“Be kind and compassionate to one another." ~ Ephesians
4:32
Today marks five years since the
Hanson family lost their infant daughter, Bianca.
Bianca, or Bebop, was born with a serious heart condition
and had basically become a citizen of the pediatric intensive care unit of the
hospital. She’d already had a half dozen
open heart surgeries in her short 11 month life.
Jenna and Marcus snuggled their precious baby as her health
began to fail. Marcus pressed the call
button and paced the room, then pressed it again. The nurse took one look at little Bianca and
paged the doctor. They were not
prepared for what came next.
While waiting for the doctor, several musicians appeared at
the doorway and asked if they could play a few tunes. The performers were part of a group called Pickleberry
Pie that provides free concerts for seriously ill kids in various hospitals and
special facilities nationwide.
The Hanson’s agreed and soon they were all singing “Jesus
Loves You.” As they sang, something
magical happened. The hospital sights
and sound faded into the background, along with all their fears and
anxieties. Joyful notes filled the air
and the lively tempo transported them into an entirely different mental state;
a transcendent quality that calmed and soothed aching spirits.
Bebop’s happiness was infectious as it slowly crept into the
hearts of everyone present. She was the
epitome of God’s creation and had captured the hearts of everyone around her,
just by a single smile! Her expression
spoke volumes as if to say “I love you and I loved being loved by you!”
They sang the last of several more songs when it occurred to
Jenna that she’d not heard Bebop breathe for a few minutes. She leaned back to look at her and saw that their
beautiful child was gone. She’d left
this world hearing joyful music while sensing her mother’s heartbeat.
It took but a moment, but the memory of Bebop’s smile would
comfort them forever. She didn’t suffer,
she wasn’t in pain, and she most certainly wasn’t alone. Painful at first, the Hanson’s were eventually
able to appreciate loving her through this life and the next as God's gift.
Every small thing in life is a moment able to nourish the
soul if we let joy in. Live with awe,
humbleness, present in each moment and the gifts of life will fill you to the
brim, so much that your joy will overflow and make better the lives of all
around you.
Sweet Jesus, help me to smile with the radiance
of a child and love with a pure heart devoid of selfishness or jealousy. Teach me to be happy and appreciate even the
littlest things in life, and especially from these angels of God! Amen
