on earth as it is in heaven

i believe in miracles.

mostly, i believe in LOVE.

God's love.

big, extravagant, unconditional.

LOVE that moves mountains and changes the world.

LOVE that was given freely, that we may also freely give it to others.

Grace can WALK.

Not well, just a few steps with bent legs, but she can walk. Two weeks ago Grace came to our family and her grandmother explained to me that she was "lame". At three years old she could not stand, walk, hold her spoon, or complete a sentence. Unbelieving I took her to a doctor who said she had "ascending paralysis" meaning her legs were paralyzed and the rest of her would slowly become that way. Something didn't resonate in my spirit, and being that these doctors have been wrong before, I (with all my medical knowledge, ha) decided not to believe them either. Where was the fun in that anyway? We began stretching little Grace's legs, helping her eat, cuddling her constantly, and covering her in prayer. Grace began pulling herself up on the furniture. She began to take a few steps holding onto my hands. Today she walked about ten steps alone before she had to sit down. Grace can hold her spoon, and although she makes quite the mess, she can feed herself. Grace laughs about 13 out of the 14 hours we are awake each day. And Grace can say a full sentence without stuterring, "I lub lou mommy."

Her sisters LOVE her to pieces. When I was worried that she was pretty delayed, had some "special needs", her sisters never saw a difference. They knew that her only special need was love. Big, unconditional, extravagant love. Love that was given freely, that they freely gave to their new sister. They stretch her little withered legs as she sits on their laps, help her not spill her juice everywhere, and don't even complain when she poops on the floor. Jane, my only other child who does not go to shcool during the day, so desperatley longs for Grace to play with her that she can often be found holding Grace's hand and walking/dragging her everywhere she goes.

In two weeks I have been able to watch God give back to Grace everything that was taken from her the first three years of her life. I have watched Him not only begin to restore her physically, but restore her spirit, her little heart that He so deeply loves and desires intimacy with. He has reminded me how deeply He longs for each one of His children to know His intimate love. He has reminded me how He longs to restore our brokeness. He has reminded my girls what His LOVE can do through their little hands. Most incredible is that I know He is not done yet, but only getting started.

Lord, we give you our brokeness, that you may fully restore us. Remind us of the intimacy that you long for with each of us, your deep, passionate love for your children. Father, you have given so freely, you have loved so extravagantly. Let us give. Let us LOVE.