“Miracles happen when cowards let go and entrust their lives to God”- Gerald Mann

Last night Amy and I attended a going away party for some dear friends, Kim and Keith Davis, who are moving to Oklahoma. Before many people arrived, I was talking with Keith and he mentioned he had invited several people from his office, the company he is quitting. One of those people was a woman he has worked with for a number years and who recently had a baby boy. The child had been in and out of doctor’s offices and the family had just learned that he is totally blind, and lacking virtually all musculature in his upper body.

I couldn’t help but think what a hard life had befallen this woman and her family; how difficult life would be for their son and for them; how their life had changed, “for the worse”, so suddenly.

I also wondered if the woman would even attend the party. Would it be a night she could “get away” from the seemingly cruel turn of events in her life? Would she kick up her heels? Would she sit off in a corner in silent self pity?

The party was held at a local barbecue restaurant/ beer hall so there were a lot of people coming and going but not too long into the evening I noticed a family come in. The woman had two children in tow who were probably eight and eleven years old, and carried a fine looking baby boy. Their dad stood out as a working man from Texas, NASCAR hat, Wranglers, a set of keys snapped onto his belt loop. He smiled at the sight of friends, the smell of barbecue and the sound of music. Sometime later I realized that baby was the boy Keith had spoken about.

The night went on and I didn’t really have a chance to speak to the family, but I noticed a few things. First, they were a family, like any other. They didn’t seem burdened or obsessed. The baby was a baby…he cried, and needed attention. His Mom held him close with love. There were no worried scowls from any members of the family. They didn’t appear to be downtrodden, or full of self pity. Mom held her baby son. Dad and Mom laughed as the older kids danced to the band’s music, the family ate barbecue and talked with Keith and other folks seated closer to them.

Still in the back of my mind I thought how tough it was going to be for them, this little family of fairly humble means. To be honest, I thanked God that He realized I would never be able to handle such a challenge.

Then it came time to leave and something struck me. The couple’s older children went right to work. They started gathering their baby brother’s belongings, which had been scattered about the patio during the night. One of the kids cooed at her brother as she put him in the car seat, the older boy meticulously went about the business of folding his younger brother’s clothes and placing them next the various accoutrements that all babies require. The kids packed up everything, glanced to make sure their parents weren’t rushing out the door and went back for “one last dance”.

The little family left and if Keith had not mentioned anything to me about the baby’s health concerns I would never have known. It was obvious this family was strong and their love for each other could carry them through anything. I felt good about the baby’s future, the family’s strength, and I decided maybe I should give God more credit.

I thought about that little family today and our church family. I hope we can be half as loving and strong as that little family. I hope we can shoulder whatever comes our way together, share our struggles as well as celebrate our victories. I hope God will remind me more that true service to each other is more than simply lip service about standing with those in need. I also praise God for reminding me that many so called “burdens” are of our own making, to others they are simply the way life plays out. We must trust in God knowing that He will give us the wisdom and strength to carry on.

It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. - Psalm 18:32