December 2009

Sarah Andreski is a 23-year-old walking miracle, but not in the “normal” miracle kind of way. (Are miracles ever normal?) Sarah’s miracles are six diseases she cannot have but does. Six medically-impossible-for-her-age diseases that have ravaged her body for ten years.

To look at her you would never guess. Sarah is vivacious, dramatic, bubbly, and full of life. She’s fascinating to talk to, fun-loving, and a joy to watch. She’s a great story-teller and would make a great actress, and I mean that in a good way. She has a heart for all things military with a list of guys she supports through prayer, letters, and encouragement, probably longer than she is tall. She’s intelligent (working on a master’s and a doctorate degree at the same time) with an “I can do this” personality, despite years of pain and suffering.

A weaker person would have collapsed long ago under Sarah’s struggles, but in the few years I’ve known her, I have never seen her act the part of a victim. Until yesterday morning, she had shared very little of her pain – debilitating physical pain that is her constant companion. Strong pain killers might help, but they would render her unable to live her life – something Sarah is not willing to do. Sarah’s love for life comes through in only a few moments in her presence, her concern for others rather than herself, obvious.

But right now it is Sarah who needs a new kind of miracle. The kind we look for when life becomes impossible or unbearable. Sarah needs to be healed from all of her diseases.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, December 8, 2009, at 5:30 a.m. PST (8:30 a.m. EST) Sarah will enter a hospital in California to undergo surgery with a world-renowned doctor who specializes in Sarah’s diseases. He has never seen a case like hers, especially in one so young. He is hopeful, but the odds of complete healing are only about one-third. Much could go wrong, and her surgery could end up expanding into more than one surgery as doctors try to undo the effects of her diseases.

Would you please join me in praying for Sarah’s healing? I do not know God’s future for Sarah’s life, but I have a strong sense that He is already at work here. I am hoping and trusting in His grace to heal this sweet girl.

As God brings her to mind, please ask Him for a miracle for Sarah. A different kind of miracle than the impossible one she’s known. A “normal” kind of miracle of healing, life, and hope.

Selah~

It’s an interesting reality of loving parenthood (the observation does not apply to unloving, abusive, or otherwise messed-up parents), but for parents with healthy, loving attitudes, these things ring true:

1. Parents love their children more than children love their parents.

2. Parents want to spend time with their children more than children want to spend time with their parents.

3. Parents want to set a good example for their children more than children want to imitate their parents’ example.

As a child, even as an adult child of my parents, I am now realizing how little I know of their lives. Not the day-to-day stuff of now, but what they were like growing up or during the years they raised us kids. Did they have goals and dreams? What hurts did they bear? Were they happy?

Oh, I know the basic gist of my heritage, the things my parents endured, at least on some level, but until I had my own kids I didn’t see them as people so much as just my parents. When we gave them a 50th wedding anniversary party (almost 17 years ago now), I looked back at their wedding photos and it hit me with stark reality at how young they were. Young and inexperienced and trying to make their way in the world like everyone else. Somehow, because they were my folks, I hadn’t seen them as I would other people. I can appreciate that more now, though the sad part is for my dad, getting to know who he was deep down is too late. He can’t remember such things any more. (He is looking more frail every day…)

I was reading in Ephesians the other day, which got me to pondering this whole parent thing. In chapter 5 verse 1 it says, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.” Earlier in the book it talks about getting to know God. He wants His children to know Him. And He wants us to act like He does (imitate Him). From what I know of God, these things are true:

1. God loves me and calls me his “beloved” child, and He loves me more than I will ever love Him.

2. God wants to spend time with me, so I can get to know Him. You can’t know someone you never spend time with. God longs for me more than I long to be with Him.

3. God is the perfect example, and He will always do what is right far better than I will ever come close to imitating Him.

My kids are old enough now for me to see both sides of this reality where parenting is concerned. I know how blessed I am when they do want to spend time with me, but I also know that as a parent, I will always want their closeness more than they will want mine. It natural. And the realization is a good reminder to me of how God as a heavenly parent might feel.

God views us as dearly loved children and longs for me to get to know Him. And in the knowing, to act as He does. But like an earthly parent, He will always want this relationship more than I do. It’s up to me to let Him know I want it too.

Selah~