that
when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow." ~
James 1:3
Their infant son Louie has a life-threatening
illness. But this story isn’t about
him. His fate lies with the healing
touch of a God who loves him deeply.
Nor is it about the medical professionals who take care of
these little angels. They are heroes, of
course.
But it’s the parents who are the superheroes. They use every weapon to fight because their
children need them to. They keep going
because if they don’t, who will?
I’ve never actually met little Louie, but when I read the
Facebook updates about him, it’s easy to feel the enormous, self-sacrificing
love that surrounds him. I envision
bright, encouraging smiles on their faces as they sit by their son’s bed,
praying for miracles.
Parents with hearts like stained-glass windows. Those windows are made of broken glass which
when forged back together, are even stronger and more beautiful for having been
broken.
Parents who care of seriously ill children don’t have the
same luxuries the rest of us have. Every
parent carries similar nagging fears: What if something happens to my
child? Will I be able to give them all
the things they need to live a happy, healthy life? How can I help them realize their full
potential? It comes back to one
question: Am I enough?
But parents with healthy children can to put those fears on
the back burner. We don’t often have to
look that terrifying monster in the eye and face reality. But, for Louie’s parents, that’s a luxury they
can’t afford. They hold onto frail
little hands and face the monster head on.
Their pain is deep, but their joy runs deeper. Such selfless courage and boundless faith humbles
me.
It wouldn’t surprise me if Louie clings to life - as his own
gift to the parents he loves, savoring every moment with his family for their
sake, as well as for his own.
For the rest of us who look at these parents and think, “I
don’t know how they do it,” know this: It’s not their abilities that are
superhuman. It’s their extraordinary love,
the intensity of which pushes them out of bed every morning and forces them to
keep going, no matter the odds.
I suspect if I spoke with them face to face, they’d say
something like: “Please don't feel sorry
for us. Love us, support us, talk to us
and pray for us. Louie is perfect! He’s never hurt anyone; he only seeks loves
and creates it. We mourn for a world
that sees only flaws. Suffering helps us
all experience joy. Whatever brings you
closer to God is a blessing.”
Father God, please bless Louie’s parents and all
who love him. Shower them with Your
comfort and strength to sustain them as they care for this sweet child. May they trust in You, Lord. Give them the hope, faith, and skill to help nurse
young Louie back to full heath, Amen.
