This Christmas, we sat down to a dinner fit for a king made and donated by people that we had never met...it was a wonderful gift that stretched well beyond the sharing of a meal...we felt taken care of, and loved. It was Christmas filled with such praise and a sobering awareness of the gifts of life that each of us possesses...
This month, we have watched as kind and compassionate people have donated over $1000 for the orphans that Tyler works with in Kenya! Hearing Tyler's voice as he heard the outstretched hand of concern for the kids and feeling the responsibility upon him as he struggles to know how to use the money carefully and wisely as he takes care of the greatest of needs of children who need so much...Even though Tyler was not home at Christmas, he has been touched by the warmth of home through the willingness of others to look beyond their own walls and reach across the world to help others...
Our Bone marrow transplant journey began last January as we sat in Dr. Smith's office and discussed the options. The year 2011 can be summarized in three letters...B M T. The process has consumed our families day to day activities through out this whole year. And yet, three words summarize our year so much more....God's Provision, His Compassion, and the Lessons that he has taught us.
God has provided all that we have needed this year. And he used the generosity of His people to show care and concern for us. So many people have shared their time, talents, finances and friendship with us. They have reached out and so graciously given to our family. We have never experienced such generosity before..and it has taught us so much. The compassion that has been poured out on our whole family has given us a renewed understanding of God's provision for us. We spent little time worrying about the needs of our family...our faith has grown in immeasurable ways.
This year has expanded our hearts and our minds in so many ways. We have learned more and grown more than I ever could have imagined. Our kids have experienced the gospel lived out...as they watched God take care of every need. They learned lessons firsthand about generosity, about humility and about love...as they watched God's people reach out in love. They have learned what is really important in life...they have learned that without Jesus, nothing else really matters. And they have learned that God's promises are true...He is faithful, He is trustworthy and He is kind...and all things work together for good. We have all been reminded that God will do what is best for us...no matter what the outcome...that even when things are hard, God is still in control...and that it is all for His glory.
This year has been filled with lessons in humility...acknowledging that we could not do anything to save the life of our son...that God was in control of all things and that we did not make it through this year because of our strength or might..but that it was in our weakness that we have clung to the only one who could see us through all that came our way...Jesus Christ. We were faced with our weakness and our inability to do things alone..as so many of you stood alongside of us and helped us get through the struggles of this year...humbling...
..but such a tangible lesson for each one of us. We can do nothing of our own might..as strong as we may think we are...not even our next breath can be taken without God allowing it. It is such precious irony that it is in our weakness, that we are strong. That is how God works. When we cling to him, than there is nothing we can not do.
This year has been a year of miracles. It has been a year of blessings that have overflowed all over us...this year was one of our toughest years yet...and I would have to say we learned more than we ever have as a family and as followers of Christ. We have been given a lifetime of lessons lived out right before us...I wouldn't want to change a thing about this year. ..It has been a gift..an absolutely humbling gift. As we say goodbye to 2011, we are filled with hearts overflowing with gratitude and love. My heart is satisfied...and it is filled with confidence that nothing can separate us from the love of Jesus Christ...nothing...
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
